Subject–Verb Agreement | Complete IELTS Guide

✦ IELTS & ACADEMIC ENGLISH

Subject–Verb
Agreement

নিয়ম মাত্র একটি: বাক্যের Subject যদি Singular হয়, তবে Verb-ও Singular হবে; আর Subject যদি Plural হয়, তবে Verb-ও Plural হবে।

Singular Subject → Singular Verb | Plural Subject → Plural Verb

Singular Subject → Singular Verb

All subjects below are 3rd person singular. Always add -s / -es to the base verb in simple present tense.

He, she, it, this, that
Each, every, either, neither
Singular noun, uncountable noun, collective noun
Participle (Verb+ing), Infinitive (To+Verb)
Indefinite pronouns: everyone, everybody, everything, etc.
Quantity phrases: the number of, many a/an, more than one, one of the…
Academic subjects, book titles, diseases, time, distance, country

1.1 — Singular & Uncountable Nouns

Category	Examples
Singular Pronouns	He, She, It, That, This
Singular Noun	The student, The report, The chart
Uncountable Noun	Information, evidence, knowledge, research, data*
Verb + -ing as subject	Swimming is healthy.
To + Verb as subject	To learn English is important.

* Data is singular in IELTS writing; plural in scientific contexts.

1.2 — Each, Every, Either, Neither (used alone)

Subject	Example
Each	Each student has submitted the assignment.
Every	Every graph shows an upward trend.
Either	Either option is acceptable.
Neither	Neither answer is correct.

Exception: Post-positive "each" — The students each have their own role.

1.3 — Quantity Phrases (Always Singular)

Phrase	Example
The number of + noun	The number of cars is increasing.
Many a/an + noun	Many a student has failed this test.
More than one + noun	More than one country has adopted this policy.
One of the + plural noun	One of the graphs shows a sharp rise.
Each of the + plural noun	Each of the students was present.
Either of the + plural noun	Either of the answers is correct.
Neither of the + plural noun	Neither of the options is suitable.
One and a half + noun	One and a half hours is enough.

Exception: "More than one of the + plural noun" → plural: More than one of the countries have adopted this policy.

1.4 — Indefinite Pronouns (Always Singular)

Group	Pronouns
Every–	Everybody, Everyone, Everything
Any–	Anybody, Anyone, Anything
Some–	Somebody, Someone, Something
No–	Nobody, No one, Nothing

1.5 — Amounts as a Single Unit

Category	Example
Distance	Fifty kilometres is a reasonable commute.
Time	Ten years is a long time to wait.
Weight	Ninety kilograms is too heavy.
Money	Five thousand dollars was the registration fee.
Academic subject	Physics is considered a challenging subject.
Book title	Arabian Nights is a classic collection of stories.
Disease	Diabetes is a growing global health concern.
Country (plural name)	The United States is a major trading partner.

1.6 — Collective Nouns (Important for IELTS)

Collective Noun	Example
The committee	The committee has reached a decision.
The government	The government is planning new reforms.
The team	The team was selected carefully.
The jury	The jury has delivered its verdict.
The public	The public is increasingly concerned about pollution.
The class	The class has finished the assignment.

British English may use plural with collective nouns (The team have their own opinions). For IELTS, singular is safer.

Step 01 — Examples

Basic
The report shows a steady increase in global temperatures.

IELTS
The information provided in the pie chart indicates that more than half of the respondents prefer online learning.

✗ Error
The evidence suggest that the policy has had no measurable impact.

✓ Corrected
The evidence suggests that the policy has had no measurable impact. [evidence = uncountable → singular]

✗ Error
Neither of the two methods were effective in reducing carbon emissions.

✓ Corrected
Neither of the two methods was effective in reducing carbon emissions.

✗ Error
More than one country have adopted this environmental policy.

✓ Corrected
More than one country has adopted this policy.

