Plural vs. Singular Verb Endings: The Grammar Breakdown

Mastering the agreement between subjects and verbs is a cornerstone of English grammar. The subtle yet crucial distinction between singular and plural verb endings ensures clarity and accuracy in communication.

This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and correctly using singular and plural verb forms, covering definitions, structural rules, common mistakes, and advanced topics. Whether you’re a student, writer, or language enthusiast, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and skills to confidently navigate the intricacies of subject-verb agreement.

This article is designed to benefit learners of all levels, from beginners grappling with basic sentence construction to advanced speakers refining their grammatical precision. By understanding the fundamental principles and practicing regularly, you can enhance your writing and speaking skills and avoid common errors that can undermine your message.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Definition of Singular and Plural Verb Endings
3. Structural Breakdown of Subject-Verb Agreement
4. Types and Categories of Subject-Verb Agreement
   • Regular Verbs
   • Irregular Verbs
   • Collective Nouns
   • Compound Subjects
   • Indefinite Pronouns
5. Examples of Singular and Plural Verb Endings
6. Usage Rules for Singular and Plural Verb Endings
   • General Rules
   • Exceptions to the Rules
   • Special Cases
7. Common Mistakes in Subject-Verb Agreement
8. Practice Exercises
9. Advanced Topics in Subject-Verb Agreement
   • Subject-Verb Inversion
   • Relative Clauses
   • Subjunctive Mood
10. Frequently Asked Questions
11. Conclusion

Definition of Singular and Plural Verb Endings

Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental principle in English grammar, dictating that a verb must agree in number (singular or plural) with its subject. This means that if the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. The verb ending is the primary indicator of whether a verb is singular or plural in the present tense.

In the present simple tense, the verb takes an ‘-s’ or ‘-es’ ending when the subject is a singular noun or pronoun (he, she, it). Conversely, the verb remains in its base form (without the ‘-s’ or ‘-es’ ending) when the subject is a plural noun or pronoun (I, you, we, they).

This seemingly simple rule is crucial for constructing grammatically correct and easily understandable sentences.

Consider these examples: “The dog barks.” (singular subject, singular verb) versus “The dogs bark.” (plural subject, plural verb). The presence or absence of the ‘-s’ ending on the verb ‘bark’ signifies the number of the subject, ensuring that the sentence is grammatically sound. Understanding this basic principle is the foundation for mastering more complex aspects of subject-verb agreement.

Structural Breakdown of Subject-Verb Agreement

The structure of subject-verb agreement relies on identifying the subject and then choosing the correct verb form to match its number. This process involves several key elements:

1. Identifying the Subject: The subject of a sentence is the noun or pronoun that performs the action or is being described. It can be a simple noun (e.g., cat), a pronoun (e.g., he), or a more complex noun phrase (e.g., the old, wooden chair).
2. Determining the Number of the Subject: Once the subject is identified, it’s crucial to determine whether it is singular or plural. Singular subjects refer to one entity, while plural subjects refer to more than one.
3. Choosing the Correct Verb Form: Based on the number of the subject, select the appropriate verb form. For singular subjects in the present simple tense, use the verb with an ‘-s’ or ‘-es’ ending. For plural subjects, use the base form of the verb.
4. Handling Intervening Phrases: Be aware of phrases that come between the subject and the verb. These phrases can sometimes obscure the true subject, leading to errors in agreement. For example, in the sentence “The box of apples is heavy,” the subject is “box,” not “apples.”

Understanding these structural elements is vital for accurately applying the rules of subject-verb agreement. Paying close attention to the subject and its number will help you avoid common errors and construct grammatically correct sentences.

Types and Categories of Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement can be categorized based on different types of verbs and nouns, each with its own specific rules and considerations.

Regular Verbs

Regular verbs follow a predictable pattern for forming the third-person singular present tense. They simply add ‘-s’ to the base form of the verb.

For example, the verb “walk” becomes “walks” in the third-person singular (he/she/it walks).

Irregular Verbs

Irregular verbs do not follow the standard pattern of adding ‘-s’ to the base form in the third-person singular. The most common irregular verb is “to be,” which has different forms for singular and plural subjects (I am, he/she/it is, we/you/they are). Other irregular verbs, such as “to have” (has for singular, have for plural), also require special attention.

Collective Nouns

Collective nouns refer to a group of individuals or things (e.g., team, family, committee). They can be treated as either singular or plural, depending on whether the group is acting as a single unit or as individual members. If the group is acting as a unit, the collective noun takes a singular verb. If the members of the group are acting individually, the collective noun takes a plural verb.

For example: “The team is playing well.” (singular, the team as a unit) versus “The team are arguing about the strategy.” (plural, individual members arguing).

