Who Is Doing What? Subject–Verb Agreement in Formal English

30 min

Let's begin

In a speech about integrity, nobody will mind if you say "the number of complaints have fallen". In the written report that follows it, an examiner, an editor or an auditor will. Subject–verb agreement is easy in short sentences and treacherous in long, formal ones, which is exactly where A-level writing lives. This lesson works through the hard cases, and the reasons behind them.

Reading: from an integrity club's annual report

An extract written for this lesson. Every verb in bold has a subject that is easy to get wrong. Before reading the explanations, try to say why each one is singular or plural.

Neither the treasurer nor the members of the committee were aware of the error until April. The number of complaints received this year has fallen, although a number of parents have asked for clearer receipts. Each of the five classes now keeps its own accounts, and the committee, together with the head teacher, meets once a month to check them. Fifty thousand francs is held in reserve for repairs.

There are, in addition, two matters that require attention. First, one of the members who have served longest is retiring, and the committee are divided about who should replace her. Second, economics is now taught in the club's evening sessions, but most of the equipment is borrowed. The data from the parents' survey suggest that most of the money was well spent and that most of the parents are satisfied.

Definition

Key terms

subject–verb agreement (also concord) (n): the rule that a present-tense verb (and was/were) matches its subject in number and person: she keeps, they keep.
head noun (n): the main noun in a noun phrase, which decides its number. In the list of names, the head is list.
grammatical concord: agreement with the grammatical form of the subject (singular form, singular verb).
notional concord: agreement with the idea behind the subject: The committee are divided treats the committee as separate people.
proximity (or attraction): agreement with the nearest noun, which formal English accepts only after either … or and neither … nor.

Finding the subject

Most agreement errors happen because the writer agrees the verb with the nearest noun instead of the head noun. Work through the steps in order.

The hard cases

Case	Rule	Example
Phrases after the head	Ignore of-phrases, participle phrases and relative clauses.	The list of names submitted by the classes is on the board.
as well as, together with, along with, in addition to	Not the same as and: the verb follows the first subject.	The committee, together with the head teacher, meets monthly.
Subjects joined by and	Plural, unless they name one thing or one person.	The treasurer and the secretary are here. Rice and beans is served on Fridays (one dish).
either … or, neither … nor	The verb agrees with the nearer subject. Put the plural one last.	Neither the treasurer nor the members were aware.
each, every, everyone, nobody, either, neither	Singular.	Each of the five classes keeps its own accounts.
most, some, all, half, none + of	Look at the noun after of: uncountable is singular, plural is plural.	Most of the money was spent; most of the parents are satisfied.
the number of / a number of	The number is singular (one figure); a number of means "several", so plural.	The number of complaints has fallen; a number of parents have asked …
Amounts as one sum	Money, time and distance seen as a single quantity are singular.	Fifty thousand francs is held in reserve. Two hours is too long.
Nouns ending in -s	news and subjects such as economics, mathematics, physics are singular; trousers, scissors, clothes are plural.	Economics is taught in the evenings.
Latin and Greek plurals	criteria, phenomena are plural; data is plural in formal and academic writing, often singular elsewhere.	The data suggest … (formal)
there and here	The verb agrees with the noun that follows.	There are two matters …
one of those who	The relative clause agrees with the plural noun; the main verb agrees with one.	One of the members who have served longest is retiring.
Collective nouns	British English allows a plural verb when the members act separately; American English usually keeps the singular. Be consistent with pronouns.	The committee meets monthly (a unit). The committee are divided (individuals).

Worked example: "One of the members who ___ (has / have) served longest ___ (is / are) retiring."

Main clause: what is retiring? One (of the members). One is singular, so is retiring.
Relative clause: who has served longest? Not just one person: the sentence picks one from a group of members who have served longest. The antecedent of who is members, so have served.
Contrast: "She is the only one of the members who has served for ten years." Now who refers to the only one, so the verb is singular.

Worked example: grammatical or notional concord?

"The committee has approved its budget." The committee acts as one body: singular verb, singular pronoun its.
"The committee are divided about who should replace her." Division happens between individuals, so British English often uses a plural verb here, with their if a pronoun follows.
Wrong: "The committee has approved their budget." The verb treats the committee as one, the pronoun as many. Whatever you choose, be consistent.

Tip

The cover test. Cover everything between the head noun and the verb with your finger, then read what is left: "The list … is on the board." If it sounds wrong with the middle covered, it is wrong with the middle showing.

Warning

Do not let a plural noun in an of-phrase pull the verb: "The quality of the roads is poor", not are.
Everyone takes a singular verb, but a singular they is now accepted for the pronoun: "Everyone has brought their receipt." Avoid everyone have.
Neither of + plural noun takes a singular verb in formal writing: "Neither of the answers is correct."
Agreement applies to was/were too: "There were three errors", not there was three errors.

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Practice

Choose the correct verb: (a) The cost of the new desks (was / were) shared. (b) Either the prefects or the captain (rings / ring) the bell. (c) Physics (is / are) my favourite subject.
Choose and explain: (a) The number of absent pupils (is / are) rising. (b) A number of pupils (is / are) absent.
Correct the errors: (a) "The treasurer, as well as two members, were present." (b) "There is several reasons for the delay." (c) "Each of the reports have been checked."
Complete with is or are: (a) Half of the money ___ missing. (b) Half of the receipts ___ missing. (c) None of the information ___ new.
Explain why both verbs are correct: "One of the students who have volunteered is from Rubavu."
Rewrite in British English to show the committee as individuals: "The committee has different opinions about its new rules."
Write a short paragraph (about 100 words) reporting on a school club's finances. Use correctly: the number of, neither … nor, together with, an amount of money as subject, and one of … who.

Show answersHide answers

(a) was (the head is cost). (b) rings (nearer subject captain is singular). (c) is.
(a) is: the number is a single figure. (b) are: a number of means "several".
(a) "The treasurer, as well as two members, was present." (b) "There are several reasons for the delay." (c) "Each of the reports has been checked."
(a) is (uncountable money) (b) are (plural receipts) (c) is (uncountable information)
Who refers to students (plural), so have volunteered; the main subject is one (singular), so is.
"The committee have different opinions about their new rules."
Answers will vary. Check each named structure against the table.

Sources and credits

Report extract, key terms, flowchart, tables, worked examples, questions and practice written by Ganzaa.
The terms grammatical concord, notional concord and proximity follow Randolph Quirk, Sidney Greenbaum, Geoffrey Leech and Jan Svartvik, A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language (Longman, 1985); summarised, not quoted.

1Reading: from an integrity club's annual report

2Finding the subject

3The hard cases

Reading: from an integrity club's annual report

Finding the subject

The hard cases