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GRAMMAR LESSON

Subject–Verb Agreement: Tricky Subjects and Collective Nouns

Intermediate

Sentence Structure

UNDERSTAND THE PATTERN

The rule in plain English

Find the head of the subject before choosing the verb. The price of the tickets is high; each of us has a role. The number of students is singular, while a number of students usually takes a plural verb. Collective-noun agreement depends on meaning and variety of English.

SEE HOW IT WORKS

Examples in context

  1. The price of the tickets is high.
  2. Each of us has a role.
  3. A number of students are waiting. / The number of students is increasing.

MAKE IT STICK

Put the rule into practice

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Make it yours

Write one sentence about your life using this grammar.

Check your sentence

Find the head of the subject before choosing the verb. The price of the tickets is high; each of us has a role. The number of students is singular, while a number of students usually takes a plural verb. Collective-noun agreement depends on meaning and variety of English.

Compare: The price of the tickets is high.

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GO DEEPER

Explore the full explanation

Find the subject, not the nearest noun

This intermediate lesson builds on present-simple agreement basics. A phrase between the subject and verb can distract you. In “The price of the tickets is high,” price is the subject; tickets belongs to the phrase of the tickets.

Each, everyone and one of

Each and everyone normally take singular agreement: “Each student has a book” and “Everyone is ready.” In “One of the players is missing,” the subject is one, even though players is plural.

A number of and the number of

“A number of students are waiting” means several students are waiting. “The number of students is increasing” refers to the number itself. The small difference in wording changes the subject’s meaning.

Collective nouns and context

A team, family or group can be presented as one unit or as individual members. “The team is ready” treats it as a unit. British English also allows “The team are discussing their roles,” where the members are prominent. American English more often uses singular agreement with the collective noun, or rewrites it as “The team members are discussing their roles.” Keep your meaning and variety of English consistent.

There is and there are

In careful writing, match the verb to the following subject: “There is one message” and “There are three messages.” You may hear there’s before plural nouns in informal speech, but the singular/plural distinction is the safer choice for formal exercises.

Choose and explain

  1. The list of ingredients ___ (is/are) on the packet.
  2. Each of the volunteers ___ (has/have) a badge.
  3. A number of readers ___ (has/have) asked for examples.
  4. The number of requests ___ (is/are) growing.
  5. There ___ (is/are) two possible answers.
Check the answers
  1. Is: list is singular.
  2. Has: each takes singular agreement.
  3. Have: a number of readers means several readers.
  4. Is: the subject is the number.
  5. Are: the following subject is two possible answers.

Editing task

Take a paragraph you have written and mark each complete subject. Cross out intervening phrases temporarily, then check the verb against the remaining subject. Restore the phrases after checking. For a collective noun, decide whether your sentence concerns the group as a unit or its members.

Either … or and neither … nor

With alternatives joined by either … or or neither … nor, the usual formal agreement follows the nearer subject. This differs from ignoring a noun inside a phrase such as of the tickets. If mixed singular and plural subjects sound awkward, rewrite the sentence.

  1. Neither the teacher nor the students ___ (is/are) ready.
  2. Either the assistants or the manager ___ (has/have) the key.
Check the explanation
  1. Are: students is plural and is nearer the verb.
  2. Has: manager is singular and is nearer the verb. A clearer alternative is “The key is with either the assistants or the manager.”

Reference: Language Portal of Canada: agreement with or and nor.

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