12 Pitfalls to AVOID With Subject-Verb Agreement
April 10, 2025
Subject-verb agreement is easy enough on the surface: Singular subjects need singular verbs, and plural subjects need plural verbs. But things can get a little bit tricky when you start talking about multiple subjects, collective nouns, interference from predicate nouns, and other situations that are outside the norm.
As you navigate the world of subject-verb agreement, WATCH OUT for these 12 pitfalls! With each pitfall, I explain what the rule is and give a couple of examples. Throughout this post, I’ll highlight the subjects in the example sentences in green and their associated verbs in blue so that you can see which noun is the subject and which verb goes with it.
Quick Recap of Subject-Verb Agreement
The very simple explanation of subject-verb agreement is that singular subjects must have a singular verb, and plural subjects must have a plural verb.
Remember that we’re talking about subjects and verbs here—ignore any nouns in the predicate part of the sentence. Those don’t matter for subject-verb agreement.
You can learn more about the basics of subject-verb agreement here!
WATCH OUT for These Pitfalls
Pitfall #1: Multiple Singular Nouns Joined by “And”
When the subject is two or more singular nouns joined by and, you need a plural verb. This is because the nouns are working together, so they basically form a plural entity.
Greg and Andy go running together each morning.
Paint, rollers, and a tray are required before you can begin painting.
Both the Thomas family and the Williamson family play tennis.
The best teacher and the worst teacher in the school are in the science department.
Pitfall #2: Multiple Singular Nouns Joined by “As Well As”
When a pair of singular nouns is joined by as well as, you usually need a singular verb. Most of the time, the phrase beginning with as well as is set off with commas and is considered extra, nonessential information—the main subject is the FIRST noun.
During a tornado, a flashlight, as well as a candle, is useful.
If there are no commas (indicating that both nouns are equally essential), you should use a plural verb and treat as well as like and.
A pencil sharpener as well as a notebook are always on the teacher’s desk.
Pitfall #3: Multiple Singular Nouns Joined by “Or”
When multiple singular nouns are joined by or (or nor), the verb agrees with the noun that is closest to it. These subjects are considered to be acting independently of one another, not together like a pair joined by and would be.
Either Sally or Lucy is closing tonight.
Neither Sam nor the twins want to go to the lake. (“The twins” is a plural noun, so it requires a plural verb: “want.”)
Neither the twins nor Sam wants to go to the lake. (“Sam” is a singular noun, so it requires a singular verb: “wants.”)
Pitfall #4: Collective Nouns
Collective nouns are words like “administration,” “family,” and “nation” that are technically singular but are made up of many individuals.
When you have a collective noun as the subject, you need to determine whether the noun is working as a single entity or as multiple individuals. If it’s working as one entity, use a singular verb; if the noun conveys the idea of many individuals working separately, use a plural verb.
The country has a powerful army.
The family is going on vacation this May.
The faculty are arguing about when to hold the assembly.
The new couple down the street is in a feud with their neighbor. (In this instance, “the new couple” is a single, united entity that is feuding with their neighbor. They’re working together in that endeavor, so the subject needs a singular verb.)
The couple disagree with one another about how to decorate their lawn. (In this instance, the couple are not working together—they’re acting separately as individuals, so the subject needs a plural verb.)
Pitfall #5: False Agreement with a Predicate Noun
When there are multiple nouns in a sentence, make sure your verb agrees with the subject, not any of the predicate nouns! Sometimes a sentence has a singular subject noun and a plural predicate noun (or vice versa), which can make things confusing.
My weakness is bookstores.
“Weakness” is singular, so we need a singular verb: “is.” It doesn’t matter that the predicate noun (“bookstores”) is plural.
If we flipped the sentence around, we could use a plural verb to match the plural subject!
Bookstores are my weakness.
Pitfall #6: Phrases Coming Between the Subject and Verb
Sometimes the subject and verb are not right next to one another in a sentence. When other words and phrases get in the way, don’t let them confuse you!
One of the dessert options is cheesecake.
The principal, as well as the teachers, is nervous about the upcoming changes.
The man with all of the cats lives next door to me.
The mayor, accompanied by the town council, hosts a fancy dinner every year.
Pitfall #7: “Combined With”
This is similar to the last pitfall. When there is a phrase beginning with combined with or coupled with that comes right after the subject, that phrase does not affect the plurality of the verb. If the main subject is singular, the verb should still be singular.
The latest change, combined with all the recent price increases, is going to make people mad.
Pitfall #8: “Each”
The pronoun each always takes a singular verb. Even if the antecedent of each is plural, the pronoun itself is singular, so it needs a singular verb.
Each offers a unique perspective.
Pitfall #9: Titles of Books, Movies, etc.
The title of a book, movie, TV show, etc. always takes a singular verb (even if the title sounds plural).
Jurassic Park is my favorite movie.
The Beatles’ Greatest Hits includes songs like “I Want To Hold Your Hand.”
Pitfall #10: Fractions
If the subject is a fraction such as “one-third of x,” the verb agrees with x.
One-third of the students are absent.
About three-fourths of the work is finished.
Pitfall #11: “One or More X”
A subject beginning with the phrase one or more always needs a plural verb.
One or more books are missing.
One or more visitors require assistance.
Pitfall #12: Time
When the subject is a period of time, you need a singular verb.
Forty-five minutes is too long to wait for a table.
Sixty years is a long time to pine after a lost love.
What questions do you have about subject-verb agreement? Let me know in the comments, and I’ll find you an answer!
Click here to learn more about subject-verb agreement.
Sources:
- Purdue University. “Making Subjects and Verbs Agree.” Subject/Verb Agreement – Purdue OWL® – Purdue University. Accessed April 10, 2025. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/grammar/subject_verb_agreement.html.
- The Chicago Manual of Style. 17th ed. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press, 2017.
- Einsohn, Amy. The Copyeditor’s Handbook. 3rd ed. Berkeley and Los Angeles, California: Univ of California Pr, 2011.