4.2 Subject-Verb Agreement

4.2 Subject-Verb Agreement

Quick Answer: Find the head of the subject, ignore middle phrases, then match singular/plural verb form. Watch collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, either/or, there is/are, and relative-clause verbs—these are favorite iTEP traps.

Core rule, exam version

In a finite clause, the verb’s number follows the grammatical subject:

• Singular subject → singular verb (The result is clear. / She analyzes data.)
• Plural subject → plural verb (The results are clear. / They analyze data.)

Third-person present simple is where agreement is most visible: works vs work, has vs have, is/was vs are/were. Modal + base form (can work) does not show -s agreement, so iTEP items that test agreement usually use present simple, be, have, or perfect auxiliaries.

Intervening phrases (most common trap)

Prepositional phrases, relative clauses, and appositives often sit between subject and verb. Do not agree with the nearest noun.

• The results of the pilot study are encouraging. (head = results, not study)
• A list of required textbooks is posted online. (head = list)
• The professor, along with her teaching assistants, is attending the conference. (head = professor; along with… does not make a plural subject)
• The data in the appendix support the claim. (in research English data is often plural; if an iTEP stem treats data as plural, match plural)

Phrases that do not change number of the head: as well as, together with, along with, in addition to, accompanied by, including, except.

Phrases that do form compound subjects: and joining two full subjects → usually plural (The dean and the chair are speaking). Exception: a single unit concept (Research and development is a priority unit name).

Collective nouns

Words like team, committee, faculty, staff, class, audience, board, family, government name a group.

On iTEP-style academic stems, prefer singular with collectives unless a clear plural cue (their individual…, are arguing among themselves) forces plural. Trap options often pluralize the verb after a collective that acts as one unit.

Indefinite pronouns

Examples:

• Each of the proposals needs revision.
• Everybody is expected to register by Friday.
• Few of the participants were late.
• None of the evidence is conclusive. / None of the students are ready. (match the of-noun)
• Some of the water was contaminated. / Some of the samples were contaminated.

Every and each before a noun force singular: Every student has a locker. Even every man and woman has… stays singular in test English.

Either…or / neither…nor / not only…but also

Agreement follows the subject closest to the verb (proximity rule):

• Either the tutors or the coordinator is available.
• Either the coordinator or the tutors are available.
• Neither the slides nor the handout contains the formula.
• Not only the students but also the instructor was delayed.

Trap construction: students match the first noun and ignore the nearer one.

There is / there are / here is

In existential there constructions, the logical subject after the verb controls agreement:

• There is a problem with the rubric.
• There are several problems with the rubric.
• There has been little progress. / There have been few updates.

Error-ID stems often put There is before a plural noun phrase or There are before a singular mass/abstract noun.

Relative clauses and agreement

The verb inside a relative clause agrees with the antecedent of who / that / which:

• Students who submit late work lose points. (antecedent students → plural)
• A student who submits late work loses points.
• She is one of the researchers who publish yearly. (relative verb often plural with one of the X who…)
• She is the only one of the researchers who publishes yearly. (the only one → singular relative verb)

Quantity expressions

• A number of students are absent. (a number of ≈ several → plural)
• The number of students is rising. (the number = singular head)
• A variety of methods are acceptable. / The variety of methods is surprising.
• Fractions and percentages: agree with the of-noun (Fifty percent of the class is… vs Fifty percent of the students are…).
• Titles, amounts, and time periods as single units are singular: Ten dollars is enough. Two weeks is a short window.

Fill-in vs error-ID tactics

Part 1: Bracket the subject head. Mentally delete of… phrases. Check whether the blank is an auxiliary (is/are/has/have) or a main verb -s form.

Part 2: For each underlined verb, ask: “What is the true subject number?” Flag:

1. Verb matching a near noun inside of-phrases
2. Plural verb after each/everyone/either
3. Wrong member of either A or B pair
4. There is + plural NP
5. Relative-clause verb fighting its antecedent

Mini error patterns (iTEP-style wrong options)

Study drills

1. Strip test: Rewrite stems with only subject head + verb; confirm number; then restore modifiers.
2. Proximity cards: Write either/or pairs that flip the nearer noun and force verb change.
3. Indefinite grid: Quiz yourself until each/everyone/nobody automatically trigger singular.
4. Relative clause pairs: Alternate one of the X who… vs the only one of the X who…
5. In timed practice, never pick a verb because it “sounds academic”—pick it because the head noun is singular or plural.

Agreement items are high-speed points: once the head-noun habit is automatic, you free seconds for harder aspect and clause items later in the section.