Compound Subjects

Compound subjects are two or more subjects joined by a conjunction such as “and,” “or,” or “nor.” When subjects are joined by “and,” they generally take a plural verb. However, if the subjects refer to the same person or thing, or are considered a single unit, they take a singular verb.

For example: “John and Mary are going to the party.” (plural) versus “Macaroni and cheese is my favorite dish.” (singular, considered a single dish).

When subjects are joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

For example: “Either the students or the teacher is responsible.” (singular) versus “Either the teacher or the students are responsible.” (plural).

Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns refer to nonspecific persons or things (e.g., everyone, someone, nobody, all, some, none). Some indefinite pronouns are always singular (e.g., each, every, anyone, someone, no one), while others can be either singular or plural depending on the context (e.g., all, some, none).

For example: “Everyone is invited.” (singular) versus “Some of the cake is gone.” (singular) and “Some of the cookies are gone.” (plural).

Examples of Singular and Plural Verb Endings

Understanding the practical application of singular and plural verb endings is crucial. Below are several tables with specific examples to illustrate the concepts discussed.

The following table illustrates singular and plural verb agreement with regular verbs in the present simple tense:

Subject	Singular Verb	Plural Verb
I	–	walk
You	–	walk
He	walks	–
She	walks	–
It	walks	–
We	–	walk
They	–	walk
The dog	walks	–
The dogs	–	walk
A student	studies	–
Students	–	study
The car	runs	–
The cars	–	run
My mother	cooks	–
My parents	–	cook
The bird	sings	–
The birds	–	sing
The flower	blooms	–
The flowers	–	bloom
The sun	shines	–

This table provides a clear comparison of how regular verbs change their form to agree with singular and plural subjects.

The following table illustrates singular and plural verb agreement with the irregular verb “to be” in the present simple tense:

Subject	Singular Verb	Plural Verb
I	am	–
You	are	are
He	is	–
She	is	–
It	is	–
We	–	are
They	–	are
The dog	is	–
The dogs	–	are
The book	is	–
The books	–	are
My friend	is	–
My friends	–	are
The movie	is	–
The movies	–	are
The test	is	–
The tests	–	are
The city	is	–
The cities	–	are
The exercise	is	–

This table demonstrates the unique forms of the verb “to be” for different subjects, highlighting its irregularity.

The following table illustrates subject-verb agreement with collective nouns:

Collective Noun	Singular Verb (Group as a Unit)	Plural Verb (Individual Members)
The team	is playing well	are arguing about the strategy
The family	is planning a vacation	are deciding on their destinations
The committee	has made a decision	are expressing different opinions
The audience	is enjoying the performance	are clapping enthusiastically
The jury	has reached a verdict	are still deliberating
The class	is taking a test	are working on different problems
The band	is performing tonight	are tuning their instruments
The government	is implementing new policies	are debating the details
The company	is launching a new product	are preparing for the launch event
The crowd	is cheering loudly	are pushing and shoving
The flock	is flying south for the winter	are scattering in different directions
The staff	is attending a meeting	are sharing their ideas
The board	is considering the proposal	are voicing their concerns
The group	is working together	are contributing individually
The public	is showing support	are expressing varied opinions
The crew	is preparing for the voyage	are carrying out different tasks
The cast	is rehearsing the play	are memorizing their lines
The orchestra	is playing beautifully	are tuning their instruments
The choir	is singing in harmony	are practicing their parts
The panel	is reviewing the applications	are discussing the candidates

This table illustrates how the choice between singular and plural verbs depends on the context and the intended meaning when using collective nouns.

The following table illustrates subject-verb agreement with compound subjects:

Compound Subject	Verb Agreement	Example Sentence
John and Mary	Plural	John and Mary are going to the party.
Macaroni and cheese	Singular	Macaroni and cheese is my favorite dish.
The singer and songwriter	Singular	The singer and songwriter is performing tonight. (one person)
The singer and the songwriter	Plural	The singer and the songwriter are collaborating on a new song. (two people)
Either the students or the teacher	Singular	Either the students or the teacher is responsible.
Either the teacher or the students	Plural	Either the teacher or the students are responsible.
Neither John nor Mary	Singular (agrees with the closest subject)	Neither John nor Mary is available.
Neither the students nor the teacher	Singular	Neither the students nor the teacher is present.
Neither the teacher nor the students	Plural	Neither the teacher nor the students are present.
My brother and I	Plural	My brother and I are planning a trip.
Peanut butter and jelly	Singular	Peanut butter and jelly is a classic combination.
The director and producer	Singular	The director and producer is announcing the film.
The director and the producer	Plural	The director and the producer are working on the project.
Either the dog or the cats	Plural	Either the dog or the cats are making noise.
Either the cats or the dog	Singular	Either the cats or the dog is making noise.
Neither the book nor the magazines	Plural	Neither the book nor the magazines are on the shelf.
Neither the magazines nor the book	Singular	Neither the magazines nor the book is on the shelf.
My friend and colleague	Singular	My friend and colleague is attending the conference.
My friend and my colleague	Plural	My friend and my colleague are attending the conference.
The bread and butter	Singular	Bread and butter is a simple pleasure.

