BASIC RULES FOR SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

1. Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs.
Examples: Potato is a vegetable.
SUBJECT: POTATO PREDICATE: IS
Potatoes are vegetables.
SUBJCET: POTATOES PREDICATE: ARE
2. The number as a subject takes a SINGULAR VERB; and A number, PLURAL VERBS.
Examples: The number of Edisons experiments was unsuccessful.
SUBJECT: THE NUMBER PREDICATE: WAS
A number of Edisons experiments were successful.
SUBJECT: A NUMBER PREDICATE: WERE
3. The general rule about singular subjects taking singular verbs and plural subjects taking plural verbs
holds true for subjects which come after the verb in the inverted order. They are introduced by THERE and
HERE.
Examples: There are many things to do.
SUBJECT: THINGS PREDICATE: ARE
Here comes the new manager.
SUBJECT: MANAGER PREDICATE: COMES
4. Intervening elements such as in addition to, as well as, together with, including, other than, do not affect
the number of the subject.
Examples: The priceless book, as well as other valuable documents, was lost.
SUBJECT: BOOK PREDICATE: WAS
The workers, together with the manager, are attending the symposium.
SUBJECT: WORKERS PREDICATE: ARE ATTENDING

BASIC RULES FOR SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
1. Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs.
Examples: Potato is a vegetable.
SUBJECT: POTATO PREDICATE: IS
Potatoes are vegetables.
SUBJCET: POTATOES PREDICATE: ARE
2. The number as a subject takes a SINGULAR VERB; and A number, PLURAL VERBS.
Examples: The number of Edisons experiments was unsuccessful.
SUBJECT: THE NUMBER PREDICATE: WAS
A number of Edisons experiments were successful.
SUBJECT: A NUMBER PREDICATE: WERE
3. The general rule about singular subjects taking singular verbs and plural subjects taking plural verbs
holds true for subjects which come after the verb in the inverted order. They are introduced by THERE and
HERE.
Examples: There are many things to do.
SUBJECT: THINGS PREDICATE: ARE
Here comes the new manager.
SUBJECT: MANAGER PREDICATE: COMES
4. Intervening elements such as in addition to, as well as, together with, including, other than, do not affect
the number of the subject.
Examples: The priceless book, as well as other valuable documents, was lost.
SUBJECT: BOOK PREDICATE: WAS
The workers, together with the manager, are attending the symposium.
SUBJECT: WORKERS PREDICATE: ARE ATTENDING