💡

IELTS Tip: "The number of…" and "The proportion of…" always take singular verbs in Writing Task 1.

Plural Subject → Plural Verb

All subjects below are plural. Use the base verb without -s / -es.

You, we, they, these, those
Others, few, a few, both, many, several
Plural noun, a number of
…and…, both…and…
The + adjective (referring to a group)

2.1 — Plural Pronouns

Category	Pronouns
Personal	You, We, They
Demonstrative	These, Those
Quantifiers	Both, Many, Several, Few, A few, Others

"You" always takes plural verb — even one person: You are my friend. (NOT "You is")

2.2 — Plural Noun Structures

Structure	Example
Plural Noun	Students are required to register.
A number of + noun	A number of issues have been raised.
A couple of + noun	A couple of problems have emerged.
Both … and …	Both the teacher and the student were present.
[Noun] and [Noun]	Jack and Jill have arrived.
The + Adjective (group)	The elderly face significant challenges.

2.3 — The + Adjective (Group)

Example
The poor need better support from the government.

Example
The unemployed are supported by welfare programmes.

Example
The elderly often face barriers when accessing digital services.

Example
The wealthy do not always understand economic inequality.

2.4 — Always-Plural Nouns

Noun	Example
The police	The police are investigating the incident.
The media	The media have a responsibility to report accurately.
The people	The people were not consulted before the policy was introduced.

2.5 — "And" Exceptions

Rule	Example
"The" on both sides of "and" → different people → Plural	The great scholar and the poet have* arrived.*
"The" only once → same person → Singular	The great scholar and poet has* arrived.*
Mathematical fact → Singular	Two and two makes* four.*

2.6 — Fixed Paired Expressions (Always Singular)

Expression	Example
bread and butter	Bread and butter is his daily diet.
age and experience	Age and experience is a valuable combination.
time and tide	Time and tide waits for no one.
slow and steady	Slow and steady wins the race.
horse and carriage	Horse and carriage was the common mode of transport.
rice and curry	Rice and curry is a staple meal in this region.

Memory Rule: Noun + s/es = Plural | Verb + s/es = Singular.

Step 02 — Examples

✗ Error
A number of students was absent during the examination period.

✓ Corrected
A number of students were absent during the examination period.

✗ Error
The rich is not always happier than those with less wealth.

✓ Corrected
The rich are not always happier than those with less wealth.

✗ Error
The founder and CEO have submitted their resignation following the financial scandal.

✓ Corrected
The founder and CEO has submitted their resignation. [one person, two roles → singular]

Verb Follows the Noun After

These words are neither purely singular nor plural alone — the verb agrees with the noun that follows.

Noun after = singular / uncountable → Singular Verb
Noun after = plural → Plural Verb

Applies to: All, any, more, most, some, no | All of, most of, some of, none of | A lot of, lots of, a great deal of, plenty of, a majority of | One third, two thirds, three fourths…

3.1 — All, Any, More, Most, Some, No

Quantifier + Noun	Verb	Reason
All water	is	uncountable
All students	have passed	plural
Most information	was outdated	uncountable
Most governments	have failed	plural
Some evidence	suggests	uncountable
Some economists	argue	plural
No data	was collected	uncountable
No countries	were excluded	plural

None of + plural: Both singular and plural are accepted. Be consistent in IELTS.

3.2 — A lot of, A great deal of, A majority of

Structure	Example
A lot of + uncountable	A lot of effort is required.
A lot of + plural	A lot of people are affected.
A great deal of + uncountable	A great deal of research has been published.
A majority of + plural noun	A majority of respondents have expressed support.
The majority of + plural noun	The majority of countries have failed to meet targets.

"The majority" alone (no of) → singular: The majority is in favour.

3.3 — Fractions

Structure	Example
Fraction + uncountable noun	One third of the land is used for agriculture.
Fraction + plural noun	Two thirds of the population are living below the poverty line.
Fraction + singular noun	Three fourths of the budget was allocated to healthcare.
Fraction + plural noun	One fifth of the workers have lost their jobs.

