GRAMMAR RESOURCE · CHAPTER 32 · PART D

Advanced Subject–Verb Agreement

Master tricky agreement with each, either/neither, collective nouns, intervening phrases, quantities and inverted subjects.

Estimated study time: 12–18 minutes · 5 lesson sections · 15 practice questions with explanations

Your learning path

1. LearnRead the rules and examples carefully.
2. PractiseAnswer all 15 questions before revealing the key.
3. ReviewExplain each mistake and write a new example.

Learning objectives

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to explain the rules, recognise the target forms in context, avoid common errors and apply the patterns to new sentences.

1. Find the real subject

Ignore phrases between the subject and verb. A prepositional phrase such as of the students does not normally control the verb.

The quality of the answers is excellent.

2. Each, every, either and neither

Each and every normally take singular verbs. Either and neither are usually singular when used alone, though agreement can vary in informal paired constructions; in exams, follow the standard pattern.

Each student has a card. / Neither answer is convincing.

3. Subjects joined by conjunctions

Subjects joined by and usually take a plural verb. With or/nor, the verb often agrees with the nearer subject. Some paired expressions and titles behave as a single unit.

The manager and the assistant are here. / Either the clerks or the manager is responsible.

4. Quantities, titles and collective nouns

Amounts, periods and some titles treated as a unit can take singular verbs. Collective nouns may be singular or plural depending on whether the group is viewed as one unit or as individuals, and conventions vary by dialect.

Ten kilometres is a long walk. / The committee has reached a decision.

5. Inversion and there is/are

In questions and sentences beginning with there, identify the actual subject and match the verb to it. In formal writing, avoid letting a nearby noun mislead you.

There are several reasons for the delay.

Guided practice

Try each item first without checking the answers. Afterward, open the key and read the explanation for every uncertain answer.

  1. The bouquet of roses ___ beautiful. (look / looks)
  2. Each of the candidates ___ been interviewed. (has / have)
  3. Neither of the plans ___ practical. (is / are)
  4. The captain, along with the players, ___ arriving. (is / are)
  5. Rafi and Mina ___ prepared the report. (has / have)
  6. Either the teacher or the students ___ responsible. (is / are)
  7. Either the students or the teacher ___ responsible. (is / are)
  8. Ten years ___ a long time to wait. (is / are)
  9. There ___ three messages for you. (is / are)
  10. The news ___ encouraging. (is / are)
  11. Mathematics ___ my favourite subject. (is / are)
  12. A number of students ___ absent today. (is / are)
  13. The number of students ___ increasing. (is / are)
  14. The committee ___ reached its decision. (has / have)
  15. Which is correct? “The list of items are ready” or “The list of items is ready”?
Show answer key and explanations
  1. looks — The subject is bouquet, not the plural noun roses.
  2. has — Each is singular in standard exam usage.
  3. is — Neither of + plural noun is usually singular in formal grammar.
  4. is — Along with does not make the singular subject captain plural.
  5. have — Two subjects joined by and normally take a plural verb.
  6. are — With or, the verb generally agrees with the nearer subject, students.
  7. is — The nearer subject teacher is singular.
  8. is — A period considered as one amount takes a singular verb.
  9. are — The real subject messages is plural.
  10. is — News is an uncountable-looking singular noun.
  11. is — The name of an academic subject normally takes a singular verb.
  12. are — A number of means several and takes a plural verb.
  13. is — The number refers to one total and takes a singular verb.
  14. has — The group is viewed as one decision-making unit; collective-noun agreement can vary by dialect and meaning.
  15. The list of items is ready. — The head subject is list, singular; items is part of an intervening phrase.

Learning reflection

Retention tip: Review your mistakes tomorrow, then again after three days and one week. Write one new example for each rule you missed.

Continue your study

For stronger learning, connect this lesson to the next chapter and the quiz library. Return to this page when a quiz reveals a weak area.

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Editorial note: Some conventions vary by dialect, context and examination syllabus. Where relevant, follow the standard specified by your course or exam board.