In the Writing Center with Ronnie B: A Quick Look at Subject-Verb Agreement

Explains how to correctly use singular and plural verbs with singular and plural subjects to achieve grammatical agreement.

When making certain of subject–verb agreement, always remember that the number of the subject determines the number of the verb. We commonly use expressions like “Where’s my keys?” But this is incorrect. We should ask “Where are my keys?” or “Where is my key?” The verb has to agree with the subject.

• Here’s another example . . . .

• Here’s two more examples . . . .

We see and hear constructions like the second statement above all the time. It almost sounds right, but it’s wrong. It should be “Here are two more examples.” The verb has to agree with the subject: “are” agrees with “two” and “examples.”

Below is an example of an error that was edited into a piece of writing by a newspaper editor:

• Today’s contempt for truth and the fascination with false teaching is no surprise to believers.

The original, which was correct, read as follows:

• Today’s contempt for truth and the fascination with false teaching are no surprise to believers.

The editor’s version sounds correct, and readers would likely read over it without noticing anything. It is wrong, however, because we have a plural subject (“contempt for truth” and “fascination with false teaching”) which does not agree with the singular verb “is.”

Below are two more examples:

• Amanda is in the store.
• Amanda and Kelly are in the store.

Notice that the singular subject (Amanda) agrees with the singular verb (is), while the plural subject (Amanda and Kelly) agrees with the plural verb (are).

Agreement with other verbs:

• The girl has 12 tattoos.
• The girls have 12 tattoos between them.
• Amanda was in the store.
• Amanda and Kelly were in the store.

Like “is” and “are,” the verbs “has,” “have,” “was,” and “were” also have to agree with the subject of the sentence.

Pay attention to the form of the verb:

• Billy talks fast.
• Billy and Bob talk fast.
• The man eats fast.
• The men eat quickly.

Notice in the constructions above how the form of the verb changes with the subject. With a singular subject, the verb looks plural (has an “s”); with a plural subject, the verb looks singular (no “s”).

A note about the use of “an” in the singular case:

• Be an attentive, aware, and careful writer.
• Be attentive, aware, and careful writers.

Notice in the first example above how the article “an” is necessary to make the singular subject (writer) agree with the verb (be), while no article is necessary in the second example to make the plural subject (writers) agree with the verb (be).

Make certain other parts of your sentences are in agreement:

• There are reasons why our neighbor bought the house.
• There is a reason why our neighbors bought the houses.
• Billy changed his mind.
• Bob and Billy changed their minds.

Constructions like the one immediately above are often incorrectly written (and even spoken) as “Bob and Billy changed their mind.” But because Bob and Billy (plural) each has a mind of his own, it follows logically and grammatically that they “changed their minds” (plural).