NAME: ____________________________________

DATE:___________________________
TOPIC: SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT (SVA)
1. Subject
2. Verb
3. Plural
4. Singular

In a sentence, the subject and the verb must agree. If the subject is
singular, then the verb must be ________. If the subject is plural, then the
verb must be ________.
SINGULAR
PLURAL
A singular subject must have a A plural subject must
________ verb.
________ verb.
EXAMPLES:
EXAMPLES:

have

1. Hilman is the monitor in my 1. Asyraff and Farhan are brothers.

class.
Asyraff and Farhan plural subject
Hilman the singular subject
are plural verb
is singular verb
2. The boys swim in the river every
2. Syafiqah likes to bake cakes.
Sunday.
________ - the singular subject
________ - plural subject
________ - singular verb
________ - plural verb
RULES FOR SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT (SVA)
1. Use a singular verb after each, neither, everyone, everybody, nobody, and
someone.

2. If you use either-or, look at the subject closest to the verb. If the subject closest
to the verb is singular, use a singular verb; likewise, if the subject is plural, use a
plural verb.

This also applies to not only. . .but also, and neither. . .nor. The subject
closest to the verb determines whether the verb is singular or plural.

3. When using as well as, except, in addition to, no less than, and with, the
noun before these phrases determines the number.

4. Measurements of money, time, and distance usually require a singular verb.

5. The following words almost always use the plural form of verbs: all, both, few,
many, several, and some.

6. The word none needs special attention. Sometimes it uses a singular verb, and at
other times, it uses a plural verb. When none means no one or not one, use the
singular form of the verb. When none means or suggests more than one thing or
person, use the plural form of the verb.

7. Here and there CANNOT be subjects. Therefore, if a sentence begins with here or
there, look for the subject and write the correct form of the verb.

8. When the word number is preceded with the word a, use a plural verb. When the
word number is preceded with the word the, use a singular verb.

EXERCISE - Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject.
1) Harjinder and her brothers (is, are) at school.
2) Either my mother or my father (is, are) coming to the meeting.
3) The dog or the cats (is, are) outside.
4) Either my shoes or your coat (is, are) always on the floor.
5) Mulhakim and Seleen (doesn't, don't) want to see that movie.
6) Suren (doesn't, don't) know the answer.
7) One of my sisters (is, are) going on a trip to France.
8) The man with all the birds (live, lives) on my street.

9) The movie, including all the previews, (take, takes) about two hours to watch.
10) The players, as well as the captain, (want, wants) to win.
11) Either answer (is, are) acceptable.
12) Every one of those books (is, are) fiction.
13) Nobody (know, knows) the trouble I've seen.
14) (Is, Are) the news on at five or six?
15) Mathematics (is, are) Aliah's favorite subject, while English (is, are) Qayyum's
favorite subject.
16) (Is, Are) the tweezers in this drawer?
17) Your pants (is, are) at the cleaner's.
18) There (was, were) fifteen candies in that bag. Now there (is, are) only one left!
19) The committee (debates, debate) these questions carefully.
20) The committee (leads, lead) very different lives in private.
21) The Prime Minister, together with his wife, (greets, greet) the press cordially.
22) All of the CDs, even the scratched one, (is, are) in this case.