Subject–Verb Agreement

Match the subject and verb

Find the verb and ask who or what the clause is about. That gives you the subject.

A flexible schedule helps parents. → Flexible schedules help parents.

Compare the library is open with the libraries are open, and the library has computers with the libraries have computers.

In Does the policy help?, does agrees with the policy and help stays in its base form. Review spelling and question forms in Present Simple.

Find the subject in a longer sentence

Temporarily set aside phrases that describe the subject, such as of online courses, with solar panels and in rental prices.

The quality of online courses varies. Read the core as quality varies. Compare the standards of online courses vary, where standards is plural.

A house with solar panels uses less electricity from the grid. The noun panels belongs to the description.

Handle common trouble spots

• Each and everyone. Each of the options has a drawback. Everyone has a copy.
• Uncountable nouns. The equipment needs storage. Review countable and uncountable nouns and singular and plural nouns.
• Two separate subjects joined by and. The library and the community centre offer free classes.
• A number of versus the number of. A number of residents want a later service. The number of residents is rising.

In Australian English, a collective noun can take a singular verb when the group acts as one unit and a plural verb when the emphasis is on its members. Compare the team is ready and the team are discussing their roles.

Proofread one clause at a time

1. Underline each verb that shows tense or agreement, including helpers such as does.
2. Find the subject for each verb.
3. Check the form and reread the whole sentence.

Although online classes offer flexibility, the lack of feedback sometimes makes learning harder. Each clause has its own subject. Review Sentence Structures for more clause practice.