Advanced Subject-Verb Agreement (The Exceptions)

What is Advanced Subject-Verb Agreement?

Subject-verb agreement (SVA) is a fundamental principle in English grammar: the verb in a sentence must agree in number with its subject. While basic SVA deals with simple singular and plural subjects, advanced SVA tackles more complex scenarios where the subject might not be immediately obvious, or where its singular/plural nature is ambiguous. Mastering these advanced rules is crucial for producing grammatically correct and sophisticated English, especially in academic and professional writing.

1. Complex Cases of Subject-Verb Agreement

a. Collective Nouns

Collective nouns (e.g., team, family, government, audience, committee, staff, crew) can be treated as singular or plural depending on whether they are acting as a single unit or as individual members.

• Singular (acting as a unit): The team is playing well today.
• Plural (acting as individuals): The team are arguing among themselves. (More common in British English)
• The committee has reached a decision.
• The committee have all signed the document.

b. Indefinite Pronouns

• Always Singular: Each, every, either, neither, one, no one, nobody, nothing, anyone, anybody, anything, someone, somebody, something, everyone, everybody, everything.

  • Each of the students has a different opinion.
  • Neither of the solutions is ideal.
  • Everybody knows the answer.

• Always Plural: Both, few, many, several.

  • Both of the books are interesting.

• Can be Singular or Plural (depending on the noun they refer to): All, any, none, most, some.

  • Some of the water is polluted. (Water is uncountable, so singular)
  • Some of the students are absent. (Students are countable plural, so plural)
  • None of the money was found.
  • None of the employees were happy.

c. Phrases between Subject and Verb

Phrases like as well as, along with, together with, in addition to, accompanied by do not change the number of the subject. The verb agrees with the main subject.

• The manager, as well as his employees, is attending the conference. (The verb agrees with 'manager')
• The students, along with their teacher, are going on a field trip. (The verb agrees with 'students')

d. Compound Subjects

• Joined by and: Usually take a plural verb.

  • John and Mary are going to the party.
  • Bread and butter is a common breakfast. (Exception: when they form a single unit or idea)
  • The producer and director is here. (Exception: if referring to the same person)

• Joined by or/nor: The verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

  • Neither the students nor the teacher is ready.
  • Neither the teacher nor the students are ready.

• Joined by not only... but also, either... or, neither... nor: The verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

  • Not only the parents but also the child is excited.
  • Either the cat or the dogs are in the garden.

e. Inverted Sentences

In sentences beginning with there is/are, here is/are, or other inverted structures, the verb agrees with the real subject that follows it.

• There are many reasons for this. (Reasons is plural)
• There is a solution to the problem. (Solution is singular)
• Here are the documents you requested.
• Among the ruins were ancient artifacts. (Artifacts is plural)

f. Nouns that are always plural/singular

• Always Plural (take plural verb): Scissors, trousers, glasses, shorts, pliers, police, cattle, people. (Unless preceded by 'a pair of')

  • My trousers are too long.
  • The police are investigating the case.
  • A pair of scissors is on the table.

• Always Singular (take singular verb): News, economics, physics, mathematics, measles, mumps, linguistics, politics. (Despite ending in -s)

  • The news is good today.
  • Economics is a challenging subject.

g. Quantifiers

• A number of + plural noun: Takes a plural verb.
  • A number of students have applied.
• The number of + plural noun: Takes a singular verb.
  • The number of applicants has increased.
• Majority/Minority: Can be singular or plural depending on context.
  • The majority of students are in favor.
  • The majority is usually right.
• Fractions/Percentages: Agree with the noun they refer to.
  • Half of the cake was eaten.
  • Half of the students were absent.

h. Titles and Names

Titles of books, movies, organizations, or countries, even if plural in form, usually take a singular verb.

• The United States is a large country.
• The Grapes of Wrath is a classic novel.
• Microsoft is a technology giant.

i. Relative Clauses

When a relative pronoun (who, which, that) is the subject of a relative clause, the verb in the clause agrees with the antecedent of the pronoun.

• He is one of those students who always ask questions. (Who refers to 'students', so 'ask' is plural)
• She is the only one of the candidates who has experience. (Who refers to 'one', so 'has' is singular)

Common Errors and How to Fix Them

Summary

💡 Key takeaway: Advanced subject-verb agreement requires careful attention to the true subject of the sentence, especially when other words or phrases come between the subject and the verb, or when the subject itself is a complex construction.