Sentence Improvement • Topic 1 of 4

Subject–Verb Agreement

Match the verb to the true subject. Singular subjects (each, every, one of) take singular verbs; 'a number of' takes plural. Two subjects with 'and' are plural; with 'or/nor' the verb agrees with the nearer subject.

Agreement rules at a glance

Subject patternVerb
each / every / one of / either / neithersingular
a number of …plural
the number of …singular
A and Bplural
A or/nor Bagrees with the nearer subject
collective noun (team, family) as a unitsingular
"As well as / along with / with" don't change the subject. "He, as well as his friends, was late" — the subject is still "he" (singular). The phrase in commas is a decoy.

✅ Solved examples

1. Improve: "One of my friends are a doctor."
"are" → "is" (subject is "one").
2. Improve: "The team are playing well." (as a unit)
"are" → "is" (team acting as one unit).
3. Improve: "Neither the teacher nor the students was present."
"was" → "were" (agree with nearer plural "students").
4. Improve: "A number of people was waiting."
"was" → "were" ("a number of" = plural).

✏️ Practice — try these, take hints as needed

1. Improve: "Each of the answers are correct."
each = singular.
—
—
"are" → is
2. Improve: "Mathematics are my favourite subject."
Singular noun.
—
—
"are" → is
3. Improve: "Either of the two roads lead there."
either = singular.
—
—
"lead" → leads
4. Improve: "He, as well as his friends, were late."
Subject = he.
—
—
"were" → was
5. Improve: "Ten kilometres are a long way."
Single distance.
—
—
"are" → is

📝 Topic test — 8 questions

Auto-graded with full solutions; saved to your dashboard. Use the calculator and formula sheet (top-right) any time.

Loading questions…
Tense Correction →