Tips for Subject–Verb Agreement

Remembering to match the right subject to your verb can be tricky. Here are some basic tips to help you work out which verbs are singular and which verbs are plural.

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

• Amounts of time and money are usually singular (ten minutes 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, many are always plural.