Step 03 — Examples

✗ Error
All of the evidence suggest that climate change is accelerating at an alarming rate.

✓ Corrected
All of the evidence suggests that climate change is accelerating. [evidence = uncountable]

✗ Error
A lot of research have been published on the long-term effects of social media on mental health.

✓ Corrected
A lot of research has been published on this topic. [research = uncountable]

✗ Error
Three fourths of the world's oceans remains entirely unexplored by modern science.

✓ Corrected
Three fourths of the world's oceans remain unexplored. [oceans = plural]

Identifying the True Subject

Core principle: Prepositions, prepositional phrases, participial phrases, and relative clauses come after the true subject. They add extra information — but never change the verb. The verb always agrees with the first (true) subject.

4.1 — Preposition Interruption

Common prepositions: of, in, at, on, with, for, by, to, from, between, among, within, despite, through

Sentence	True Subject	Verb
The quality of the reports is excellent.	the quality	is
The impact of rising temperatures has been severe.	the impact	has been
A list of recommendations was submitted to the board.	a list	was
The number of unemployed workers is increasing annually.	the number	is

4.2 — Prepositional Phrase Interruption

These phrases don't change the verb: along with, and not, but not, together with, as well as, in addition to, accompanied by, including, besides, followed by, led by, guided by, apart from

Sentence	True Subject	Verb
The director, along with the managers, was present.	the director	was
The government, together with several NGOs, has launched a new initiative.	the government	has launched
The president, as well as his advisers, was briefed.	the president	was
The policy, including all its amendments, was approved unanimously.	the policy	was
The teacher, and not the students, was responsible for the error.	the teacher	was

4.3 — Present Participial Phrase (V+ing) Interruption

Sentence	True Subject	Verb
The scientist working on the new vaccine has published promising results.	the scientist	has published
The delegates representing all member countries were asked to submit proposals.	the delegates	were
The data collected from communities living along coastal regions suggests a sharp rise.	the data	suggests

4.4 — Past Participial Phrase (V3) Interruption

Sentence	True Subject	Verb
The minister, accompanied by senior advisers, was present at the summit.	the minister	was
The proposal, supported by extensive research, has been submitted.	the proposal	has been
The village, surrounded by industrial factories, has suffered severe air quality deterioration.	the village	has suffered

4.5 — Relative Clause Interruption (who, which, that, where, when, whose)

Sentence	True Subject	Verb
The boy who came yesterday with his friends is my brother.	the boy	is
The policy that was introduced last year has failed to reduce poverty.	the policy	has failed
The countries which adopted early intervention measures were largely successful.	the countries	were
The researcher whose findings were published last month has won a national award.	the researcher	has won

💡

Reduction Tip: Drop who is / who was from a relative clause → you get a participial phrase.
The scientist who is working on the vaccine → The scientist working on the vaccine

Step 04 — Examples

✗ Error
The impact of rising temperatures and changing weather patterns are becoming increasingly alarming.

✓ Corrected
The impact of rising temperatures and changing weather patterns is becoming increasingly alarming. [Subject = the impact]

✗ Error
The delegates representing all member countries was asked to submit detailed proposals.

✓ Corrected
The delegates representing all member countries were asked to submit detailed proposals.

✗ Error
The village, surrounded by industrial factories, have suffered severe air quality deterioration.

✓ Corrected
The village, surrounded by industrial factories, has suffered severe air quality deterioration. [Subject = the village]

Or / Nor → Closer Subject Rule

Two subjects connected by these structures. Verb agrees with the subject closer to the verb — the one after "or" / "nor" / "but also".

