25 Subject + Verb Agreement

Singular Subjects need singular verbs and plural subjects need plural ones.

The Subject-Verb Agreement for collective nouns and the groups of two or more nouns is different than this rule.

A sentence with collective or groups of two or more nouns usually has this structure:
Subject (collective noun/ two or more nouns) + Verb.

Then we use singular or plural verbs depending on the case:

Singular verb

• Collective nouns;
• Singular nouns connected by or, nor, neither/nor, either/or;
• One plural noun + one singular noun connected by or (with the singular noun being close to the verb).

Plural verb

• Singular nouns connected by and;
• One singular noun + one plural noun connected by or (with the plural noun being close to the verb).

Singular

1. Collective nouns
   • A herd of cows is grazing on pasture.
   • A team of players is throwing a costume party.
   • This group of friends always meets in this café.
2. Two singular nouns connected by or, nor, neither/nor, either/or
   • Peter or Tom is in a relationship.
   • Neither my mom nor my dad wants to divorce.
   • Either her sister or brother is on honeymoon.
3. One plural noun + one singular noun connected by or
   • Her parents or her brother is arguing with calling her.
   • My childhood friends or my boyfriend is going to come with me.
   • His uncles and his dad spends the holiday at home.

Plural

4. Two singular nouns connected by and
   • My brother and his girlfriend live together.
   • Lisa and Jack don’t like business dinners.
   • His mum and his dad give me a present every year.
5. One singular and one plural noun connected by or
   • Her brother or her parents are arguing with her.
   • My boyfriend or my childhood friends are going to come with me.
   • His dad and his uncles spend the holiday at home.

Subject-Verb Agreement for collective nouns and for group of nouns is different then the general rule.

As we already know, singular subjects need singular verbs and plural subjects need plural ones. It is important, however, to know about the subject-verb agreement for collective nouns and the one for groups of two or more nouns.

If we wish to form a sentence with collective nouns or groups of two or more nouns, we have to follow the following structure:
Subject (collective noun/two or more nouns) + Verb.

For most of the collective nouns and for two singular nouns which are connected by “or”, “neither” or “either”, we use a singular verb. However, for two singular nouns which are connected by “and”, we use a plural verb.

NOTE: When the subject includes one singular and one plural noun connected by “or”, the verb should agree to the noun nearest the verb.

For example:
— “A group of colleagues is having dinner.” = “A group of colleagues” is a collective noun and with collective nouns we use singular verb.
— “Neither James nor Michael celebrates Christmas.” = Since two singular nouns, James and Michael, are connected with Neither… Nor we use singular verb.
— “Her friends and July wants to adopt children.” - “July and her friends want to adopt children.” = When we have a singular and a plural noun in a sentence, the verb should adapt itself to the noun nearest to the verb.

Let’s revise this content within the [Form] section. Take a look at the [Example] section that shows its use within a context.