Essentials 101

Section 1: Simple Sentences > Subject-Verb Agreement

L4: Subject-Verb Agreement
Subjects and verbs must agree in case and number. Case refers to first, second, and third person (I, you, he/she/it). Number refers to singular or plural.

Case agreement:

He walks. (not he walk)
They like chocolate. (not they likes…)

Number agreement:

Each of the boys is tired.
(the subject is each, not boys)

IMPORTANT: Don't be confuse by prepositional phrases (of the boys, for example) that follow subjects. Prepositional phrases modify subjects, but they are not the subjects.

Look at the following sentences and choose the correct verb.

A jar of cookies sit/sits on the table.
The group of children plays/play in the park.
Two crates of sugar is/are on the truck.
He is one of those people who leave/leaves dishes in the sink.

Answers:

A jar (of cookies) sits on the table.
A jar is singular - A jar sits…

The group (of children) plays in the park.
The group is singular - The group plays…

Two crates (of sugar) are on the truck.
Two crates is plural - Two crates are…

He is one (of those people who leave dishes in the sink).
He is singular, but who leave dishes… is an adjective clause modifying people, which is plural.

You will learn about clauses and agreement in Section 2.

Go to the resource on subject-verb agreement in the Usage Handbook for more practice.