Structure	Verb agrees with…
Either … or …	Subject after "or"
Neither … nor …	Subject after "nor"
Not only … but also …	Subject after "but also"
Whether … or …	Subject after "or"
Or / Nor (alone)	Subject after "or / nor"

5.1 — Either … Or

Sentence	Closer Subject	Verb
Either the boys or Korim is going to school.	Korim = singular	is
Either the manager or the employees are responsible.	employees = plural	are

5.2 — Neither … Nor

Sentence	Closer Subject	Verb
Neither the boys nor Korim is going to school.	Korim = singular	is
Neither the report nor the findings were conclusive.	findings = plural	were

5.3 — Not only … But also

Sentence	Closer Subject	Verb
Not only the boys but also Korim is going.	Korim = singular	is
Not only the government but also private organisations are responsible.	organisations = plural	are

5.4 — Whether … or / Or / Nor (alone)

Sentence	Closer Subject	Verb
Whether the government or private firms are responsible is debatable.	firms = plural	are
Whether the students or the teacher is responsible depends on the circumstances.	teacher = singular	is
The director or the managers are available for consultation.	managers = plural	are
One solution or another is always available.	another = singular	is

"Nor" as sentence connector: Nor + Auxiliary + Subject + Main Verb
The initial policy failed to reduce poverty. Nor did the revised legislation produce any measurable improvement.

Step 05 — Examples

✗ Error
Either the manager or the director have the authority to approve this expenditure.

✓ Corrected
Either the manager or the director has the authority to approve this expenditure. [director = singular]

✗ Error
Neither the policies nor the implementation were effective in reducing carbon emissions.

✓ Corrected
Neither the policies nor the implementation was effective in reducing carbon emissions. [implementation = singular]

✗ Error
Not only poor infrastructure but also a lack of skilled labour are responsible for the region's slow economic growth.

✓ Corrected
Not only poor infrastructure but also a lack of skilled labour is responsible for the region's slow economic growth. [a lack = singular]

Inverted Sentences — There, Here, Negative Adverbs

In inverted sentences, verb comes before subject — but verb must still agree with that subject.

Category	Words / Phrases
Adverb of Place	There, Here, On the wall, In the room, Across the street, Among
Negative Adverbs	Never, Rarely, Seldom, Scarcely, Hardly, Barely
Negative Phrases	Under no circumstances, By no means, On no account, In no way, Not until, No sooner
Limiting Expressions	Only if, Only when, Only after, Only then, Not only, Nor, Neither

6.1 — There / Here

"There" and "Here" are never the subject. Real subject comes after the verb.

Inverted Sentence	Real Subject	Verb
There is a school in our village.	a school	is
There are schools in our village.	schools	are
There is considerable evidence supporting this claim.	evidence	is
Here is the report you requested.	the report	is
Here are the results of the survey.	the results	are

6.2 — Adverb of Place

Inverted Sentence	Real Subject	Verb
On the wall hangs a painting.	a painting	hangs
In the room were several distinguished researchers.	researchers	were
Across the street stands an old abandoned factory.	an old factory	stands
Among the most significant findings was the sharp decline in biodiversity.	the sharp decline	was

6.3 — Negative Adverb Inversion

Structure: Negative Adverb + Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Main Verb

Inverted Sentence	Real Subject	Verb
Never have I seen such beauty.	I	have
Rarely does the government acknowledge the scale of urban poverty.	the government	does
Seldom do developing nations benefit equally from globalisation.	nations	do
Hardly had the policy been implemented when criticism emerged.	the policy	had
Scarcely had the delegates arrived when the negotiations collapsed.	the delegates	had
Never has such a drastic decline been recorded in modern history.	such a drastic decline	has

6.4 — Negative Phrase Inversion

Inverted Sentence	Real Subject	Verb
Under no circumstances should governments prioritise short-term gains.	governments	should
By no means is technological advancement a guaranteed solution.	technological advancement	is
Not until public pressure mounted did the government introduce legislation.	the government	did
In no way does the proposed policy address the root causes of poverty.	the proposed policy	does
No sooner had the reform been announced than critics challenged it.	the reform	had
On no account should researchers manipulate data.	researchers	should

Step 06 — Examples

✗ Error
There is many solutions available to address the issue of urban overcrowding.

