Subject-Verb Agreement: Rules and Common Mistakes

The verb must agree with its subject in number.

Basic Rule

Singular subject takes a singular verb: The dog barks. Plural subject takes a plural verb: The dogs bark.

Common Traps

• Each, every, everyone take singular verbs: Everyone is here.
• Neither/either are singular: Neither of them was late.
• With or / nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject.
• Collective nouns (team, family) are usually singular in American English.