Subject-Verb Agreement Rules Cheat Sheet: 12 Rules and a Quick Check
                     WIZMANTRA | GRAMMAR CHEAT SHEET
Subject-Verb Agreement Rules
Twelve rules with an example each, then a 10 question quick check with answers.
The 12 rules
1. Singular subject, singular verb.
The boy plays cricket. The boys play cricket.
2. Ignore the words between the subject and the verb.
The box of chocolates is on the table.
3. Along with, as well as and together with do not join subjects.
Rahul, along with his cousins, is visiting.
4. Two subjects joined by and are plural.
Ravi and Meena are friends. (But: Bread and butter is my breakfast.)
5. Each or every before joined subjects makes them singular.
Every boy and every girl was given a prize.
6. With either...or, neither...nor and not only...but also, the nearer subject decides.
Neither the coach nor the players are happy.
7. Words ending in -one, -body and -thing are singular, and so are each, either and neither.
Everyone has a ticket. Neither answer is right.
8. Some, all, most and none follow the noun after of.
Most of the milk is gone. Most of the students are here.
9. A collective noun acting as one unit takes a singular verb.
The committee has submitted its report.
10. The number of takes a singular verb; a number of takes a plural verb.
The number of cars is rising. A number of cars are parked outside.
11. Pair nouns are plural; -ics subjects and news are singular.
My trousers are torn. Physics is easy for her. The news is good.
12. Amounts of time, money and distance seen as one unit are singular, and there is/there are
agrees with the noun that follows.
Ten kilometres is a long walk. There are three mistakes here.
Quick check: fill in is, are, has or have
1. The list of names ____ on the wall.
2. My cousin, together with his friends, ____ coming.
3. Neither the coach nor the players ____ happy.
4. Everyone in the class ____ passed.
5. The glasses ____ on the shelf.
6. A number of trains ____ late today.
7. Physics ____ easy for her.
8. There ____ three mistakes in your answer.
9. Bread and butter ____ my breakfast.
10. Most of the students ____ present.
Answers
1. is
2. is
3. are
4. has
5. are
6. are
7. is
8. are
9. is
10. are
Practise all 50 subject-verb agreement questions online, with instant marking and the rule behind each answer:
https://www.wizmantra.com/english-practice/english-quiz/english-subject-verb-agreement/. Printable worksheet
by WizMantra, free to copy for your class.