✓ Corrected
There are many solutions available to address the issue of urban overcrowding. [solutions = plural]

✗ Error
In the report were a detailed analysis of the economic impact of the proposed policy changes.

✓ Corrected
In the report was a detailed analysis of the economic impact of the proposed policy changes. [a detailed analysis = singular]

✗ Error
Scarcely was they able to complete the research before the funding was withdrawn.

✓ Corrected
Scarcely were they able to complete the research before the funding was withdrawn. [they = plural]

✗ Error
Not until public pressure became overwhelming did the governments introduces meaningful climate legislation.

✓ Corrected
Not until public pressure became overwhelming did the government introduce meaningful climate legislation. [singular + bare infinitive after did]

Mixed Practice Quiz

Choose the correct verb form from the brackets. Test all 6 steps.

The number of people using social media (has / have) increased dramatically over the past decade.
Both the teacher and the student (was / were) present at the disciplinary hearing.
Each of the graphs clearly (shows / show) a consistent downward trend in carbon emissions.
A number of problems (has / have) been identified in the current education system.
Neither the director nor the managers (was / were) informed about the sudden change in policy.
The researcher, along with her two assistants, (was / were) conducting fieldwork in rural areas.
There (is / are) several compelling reasons why governments should invest in public transport.
Not only the students but also the teacher (was / were) confused by the ambiguous examination question.
Half of the water supply in the affected region (is / are) contaminated with industrial pollutants.
Two thirds of the respondents (was / were) strongly in favour of the proposed new regulation.
Rarely (does / do) developing nations benefit equally from the effects of economic globalisation.
The data collected from all three sites clearly (suggests / suggest) a sharp rise in temperatures.
A couple of serious issues (has / have) emerged since the implementation of the revised policy.
The proposal, supported by extensive research, (has / have) been submitted to the committee.
Neither the government's economic plan nor the austerity measures (was / were) sufficient to prevent the financial crisis.
Either the government or private investors (is / are) expected to cover the budget shortfall.
Nothing in the available evidence (suggest / suggests) that the treatment has any side effects.
The village, surrounded by industrial factories, (has / have) suffered severe air quality deterioration.
Among the most significant findings (was / were) the sharp decline in coastal biodiversity.
A great deal of time and effort (has / have) been invested in developing the new curriculum framework.

Answer Key

#	Answer	Rule / Reason
1	has	"The number of" = singular (Step 01)
2	were	"Both…and…" = plural (Step 02)
3	shows	"Each of" = singular (Step 01)
4	have	"A number of" = plural (Step 02)
5	were	Closer subject = "managers" = plural (Step 05)
6	was	"Along with" = prepositional phrase; true subject = "the researcher" (Step 04)
7	are	Real subject = "several reasons" = plural (Step 06)
8	was	Closer subject = "the teacher" = singular (Step 05)
9	is	"Half of the water supply" = uncountable (Step 03)
10	were	"Two thirds of the respondents" = plural (Step 03)
11	do	Inversion: real subject = "nations" = plural (Step 06)
12	suggests	"The data" = singular in academic usage (Step 01)
13	have	"A couple of" = plural (Step 02)
14	has	True subject = "the proposal"; "supported by" = participial phrase (Step 04)
15	were	Closer subject = "the austerity measures" = plural (Step 05)
16	are	Closer subject = "private investors" = plural (Step 05)
17	suggests	"Nothing" = indefinite pronoun = singular (Step 01)
18	has	True subject = "the village"; "surrounded by" = participial phrase (Step 04)
19	was	Inverted; real subject = "the sharp decline" = singular (Step 06)
20	has	"A great deal of" governs verb = singular (Step 03)