Every sentence has a subject and a verb. Subject-verb agreement means that the verb must agree with the subject of the sentence. Generally, a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.

• He is playing football. → He is singular, so we use ‘is’.
• They are playing football. → They is plural, so we use ‘are’.
• She runs every morning. → She is singular, so we use ‘runs’.
• They run every morning. → They is plural, so we use ‘run’.

The choice of verbs varies according to the number of the subject. However, certain rules of English grammar affect subject-verb agreement when the singular or plural nature of the subject is influenced by the way it is presented in a sentence. Consider the following example:

Example.

• David has moved to a new house.
• David and Sara have moved to a new house.
• David, along with his wife, has moved to a new home.

Explanation:

• In the first sentence, the singular helping verb has agrees with the singular subject David.
• In the second sentence, the plural helping verb have agrees with the plural subject David and Sara.
• In the third sentence, although two people are mentioned, the verb has remains singular because the phrase along with his wife does not change the number of the main subject (David). Thus, the verb ‘has’ is used according to the first subject (David).

   Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement

Examples.

• John and David are going to a zoo.
• He and his friend have finished the work. 
• David and Sara were decorating the room.
• I and he are going to school.
• John, David, and Sara have passed the exam.
• She and her children are eating a pizza.
• He and his friends were enjoying the party.

It can be seen in the above examples, that whether the nouns or pronouns joined by ‘and’ are singular or plural, a plural verb is used.

Examples.

• Neither David nor Sara is interested in music.
• Either he or his brother has broken this cup.
• Neither he nor his brother has paid the bill.
• David, John, or Sara has to answer this question.

Examples.

• Neither he nor his friends are attending the lectures.
• Neither his friends nor he is attending the lectures.
• Either she or her kids are talking to someone on phone.
• Either her kids or she is talking to someone on phone.
• Neither she nor her friends have finished the work.
• Neither her friends nor she has finished the work.

Examples.

• The list of guidelines were prepared. (Wrong).
• The list of guidelines was prepared.   (Correct).

• A group of students are trained for the game. (Wrong).
• A group of students is trained for the game. (Correct).   

Examples.

• John, accompanied by his friends, is going to a cinema.
• He, along with other students, has participated in the competition. 
• She, as well as her brother, has applied for a visa.
• Three patients along with a doctor were present in the room.
• The kids along with a woman are walking in the garden.

Examples.

• Our team is playing well.
• The committee has prepared a report.
• His family was concerned about his studies.
• Water is flowing in the river.

Examples.

• There are many people in the market.
• There is a crowd of people in the market.
• Here are some instructions for the exam.
• Here is a list of instructions for the exam.

Examples.

• None of them was ready to take the risk.
• Everyone in the hall was laughing.
• Each of these fruits is delicious.
• Someone is knocking at the door.
• Neither of the proposed plans has worked well.