Tricky Subject-Verb Agreement

Basic agreement is straightforward when the subject sits right next to the verb. The editing questions, though, love the cases where something comes between them or where the subject is not what it first appears to be. These are the situations that trip up careful writers.

Tricky subject-verb agreement covers the harder cases: phrases that interrupt the subject and verb, compound subjects joined by “and” or “or,” and indefinite pronouns like “everyone” or “each.” In every case, you match the verb to the real subject, not to the nearest noun.

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Interrupting Phrases and Compound Subjects

Words often sit between the subject and verb to distract you. Ignore any phrase starting with “of,” “with,” “along with,” or “as well as,” and match the verb to the true subject. Wrong: The box of chocolates were opened. The subject is “box,” not “chocolates,” so it needs “was.” Corrected: The box of chocolates was opened. Compound subjects follow two rules. When joined by “and,” the subject is plural: The teacher and the student agree. When joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb matches the closer noun: Neither the players nor the coach was ready. Wrong: The manager, along with two clerks, are working late. The phrase set off by commas does not change the subject “manager.” Corrected: The manager, along with two clerks, is working late.

Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns are the trickiest subjects because their meaning feels plural even when grammar treats them as singular. Words like “everyone,” “everybody,” “each,” “either,” “neither,” “someone,” and “nobody” always take a singular verb. Wrong: Everyone are welcome to attend. “Everyone” is singular. Corrected: Everyone is welcome to attend. Wrong: Each of the runners have a number. “Each” is the subject, and it is singular. Corrected: Each of the runners has a number. A few pronouns, such as “both,” “few,” and “many,” are plural: Both are correct. When you see one of these words as the subject, pause and recall which group it belongs to rather than trusting how it sounds.

Watch: A Short Video Lesson

Khan Academy SAT gives a clear overview to go with this lesson:

A Routine for Tricky Agreement

1. Cross out phrases beginning with “of,” “with,” or “as well as.”
2. For “and,” treat the subject as plural.
3. For “or” or “nor,” match the verb to the nearer noun.
4. Treat “everyone,” “each,” and “neither” as singular.

Practice

1. What is the subject in “The bag of apples is ripe”?
2. Is a subject joined by “and” singular or plural?
3. With “or,” which noun does the verb match?
4. Fix this: “Everybody know the answer.”
5. Fix this: “Each of the books are new.”
6. Is “both” singular or plural?

Answers

1. “Bag” — so the verb is “is.”
2. Plural.
3. The noun closer to the verb.
4. “Everybody knows the answer.”
5. “Each of the books is new.”
6. Plural.

Where This Fits in Your RLA Prep

This extends the basics from subject-verb agreement and pairs well with pronoun agreement and reference. See every topic on the Language Arts Prep Hub.

Recommended Prep Books

Keep building momentum with a full study guide and practice tests:

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