Subject-Verb Agreement

Verbs must agree, or match, in number with their subjects. Here are the rules for making sure the verb agrees with the subject.

1. Use a singular verb with a singular subject.

Our town has a great east side park.

A collective noun is singular when the group it names is considered one unit. Therefore, it takes a singular verb.

The entire public benefits from bike paths.

In this sentence, public is a collective noun, so the verb takes a singular ending -s.

2. Use a plural verb with a plural subject.

Bike paths make the park more popular with families.

3. A compound subject is two or more simple subjects joined by a coordinating conjunction. The conjunction determines whether the compound subject gets a singular or plural verb.

• Use a plural verb with a compound subject joined by and. This is true whether the simple subjects are singular or plural.

The park and roadway are perfect for a long bike path.
My neighbors and family friends agree.

• When a compound subject is joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the last subject.

Neither Marisol nor her neighbors are happy with the new parking fees.
The bookshelves or the table has to be moved.

Example