The subject and verb in a sentence must "agree" in number — a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. "The dog runs" (singular subject, singular verb) but "The dogs run" (plural subject, plural verb). This can get tricky when other words sit between the subject and verb, or when the subject is a tricky word like "everyone" (which is actually singular).
Example
"The list of items is long" — even though "items" is plural, the actual subject is "list" (singular), so the verb "is" must also be singular, not "are".
Key terms
Subject-verb agreement:
The rule that a subject and its verb must match in number (singular or plural).
Singular:
Referring to one person or thing.
Plural:
Referring to more than one person or thing.
Questions
1. Subject-verb agreement means:
The subject and verb must match in number
The subject and verb must rhyme
Sentences never need verbs
Verbs always come first
2. Which sentence has correct subject-verb agreement?
The dog run.
The dog runs.
The dogs runs.
The dog running.
3. Which sentence has correct subject-verb agreement for a plural subject?
The dogs run.
The dogs runs.
The dog run.
The dog are running.
4. A singular subject needs a:
Plural verb always
Singular verb
No verb
Question mark
5. Which is a singular subject?
The dogs
The dog
Many dogs
Several dogs
6. Which is a plural subject?
The dog
A dog
The dogs
One dog
7. "She walk to school" is missing correct agreement because it should be:
She walks to school
She walking to school
She walk school to
It is already correct
8. In "The list of items is long", the actual subject is:
Items
List
Long
Is
9. Which sentence correctly matches the singular subject "list" with its verb?
The list of items are long.
The list of items is long.
The lists of item is long.
The list of item are long.
10. "Everyone" is usually treated as:
Plural
Singular
Neither singular nor plural
A verb
11. Which sentence correctly uses "everyone"?
Everyone are welcome.
Everyone is welcome.
Everyone were welcome.
Everyone welcome.
12. In "The team of players practises daily", the subject is:
Players
Team
Daily
Practises
13. Which sentence has an agreement error?
The books on the shelf are old.
The books on the shelf is old.
The book on the shelf is old.
None have an error.
14. Words that sit between the subject and verb (like "of players" in "the team of players") can:
Never affect agreement
Sometimes cause writers to mistakenly match the verb to the wrong word
Always must be removed
Replace the verb entirely
15. Which sentence correctly applies subject-verb agreement despite a tricky subject?
Neither of the answers are correct.
Neither of the answers is correct.
Neither of the answer is correct.
Neither of the answers being correct.
16. "The number of mistakes were surprising" contains an agreement error because:
'Number' is the true singular subject, so it should be 'was', not 'were'
'Mistakes' is the true subject, so 'were' is correct
There is no error
'Surprising' should be a verb
17. Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Each of the students have a book.
Each of the students has a book.
Each of the student have a book.
Each of the students having a book.
18. Why is subject-verb agreement important in formal writing?
It has no real effect on meaning or clarity
It signals careful, correct grammar to the reader
It only matters in spoken English
It replaces punctuation
19. In "One of the boxes is missing", the verb "is" agrees with:
Boxes (plural)
One (singular)
Missing
Of
20. Which sentence correctly handles a compound subject joined by "and"?
Tom and Jerry is friends.
Tom and Jerry are friends.
Tom and Jerry be friends.
Tom and Jerry friends are.
Answer key (parent copy)
1. The subject and verb must match in number
2. The dog runs.
3. The dogs run.
4. Singular verb
5. The dog
6. The dogs
7. She walks to school
8. List
9. The list of items is long.
10. Singular
11. Everyone is welcome.
12. Team
13. The books on the shelf is old.
14. Sometimes cause writers to mistakenly match the verb to the wrong word
15. Neither of the answers is correct.
16. 'Number' is the true singular subject, so it should be 'was', not 'were'
17. Each of the students has a book.
18. It signals careful, correct grammar to the reader