This table provides examples of various compound subjects and their corresponding verb agreement, highlighting the roles of “and,” “or,” and “nor.”

The following table illustrates subject-verb agreement with indefinite pronouns:

Indefinite Pronoun	Verb Agreement	Example Sentence
Everyone	Singular	Everyone is invited to the party.
Someone	Singular	Someone is knocking at the door.
Nobody	Singular	Nobody knows the answer.
Each	Singular	Each student has a book.
Every	Singular	Every child needs love and care.
Anyone	Singular	Anyone is welcome to join.
No one	Singular	No one is available at the moment.
Something	Singular	Something is wrong.
Nothing	Singular	Nothing is impossible.
Everything	Singular	Everything is ready.
All (of the cake)	Singular	All of the cake is gone.
All (of the cookies)	Plural	All of the cookies are gone.
Some (of the water)	Singular	Some of the water is contaminated.
Some (of the apples)	Plural	Some of the apples are rotten.
None (of the money)	Singular	None of the money is left.
None (of the students)	Plural	None of the students are present.
Most (of the pie)	Singular	Most of the pie is eaten.
Most (of the grapes)	Plural	Most of the grapes are ripe.
Few	Plural	Few people know the truth.
Several	Plural	Several options are available.

This table provides examples of indefinite pronouns and their corresponding verb agreement, illustrating the rules for both always-singular and context-dependent pronouns.

Usage Rules for Singular and Plural Verb Endings

Mastering subject-verb agreement requires a solid understanding of the rules that govern its usage. These rules are generally straightforward, but exceptions and special cases can pose challenges.

General Rules

1. Singular Subject, Singular Verb: A singular subject takes a singular verb. For example: “The cat sleeps.”
2. Plural Subject, Plural Verb: A plural subject takes a plural verb. For example: “The cats sleep.”
3. Agreement with Pronouns: Pronouns must agree in number with their antecedents. For example: “The student is diligent; he studies hard.”

Exceptions to the Rules

1. Collective Nouns: As discussed earlier, collective nouns can take either singular or plural verbs depending on the context.
2. Compound Subjects with “Or” or “Nor”: The verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
3. Titles of Works: Titles of books, movies, and songs are treated as singular, even if they contain plural words. For example: “The Lord of the Rings is a classic.”
4. Units of Measurement: Units of measurement are generally treated as singular when they refer to a single quantity. For example: “Five dollars is too much to pay.”

Special Cases

1. Sentences Beginning with “There” or “Here”: In sentences that begin with “there” or “here,” the subject follows the verb. The verb must agree with the subject that follows it. For example: “There is a book on the table.” versus “There are books on the table.”
2. “Each” and “Every”: When “each” or “every” precedes a compound subject, the verb is singular. For example: “Each boy and girl has a book.”
3. Relative Clauses: The verb in a relative clause must agree with the noun or pronoun that the clause modifies. For example: “The student who studies hard will succeed.”

Common Mistakes in Subject-Verb Agreement

Even experienced English speakers sometimes make mistakes in subject-verb agreement. Being aware of these common errors can help you avoid them in your own writing and speaking.

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
The students is going to the library.	The students are going to the library.	The subject “students” is plural, so the verb must be plural (“are”).
Each of the students have a book.	Each of the students has a book.	“Each” is singular, so the verb must be singular (“has”).
There is many reasons to visit Paris.	There are many reasons to visit Paris.	The subject “reasons” is plural, so the verb must be plural (“are”).
The team are playing well.	The team is playing well.	When the team is acting as a unit, it takes a singular verb (“is”).
My friend and colleague are arriving today.	My friend and colleague is arriving today.	If “friend and colleague” refers to the same person, the verb should be singular (“is”).
The data is incorrect.	The data are incorrect.	“Data” is the plural form of “datum” and often takes a plural verb.
Mathematics are my favorite subject.	Mathematics is my favorite subject.	Subjects like mathematics, physics, and economics are treated as singular nouns.
Neither John nor his friends is going to the party.	Neither John nor his friends are going to the party.	When using “neither…nor,” the verb agrees with the subject closest to it (“friends”).
The dog, along with his puppies, are running in the park.	The dog, along with his puppies, is running in the park.	Intervening phrases like “along with his puppies” do not change the subject (“dog”).
Every student and teacher have access to the library.	Every student and teacher has access to the library.	When “every” precedes a compound subject, the verb is singular (“has”).
The news are surprising.	The news is surprising.	“News” is singular, even though it looks plural.
Five miles are a long distance to walk.	Five miles is a long distance to walk.	Distances are treated as singular.
The United States are a powerful country.	The United States is a powerful country.	Countries are generally singular.
The number of students are increasing.	The number of students is increasing.	The subject is “the number,” which is singular.
A number of students is absent.	A number of students are absent.	The subject is “a number,” which is plural.
The majority of students prefers online learning.	The majority of students prefer online learning.	“Majority” is plural in this context.
There’s a lot of people here.	There are a lot of people here.	“People” is plural, so “are” is needed.
None of the food were eaten.	None of the food was eaten.	“Food” is uncountable, so “was” is correct.
Each of the girls have a doll.	Each of the girls has a doll.	“Each” is singular.
The effects of pollution is visible here.	The effects of pollution are visible here.	“Effects” is plural.

