HSPT: Subject-verb agreement: find the true subject
Learn to find the real subject of a sentence, even when a phrase, a there-is opening or an either/or pair hides it, and match the verb to it.
How do you pick the right verb when other nouns sit between the subject and the verb?
Short answer
Find the true subject by crossing out the phrases that describe it, then make the verb match that subject in number. Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs.
Know first: Singular and plural nouns, Spotting the verb in a sentence
Step 1 of 5
The verb matches its subject, not the nearest noun
A verb must agree with its subject in number. A singular subject takes a singular verb: The dog barks. A plural subject takes a plural verb: The dogs bark. In the present tense, the singular verb usually ends in -s, the opposite of what nouns do.
Choosing the verb is easy once you know the subject. Finding the subject is the hard part, because sentences often put another noun between the subject and the verb. That closer noun pulls your ear toward the wrong verb.
| Pattern | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A phrase between subject and verb | Ignore the phrase | The list of chores hangs on the fridge. |
| Each, every, either, neither, one of | Singular | One of the windows sticks. |
| Either/or, neither/nor | Match the subject nearer the verb | Neither the twins nor their father likes olives. |
| There is, there are, here comes | The subject comes after the verb | There are three keys on the hook. |
| Two subjects joined by and | Plural | The guitar and the drum need tuning. |
| Along with, as well as | Doesn't make the subject plural | The captain, along with her crew, waves. |
Every row comes down to the same move: point to the true subject before you choose the verb.
Step 2 of 5
Strip the sentence down to subject and verb
Worked example: A sentence with a long middle
Choose the completion that follows standard English grammar. The stack of library books on the counter ___ to the school.
- Abelong
- Bbelongs
- Care belonging
- Dhave belonged
- 1
Find the verb slot
The blank needs a verb that tells what something does: ___ to the school.
- 2
Cross out the phrases
Of library books and on the counter both start with prepositions, so the subject can't be inside them. What's left: The stack ___ to the school.
- 3
Match the number
Stack is one stack, so it's singular. The singular verb is belongs.
- 4
See why the others are there
Belong, are belonging and have belonged are all plural. Each one agrees with books, the noun closest to the blank, which is exactly the trap.
Answer
belongs. The subject is stack, which is singular.
Two more patterns need a second look. When a sentence starts with there or here, the subject comes after the verb. Flip it to check: There are two buses becomes Two buses are there.
With either/or and neither/nor, the subjects are not added together. The verb agrees with the subject closer to it.
Wrong: Neither the drummer nor the singers was ready.
Right: Neither the drummer nor the singers were ready.
With neither/nor, the verb matches the nearer subject. Singers is plural, so the verb is were.
Step 3 of 5
Check the verb against the subject
Check yourself · Question 1
Choose the completion that follows standard English grammar. Every one of the puppies ___ a name tag.
Answer: B
The subject is every one, which is singular. Of the puppies is a phrase between the subject and the verb, so cross it out: Every one wears a name tag.
Check yourself · Question 2
Choose the completion that follows standard English grammar. Either the twins or their older sister ___ the dog each evening.
Answer: B
With either/or, the verb agrees with the nearer subject. Sister is closer to the blank and singular, so the verb is walks.
Trap answer: walk
Matching the wrong half of the pair
- Why it looks right
- The twins comes first and feels like the main subject, and two people seem to call for a plural verb.
- Why it's wrong
- Either/or doesn't add the subjects together. Only one of them walks the dog, and the verb follows the one nearer to it.
- The right answer
- walks, which agrees with sister.
Check yourself · Question 3
Which sentence follows standard English grammar?
Answer: C
The subject roses is plural, and along the fence is a phrase in between. The plural verb need agrees.
Common mistake
Choosing the verb that sounds right next to the blank.
- Why it's tempting
- Your ear matches the verb to the noun just before it, and in short sentences that noun usually is the subject.
- Do this instead
- Point to the subject first. Cross out phrases that start with of, in, with or along with, then read the subject and verb together.
Step 4 of 5
What to remember
Remember
- Cross out the phrases between the subject and the verb, then match the verb to what's left.
- Each, every and one of are singular. With either/or or neither/nor, match the subject nearer the verb.
- In sentences that start with there or here, look for the subject after the verb.
Step 5 of 5
Practice on a real question
Use what you just learned on this question, then check the explanation.
In your own words
In the practice question, which noun was the true subject, and which noun sat closer to the blank and pulled toward the wrong verb?