Subject-Verb Agreement
The basic rule is that a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.
Basic Examples
The dog barks. (Singular) The dogs bark. (Plural)
Tricky Situations
- Words between subject and verb: The box of chocolates is on the table. (Subject is 'box', not 'chocolates').
- Indefinite pronouns: Everyone, someone, nobody, each take a singular verb. Everyone is here.
- Compound subjects with 'and': Usually plural. Tom and Jerry are enemies.
- Subjects connected by 'or'/'nor': Verb agrees with the noun closest to it. Neither the teacher nor the students were there.