The subject and verb must be agree in number: both must be singular, or both must be Plural. A singular subject demands a singular verb and a plural subject demands a plural verb.

What are verbs and subjects?

jump, swim, read, walk and sleep. VERBS are action words.

They walk to work; The cat sleeps; Hind talks a lot. Subjects are the person or thing who are doing the action of

the verb.

The subject of can be Singular (one) or Plural (many).

e.g. The mobile is sold. (singular) The mobiles are sold. (plural)

E.g. The bus park (singular subject) was (verb) full.

The bus parks (plural subject) were (verb) full.

The verb form can change depending on whether the subject is Singular or Plural.

Notes: The verb must always agree with its subject.

singular subject = single verb, plural subject = plural verb.

Singular Plural

First person I like mango. We like mango.

Second person You like mango. You like mango.

Third person (he/she/it) likes mango.

They like mango.

E.g. Saeed live in Al Ain (incorrect) Saeed lives in Al Ain (correct)

E.g. He were in London before that (incorrect) He was in London before that (correct)

E.g. She like to cycle to work (incorrect) She likes to cycle to work (correct)

“s” is added to the third person singular. This is the way most regular verbs in the present tense work.

E.g. Either Miss Fatima or Rodah writes on the paper.

E.g. Either the teacher or the students write on the paper.

o This also applies to not only. . .but also. 

E.g. Not only Hanan but also Maitha wants to visit Emirates mall.

E.g. Not only Hanan but also all of the School want to visit Emirates mall.

The word number is action with the word a it should use plural verb:

A number of children are waiting to see you.

The word number is action with the word the it should use singular verb:

The number of stairs in the sky seems countless.

Singular verb

Plural verb

Notes:

some of + Singular Noun + Singular VerbSome of + Plural Noun + Plural Verb

Some of the magazine is good.

Some of the magazines are good.

Exceptions: one of, each of, and every one of take singular verbs.

+ Plural Noun + Singular Verb+ Plural Noun + Singular Verb

1. One of my cousins is here.

2. each of my cousins is here.

3. one of my cousins is here.

every one each of one of

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Select the correct from of the verb in the sentence:

Q1: Some students  is/are/am  very good at English. Answer: Some students are very good at English.

Q2: There  is/are/am eight sides to every projects. Answer: There are eight sides to every projects.

Q3: 8,980 feet   is/are/am  a mile.  Answer: 8,980 feet is a mile.

Q4: Either Heather or I   go/goes  . Answer: Either Heather or I  go .

Q5: Everyone   is/are/am  here for you.  All of them   is/are/am   waiting to listen to your story.

Answer: Everyone  is here for you.  All of them are waiting to listen to your story.

Q6: A large number of countries is/are/am members of the United Nations.

Answer: A large number of countries are members of the United Nations.

Q7: Not only the conditioners but also the team's head coach was/were shocked to be in the competition game.

Answer: Not only the conditioners but also the team's head coach was shocked to be in the competition game.

Q8: five dollars   is/are/am   a nice raise.  I need more money.   Answer: five dollars  is  a nice raise.  I need more money.  

Q9: Either the bus driver or the car rider is/are/am responsible for the accident.

Answer: Either the bus driver or the car rider is responsible for the accident.

Q10: Rice   is/are/am   a common food all over the world.  It   is/are/am   very cheap.  Two bags of rice   cost/costs  only £7. 

Answer: Rice  is  a common food all over the world.  It  is  very cheap.  Two bags of rice  cost  only £7. 

Book:

Focud on Grammar an integrated skills approach, third edition, Marjorie Fuchs and Margaret Bonner

Grammar is great 2, Peta L Nelson

Internet:

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/GRAMMAR/sv_agr.htm

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/eslsubverb.html

http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/SubjectVerb.html

http://www.towson.edu/ows/moduleSVAGR.htm

http://www.myenglishteacher.net/subjectverbagreement.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/grammar/sentencebasics/verbsubjectagreement/factsheet.shtml

http://www.une.edu.au/tlc/students/factsheets/subjective-verb-agreement.pdf

http://depts.dyc.edu/learningcenter/owl/agreementsv.htm

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cgi-shl/quiz.pl/sv_agr_quiz.htm

http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/llsu/resources/esl/gram002.html