Everything you need to correctly match subjects and verbs in English, tricky subjects, collective nouns, and the and/or/neither rules, with exam practice.
📖 Reading time: ~10 minutes✅ Reviewed by a CELTA-qualified teacher🎯 Covers A1 to B2
Subject-verb agreement means matching a singular subject with a singular verb, and a plural subject with a plural verb: "he walks" but "they walk." This sounds simple, and mostly is, until English throws in words that look plural but act singular, phrases that separate the subject from its verb, and connecting words with their own special rules. Getting it wrong is one of the fastest ways to make an otherwise fluent sentence sound noticeably off.
Tricky CaseEveryone, everybody, someone are singular: "Everyone likes it," not "like it"
Common Mistake"The list of items are long" instead of "is long" — agree with the real subject (list), not the nearest noun (items)
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Resumen en español
El verbo debe concordar con el sujeto real de la oración, no con la palabra más cercana: "The list of items IS long" (no "are"), porque el sujeto real es "list", no "items". Palabras como "everyone" son siempre singulares en inglés, aunque se refieran a muchas personas, un punto que sorprende a hispanohablantes.
3. The Basic Rule
Subject Type
Verb Form
Example
Singular (he/she/it, singular nouns)
Verb + -s (present simple)
She works from home.
Plural (they, plural nouns)
Base form, no -s
They work from home.
I / you
Base form, no -s (irregular pattern)
I work from home. You work from home.
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The core test
Ask: is this ONE thing or MORE THAN ONE? Then match the verb. The complication is never the rule itself, it's correctly identifying what the real subject actually is when other words get in the way.
4. Tricky Subjects
The most common agreement errors happen when words come between the subject and the verb, tricking the ear into agreeing with the wrong noun.
Pattern
Rule
Example
Subject + prepositional phrase
Ignore the phrase, agree with the real subject
The box of chocolates is on the table. (not "are")
Always singular, even though they feel plural in meaning
Everyonelikes the new plan.
Either / neither (alone)
Singular
Neither option works for me.
A number of vs the number of
"A number of" = plural; "the number of" = singular
A number of people are waiting. / The number of applicants is rising.
5. Collective Nouns
Words like team, family, government and staff describe a group but are grammatically singular in standard British English, though plural verbs are sometimes used when emphasising the individual members.
Collective Noun
Standard (as a unit)
Also Acceptable (as individuals, British English)
team
The team is winning.
The team are arguing among themselves.
family
My family is large.
My family are all doctors.
government
The government is deciding.
—
staff
The staff is well-trained.
The staff are on their lunch breaks.
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Pick one and stay consistent
Don't switch between singular and plural for the same collective noun within one piece of writing, e.g. "The team is playing well, aren't they?" mixes both and reads as an error.
6. And, Or, Neither...Nor
Connector
Rule
Example
A and B
Plural (two things together)
Tom and Sarah are coming.
A or B / Either A or B
Agree with the nearer subject
Either the manager or the staffare responsible.
Neither A nor B
Agree with the nearer subject
Neither the students nor the teacherwas ready.
7. Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect
✅ Correct
Why
The list of items are long.
The list of items is long.
The real subject is "list" (singular), not "items."
Everyone have their own opinion.
Everyone has their own opinion.
"Everyone" is always singular, even though it refers to many people.
The news are surprising.
The news is surprising.
"News" is grammatically singular in English, despite the -s ending.
Neither of the answers were correct.
Neither of the answers was correct.
"Neither" alone is singular in formal, standard usage.
8. Exercises
A. Gap Fill — Complete with the correct verb form (12 questions)
1. The box of chocolates ___ (be) on the table.
2. Everyone ___ (like) the new plan.
3. My family ___ (be) very supportive. (as a unit)
4. Neither of the options ___ (seem) right.
5. The number of students ___ (be) increasing every year.
6. Tom and his brother ___ (play) football every weekend.
7. Either the teacher or the students ___ (have) to explain this.
8. The news about the merger ___ (be) surprising.
9. A number of people ___ (be) waiting outside.
10. The team ___ (be) celebrating their win.
11. Nobody ___ (know) the answer.
12. The staff ___ (be) all extremely helpful.
Show Answers (A)
1. is 2. likes 3. is 4. seems 5. is 6. play 7. have 8. is 9. are 10. is 11. knows 12. are
B. Multiple Choice (6 questions)
1. The list of names ___ very long. (a) is (b) are
2. Everybody ___ ready to start. (a) is (b) are
3. Either the manager or the staff ___ responsible. (a) is (b) are
4. The government ___ announced new plans. (a) has (b) have
5. Neither of the answers ___ correct. (a) was (b) were
6. My family ___ all doctors. (as individuals) (a) is (b) are
Show Answers (B)
1.a 2.a 3.b 4.a 5.a 6.b
C. Error Correction (5 questions)
1. The list of items are long.
2. Everyone have their own opinion.
3. The news are surprising.
4. Neither of the answers were correct.
5. A number of people is waiting.
Show Answers (C)
1. The list of items is long. 2. Everyone has their own opinion. 3. The news is surprising. 4. Neither of the answers was correct. 5. A number of people are waiting.
D. Freer Practice — Write Your Own Sentences (2 tasks)
1. Write a sentence using "everyone" correctly with a singular verb.
2. Write a sentence using a collective noun (team, family, staff) treated as a single unit.
Show Answers (D)
Model answers will vary. Examples: 1. "Everyone in the office knows the new policy." 2. "The team is preparing for tomorrow's match."
9. Mini Quiz
10. Exam Focus — Cambridge, IELTS, SELT
Exam
How This Is Tested
Sample Question
Cambridge B1 Preliminary / B2 First
Agreement errors with collective nouns and indefinite pronouns are heavily penalised in Writing.
"The team ___ (be) winning." (is)
IELTS Writing
Subject-verb agreement across long, complex sentences with intervening phrases is a key accuracy marker.
"The results of the study ___ (be) conclusive." (are)
Trinity GESE/ISE (SELT)
Natural agreement in spontaneous speech, especially with everyone/everybody, is closely listened for.
"Everyone in my family ___ (speak) English."
11. Frequently Asked Questions
Matching a singular subject with a singular verb, and a plural subject with a plural verb, so the sentence sounds grammatically consistent.
Indefinite pronouns like everyone, everybody, someone and nobody are always grammatically singular in English, even though they refer to many people.
Singular in standard usage ("the team is winning"), though British English also allows a plural verb when emphasising the individual members ("the team are arguing").
The verb agrees with whichever subject is closer to it: "Neither the manager nor the staff were informed."
The real subject is "list," a singular noun; "items" is just part of a prepositional phrase describing the list, not the subject itself.
Yes — natural, accurate agreement across everyday spoken sentences is a core marker of grammatical control at every level.
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