Subject-Verb Agreement

1. Noun Types

1.1. Noncount Nouns

1.1.1. The rice has filled three bowls.

1.1.2. The homework is due in a week.

1.2. Collective Nouns

1.2.1. The team has a game tomorrow.

1.2.2. My family likes to go to the beach.

1.3. Compound Nouns

1.3.1. Her brothers-in-law are fans of the Gators.

1.3.2. The attorneys general have refused to pursue the case.

1.4. Count Nouns

1.4.1. The nurse works long hours.

1.4.2. The doctors have prepared well for this surgery.

1.5. -ing words

1.5.1. Traveling with friends makes the trip more enjoyable.

1.5.2. Working hard at my studies keeps me from falling behind.

2. there

2.1. There are six people in line for the movie.

2.2. There is a new store at the mall.

3. compound subjects

3.1. and

3.1.1. Tom and Betty have several dogs.

3.1.2. The boys and the girl work together well.

3.2. or

3.2.1. The doctors or Betty has the medicine we need.

3.2.2. Better or the doctors have the medicine we need.

4. Auxiliary Verbs

4.1. BE verbs

4.1.1. linking verb

4.1.1.1. Steve is tall.

4.1.2. questions

4.1.2.1. Is he tired?

4.1.3. progressive

4.1.3.1. They were playing soccer.

4.2. have verbs

4.2.1. present perfect

4.2.1.1. He has walked the whole distance.

4.2.1.2. They haven't seen him in an hour.

4.2.2. questions

4.2.2.1. Have they seen the movie yet?

4.2.2.2. Hasn't she talked with her sister?

4.3. Do verbs

4.3.1. Questions

4.3.1.1. Does he always drive?

4.3.1.2. Do they study together?

4.3.2. Negatives

4.3.2.1. They don't like to visit during the week.

4.3.2.2. He doesn't like to play video games.

4.3.2.3. Each of the girls is preparing for a different career.

4.3.3. Emphasis

4.3.3.1. She does like "Big Bang Theory."

4.3.3.2. They don't enjoy a noisy restaurant.

4.4. Modals

4.4.1. They should be here soon.

4.4.2. He will arrive on time.

5. Wh- words

5.1. Questions

5.1.1. What makes him so sure he is right?

5.1.2. Where are the paint brushes?

5.2. Adjectives

5.2.1. Tobias who is a carpenter made this bookshelf for me.

5.2.2. She greeted the men who were in the hallway.

6. Indefinite Pronouns

6.1. singular

6.1.1. Everybody in the swimming pool swims for our team.

6.2. plural

6.2.1. Both of the boys are in my class.

6.2.2. Few have worked as hard as Harold

6.3. depends

6.3.1. Some of the workers are eating lunch.

6.3.2. Some of the money is wet.