Lessons · Grammar/Writing
CLT Grammar/Writing · Lesson
Subject-verb agreement
A verb must match its subject in number: one subject takes a singular verb, two or more take a plural verb. The test hides the subject behind phrases that come between it and the verb.
- Find the verb, then ask "who or what is doing this?" That is the subject.
- Cross out prepositional phrases ("of the ships," "with its crew") and phrases set off by commas. The subject is never inside them.
- Check the tricky subjects: "each," "every," "one," "neither" and "either" are singular; two subjects joined by "and" are plural.
- When a sentence starts with "There is" or "There are," the subject comes after the verb.
Wrong The log of the ship's three voyages were kept in the captain's cabin.
Right The log of the ship's three voyages was kept in the captain's cabin.
Cross out "of the ship's three voyages." The subject is "log," one log, so the verb is "was."
- The nearest noun is plural, so the plural verb "sounds right." Trust the crossed-out version, not your ear.
- With "neither ... nor" and "either ... or," the verb agrees with the nearer subject: "Neither the captain nor the sailors were ready."
Every practice question comes with a full explanation, including why each wrong choice is wrong. Free, with no account.