Subject verb agreement is one of the easiest rules to break and one of the hardest mistakes for teachers to ignore. Most teachers spot this error in under 30 seconds. The good news: once you understand how to fix subject verb agreement, you’ll catch these mistakes before submission and never lose points for this problem again.
What Is Subject Verb Agreement and Why It Matters
Subject verb agreement means the subject and verb in a sentence must match in number. Singular subjects take singular verbs. Plural subjects take plural verbs. That’s the core rule. When subjects and verbs don’t match, your writing looks careless, and teachers mark it as a grammar error that affects your grade.
You’d think this would be simple—it usually isn’t.
The reason: tricky sentence structures hide the real subject. Phrases pile up between the subject and verb. Collective nouns confuse students about whether to use singular or plural verbs. Compound subjects mix singular and plural words together. These complications make it harder to identify what the actual subject is, which makes it harder to apply the rule correctly.
| Mistake Type | Example | How to Fix Subject Verb Agreement | Corrected Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intervening phrase | The pile of books are on the shelf. | Find the true subject (pile), ignore the prepositional phrase (of books) | The pile of books is on the shelf. |
| Collective noun | The team are playing well today. | Treat most collective nouns as singular unless acting independently | The team is playing well today. |
| Compound subject with and | Either the principal or the teachers wants to meet. | Use singular verb with either/or when closest subject is singular | Either the principal or the teachers want to meet. |
| Subject after verb | Here are the student who volunteered. | Identify the subject after the verb and match the verb to it | Here are the students who volunteered. |
The Step-by-Step Process for How to Fix Subject Verb Agreement
Condition: When You’re Writing or Editing
This process works whether you’re drafting an essay, revising after a draft, or checking grammar before submission. It takes 10 to 15 seconds per sentence once you practice it twice.
Audience: High School and College Writers
All students need this. It applies across subjects—literature essays, history papers, lab reports, application essays. Every piece of formal writing requires correct subject verb agreement.
Method: Active Identification and Matching
Don’t read passively. Mark subjects and verbs as you check. Say the sentence aloud. Your ear catches mismatches your eyes might miss.
The Steps
- Read the sentence and identify the verb first—look for the action or state of being word
- Cross out or mentally ignore all prepositional phrases between the subject and verb
- Ask who or what is doing the action—that’s your true subject
- Check if the subject is singular or plural
- Make sure the verb matches the subject in number
- Read the sentence aloud to verify it sounds natural
Warnings and Common Pitfalls
Intervening phrases are the biggest trap. A phrase like of the students or in the hallway makes students change the verb to match the noun closest to it instead of the real subject. This is wrong. The subject stays the same—ignore everything between the subject and verb.
Collective nouns confuse students constantly.
Words like team, class, audience, group, and committee are singular in formal academic writing. Treat them as one unit unless the context clearly shows members acting as individuals. In American academic style, use the singular verb even though these nouns describe multiple people.
Common Subject Verb Agreement Mistakes Students Make
I’ve seen students lose points on every type of error, but three mistakes show up most often in actual essays. First: the phrase trap. A noun between the subject and verb tricks students into changing the verb. Second: either/or and neither/nor constructions. Students don’t know which subject determines the verb, so they guess. Third: subjects that come after the verb, especially in sentences starting with there or here.
Here’s where most students go wrong with verb forms ending in s. In present tense, singular subjects use verbs ending in s (he walks, she talks, it looks). Plural subjects use verbs without the s (they walk, we talk, you look). Many students flip this pattern when they’re writing fast or not paying attention.
| Error Category | Why Students Miss It | How to Fix Subject Verb Agreement |
|---|---|---|
| Prepositional phrase between subject and verb | The noun closest to the verb feels like the subject | Underline the prepositional phrase and cross it out mentally |
| Collective nouns (team, group, audience) | These words describe many people, so students assume plural | Use singular verbs for collective nouns in formal writing |
| Either/or and neither/nor subjects | Students aren’t sure which subject controls the verb | The subject closest to the verb determines the verb form |
| Inverted sentence structure (there/here) | Students apply the verb before finding the actual subject | Move the sentence to normal order to see the subject clearly |
Practical Strategies to Catch and Correct Errors Before Submitting
Use this five-item checklist every time you finish writing. It takes three minutes maximum and catches mistakes that would cost you points.
- Read each sentence aloud slowly—does the subject verb combination sound right when you hear it?
- Circle every verb and write the subject above or next to it in your draft
- For each prepositional phrase, verify you ignored it when checking agreement
- Check any sentence over 15 words for buried subjects hiding in the middle
- Search for the words there, here, either, neither, and collective nouns, then double-check those sentences manually
Advanced writers use a second strategy: write a simplified version. Take your complex sentence and write a basic version with just the subject and verb. Does it match? If your full sentence says The list of requirements are complicated, your simplified version is The list are. That sounds wrong immediately. Now you know to change it to The list is and apply that fix to your full sentence.
Using Grammar Tools to Verify Your Work
Certain grammar checking tools flag subject verb agreement errors, though they’re not always accurate. Some tools miss complex cases, and others mark correct sentences as wrong. Never trust a tool completely—use it as a first pass, then verify the correction makes sense.
Check your school’s official guidelines about which tools are permitted in your assignments or how to fix subject verb agreement with AI assistance.
Tools vary in accuracy and pricing models. Before using any grammar platform, verify it doesn’t violate your school’s academic integrity policies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. Can AI writing tools automatically fix subject verb agreement?
Most AI tools catch obvious errors but miss complex cases. Use AI as a starting point, not your final answer. Always review and understand the correction before submitting work. Your teachers can tell when you’ve blindly accepted a tool’s suggestion.
Q2. How do I know if I have a subject verb agreement error in a difficult sentence?
Read it aloud. Your ear catches mismatches faster than your eyes. If it sounds off, it probably is wrong. Then walk through the steps: find the verb, identify the subject, check if they match. This method catches errors in even very complex sentences.
Q3. Does subject verb agreement matter for college applications?
Yes. Admissions officers read hundreds of essays. Careless grammar mistakes make your writing look rushed. Correct subject verb agreement shows you care about quality and can follow rules—both things colleges value. Application essays receive detailed review before decisions are made.
Q4. What happens if my teacher catches subject verb agreement errors after I submit?
Consequences vary by teacher and assignment. Some deduct points. Some require rewrites. Some mark it but focus on bigger issues. The safest approach: prevent errors entirely by checking before submission. This is always in your control.
Q5. Are there subject verb agreement rules I should memorize?
Memorizing rules helps, but understanding the principle works better. The core rule is simple: singular subjects get singular verbs, plural subjects get plural verbs. Master the tricky cases (collective nouns, intervening phrases, either/or) through practice, not memorization. After checking 10 sentences with these patterns, you’ll recognize them automatically.
Q6. Does how to fix subject verb agreement change in different types of writing?
The rule stays the same across essays, reports, creative writing, and application materials. Academic writing requires strict adherence. Casual writing sometimes bends the rule, but formal school assignments demand correctness. Always follow standard grammar rules for assignments and submissions.
This post is intended for informational purposes only. Always verify the latest policies, tool features, and academic integrity guidelines through official sources before making decisions.