Overview of Subject-Verb Agreement

Types of Agreement

Agreement is of two types:

Agreement based on form

Two boys are waiting for me. (two boys – form is plural, and so is the meaning. So plural verb ‘are’ used)

Agreement based on meaning/sense

Three kilometres are a long distance. (incorrect)
Three kilometres is a long distance. (correct; three kilometres – considered as one)

Though ‘Three kilometres’ seems plural in form, it’s singular in meaning. So, singular verb ‘is’ has been used.

Verb agrees with its Subject in Number

The Verb has two Numbers (just like Nouns/Pronouns):

  • the Singular number:
    He plays. (He – singular subject in third person; play – verb is singular)

  • the Plural number:
    They play. (They – plural subject in third person; play – verb is plural)

The verbs in the above examples vary because of the difference in Number of the Subjects (even though both subjects are in third person).

Verb agrees with its Subject in Person

The Verb has three Persons (just like the Personal Pronouns):

  • the First person:
    I play. (I – singular subject in first person; play – verb in first person)

  • the Second person:
    You play. (You – singular subject in second person; play – verb in second person)

  • the Third. person:
    She plays. (She – singular subject in third person; plays – verb in third person)

The verbs in the above examples vary because of the difference in Person of the Subjects (even though all the three are singular subjects).

So, the Verb must agree with its Subject in Number and Person.

subject-verb agreement
‘You’ is both singular and plural in current English.

On seeing the table, you would have noticed that the verb ‘play’ changes form only in case of Singular Third Person (i.e. it becomes ‘plays’).

That is because in modern English verbs have lost all their inflections for number and person, except in the third person of the singular number. Thus we have :

  • Singular Third person : He / She / It / Name plays.
  • For all others: I / We / You / They play.

But there is one exception, i.e. the verb ‘be’.

  • First Person: I am. (Singular) We are. (Plural)
  • Second Person: You are. (Singular/Plural)
  • Third Person: He is. (Singular) They are. (Plural)

We need to be familiar with singular and plural verbs:

subject-verb agreement subject-verb agreement

The following verbs can’t be made singular or plural, i.e. they do not change form as per the number of the Subject :

  • did
  • had
  • modals/semi–modals/idiomatic modals

Notice the following difference between verbs and nouns:

  • Noun becomes plural when s/es is added.
    That is, Plural Noun is Noun + s/es
    For example: Boys, Birds, etc.

  • Verb becomes singular when s/es is added.
    That is, Singular Verb is Verb + s/es
    For example: plays, sleeps, sings, goes, etc.

Extra Books and Tools


1. Wren & Martin - This book has been around for long and is still considered one of the best.

Links for readers from USA, UK, Canada, and other countries:

High School English Grammar and Composition Paperback

Key to Wren and Martin

Link for Indian readers: Wren and Martin


2. More advanced learners may refer to the following books. However, buy them only if you must.

A. Essential English Grammar by Raymond Murphy

Link for readers from USA, UK, Canada, and other countries: Essential Grammar in Use - with Answers

Link for Indian readers: Essential English Grammar

B. Intermediate English Grammar by Raymond Murphy

Link for readers from USA, UK, Canada, and other countries: English Grammar in Use - with Answers

Link for Indian readers: Intermediate English Grammar

C. Advanced English Grammar by Martin Hewings

Link for readers from USA, UK, Canada, and other countries: Advanced Grammar in Use - with Answers

Link for Indian readers: Advanced English Grammar


So much so for Englsh Grammar. But what about Comprehension skills and Vocabulary?

For this, I prefer to read on gadgets like Kindle. We may just tap on any word and see its meaning there and then. It's also not taxing on the eyes. There are a multitude of Kindle models and versions available. Though, any model will meet our basic reading needs.

Link for readers from USA, UK, Canada, and other countries:

Link for Indian readers: Kindle

If you want to know more about such recommended books, you may read this article of ours.
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