English Grammar Tips for Subject-Verb Agreement

When it comes to the subject-verb relationships, opposites do not attract. Matching pairs are preferred in English grammar. Use these tips when deciding how to match subject-verb agreement:

• Match singular subjects with singular verbs, plural subjects with plural verbs.

• Amounts of time and money are usually singular (ten dollars is).

• Either/or and neither/nor: Match the verb to the closest subject (neither the boys nor the girl is).

• Either and neither, without their partners or and nor, always take a singular verb (either of the apples is).

• All subjects preceded by each and every take a singular verb.

• Both, few, several, and many are always plural.