Intermediate 📐 Grammar · #146 of 305

Subject-Verb Agreement

Verb agrees with its true subject.

Examples

  • The box of apples is heavy.

Key rules

  • The verb agrees with the head noun, not the nearest noun
  • Each, every, everyone take singular verbs
  • Two subjects with and are plural
  • Phrases like along with do not change the verb

Common mistakes

  • The list of items are long → The list of items is long
  • Everyone are here → Everyone is here
💡 Tip: Find the main subject, ignore words in between.
Practise this topic in the appPractise Intermediate quiz
← Collective NounsAuxiliary Verb Do for Emphasis →

Related Intermediate topics

See all Intermediate grammar lessons →

Present Perfect Continuous

have been + -ing stresses duration up to now.

Past Perfect

had + past participle for an earlier past action.

Past Perfect Continuous

had been + -ing for duration before a past moment.

Future Continuous

will be + -ing for actions in progress at a future time.

Future Perfect

will have + past participle for completion before a future time.

Future Perfect Continuous

will have been + -ing for duration up to a future point.