Subject–Verb Agreement
Make sure every subject and its verb match in number.
Subject and verb must match.
Mission brief
Make every subject and verb match
In English the subject and the verb must agree. A singular subject takes one verb form; a plural subject takes another.
Get this right and your writing instantly sounds more accurate.
Big idea
One subject, one matching verb
He / She / It → verb + s
He plays.
She watches.
It works.
I / You / We / They → base verb
I play.
You play.
We play.
They play.
Careful: the -s moves. A plural noun takes -s, but a singular subject puts the -s on the verb.
Core rule
Simple present agreement
Control panel
Am, is, are
am
I am ready.
is
She is happy.
are
They are tired.
Control panel
Have and has
have
I have a book.
They have homework.
has
She has a bicycle.
Negatives
Don't and doesn't
don't
I don't like durian.
They don't play chess.
doesn't
He doesn't play.
She doesn't like maths.
The key rule: doesn't already carries the -s, so the main verb goes back to its base form.
See it in action
Singular vs plural nouns
The boy plays football.
My friend likes music.
one person → verb takes -s
The boys play football.
My friends like music.
more than one → base verb
How it works
Two subjects joined by and
When two subjects are joined by and, they usually count as plural.
Aiman and Sara are students.
Two people → are.
My brother and I play football.
Two people → base verb.
Tricky subjects
Everyone, someone, nobody
Words like everyone and somebody feel plural, but in grammar they are singular.
Everyone likes the game.
Not: Everyone like.
Someone is outside.
Not: Someone are outside.
Common mistakes
Error detector
He play football.
They plays football.
She don't like maths.
He doesn't likes coffee.
Everyone are ready.
Real-life English
Who plays what?
Sara Does Amir play badminton?
Aiman Yes, he does.
Sara Do his friends play too?
Aiman Yes, they play every weekend.
Test yourself
Quick check
Revision map
Mission summary
He / She / It
usually verb + s or es
I / You / We / They
base verb
Be
I → am · he/she/it → is · you/we/they → are
Have
he/she/it → has · everyone else → have
Negatives
he/she/it → doesn't · everyone else → don't
Everyone
singular — takes is, has, does
Exam strategy
Exam booster
Find the real subject before you choose the verb.
Decide whether the subject is singular or plural.
Remember that a plural noun takes -s but a singular subject puts -s on the verb.
After don't and doesn't, always use the base verb.
Treat everyone, somebody, and nobody as singular.
Worked example: “Everyone ___ ready.” Everyone is singular even though it means many people, so: Everyone is ready.
Mission review point
Subject–Verb Agreement complete
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