This table highlights common mistakes in subject-verb agreement and provides correct examples with explanations.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding of subject-verb agreement with these practice exercises. Choose the correct verb form for each sentence.

Question	Answer
1. The dog (barks/bark) loudly.	barks
2. The dogs (barks/bark) loudly.	bark
3. She (plays/play) the piano beautifully.	plays
4. They (plays/play) soccer every weekend.	play
5. The team (is/are) practicing hard for the game.	is
6. The team members (is/are) arguing about the strategy.	are
7. Each student (has/have) a textbook.	has
8. All of the students (has/have) completed the assignment.	have
9. There (is/are) many reasons to learn English.	are
10. Here (is/are) your keys.	are
11. Mathematics (is/are) my favorite subject.	is
12. The news (is/are) very interesting.	is
13. Neither John nor Mary (is/are) going to the party.	is
14. Either the cat or the dogs (is/are) responsible for the mess.	are
15. Everyone (is/are) welcome to join us.	is
16. Some of the cake (was/were) eaten.	was
17. Some of the cookies (was/were) eaten.	were
18. The number of students (is/are) increasing.	is
19. A number of students (is/are) absent today.	are
20. The United States (is/are) a powerful country.	is
21. The effects of the medicine (is/are) noticeable.	are
22. Five dollars (is/are) too much to pay for that.	is
23. The Lord of the Rings (is/are) a great book.	is
24. My family (is/are) planning a vacation.	is
25. My family members (is/are) discussing their travel plans.	are
26. Each of the books (is/are) interesting.	is
27. All of the books (is/are) interesting.	are
28. The committee (has/have) made a decision.	has
29. The committee members (has/have) different opinions.	have
30. Neither the players nor the coach (was/were) happy with the result.	was

This table provides practice sentences with answers to help solidify your understanding of subject-verb agreement.

Advanced Topics in Subject-Verb Agreement

For advanced learners, exploring more complex aspects of subject-verb agreement can enhance their grammatical precision and fluency.

Subject-Verb Inversion

Subject-verb inversion occurs when the verb comes before the subject in a sentence. This often happens in questions, sentences beginning with adverbs of place, and conditional sentences without “if.” In these cases, it’s crucial to identify the subject correctly to ensure proper verb agreement.

For example: “Are the students ready?” (question) versus “Here is the book.” (adverb of place) and “Had I known, I would have come.” (conditional without “if”).

Relative Clauses

Relative clauses are clauses that modify a noun or pronoun. The verb in a relative clause must agree with the noun or pronoun that the clause modifies. This can be tricky when the relative pronoun (who, which, that) is the subject of the clause.

For example: “The student who studies hard succeeds.” (singular) versus “The students who study hard succeed.” (plural).

Subjunctive Mood

The subjunctive mood is used to express wishes, suggestions, commands, or conditions that are contrary to fact. In the present subjunctive, the verb takes its base form, regardless of the number of the subject. This is often used after verbs such as suggest, recommend, demand, and insist.

For example: “I suggest that he be on time.” (not “is”) and “It is essential that she study hard.” (not “studies”).

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Mastering the nuances of plural versus singular verb endings is essential for effective communication in English. By understanding the fundamental principles, recognizing common exceptions, and practicing regularly, you can significantly enhance your grammatical accuracy and fluency.

This comprehensive guide has provided you with the knowledge and tools to confidently navigate the intricacies of subject-verb agreement.

Remember that consistent attention to detail and ongoing practice are key to solidifying your understanding. As you continue to develop your language skills, revisit these principles and apply them to your writing and speaking.

With dedication and effort, you can achieve a high level of proficiency in subject-verb agreement and communicate with clarity and precision.