Agreement in the English language

Subject–Verb agreement

In general, a verb's number is matched to its subject (which normally precedes the verb).^[2]

A singular subject takes a singular verb.^[3][4][5]

• The zoo's main attraction is the elephants.

A plural subject takes a plural verb.^[3][4][5]

• Elephants are the zoo's main attraction.

Complement–Verb agreement

When the subject is far from the verb, the verb is sometimes matched to the complement.^[2]

• The main problem with the new policy, along with several unexpected complications, are/is the unclear rules and guidelines.

This often occurs when the subject is a relative clause introduced by what, especially if the complement is long.^[9][10][3]

• What we need to consider are the potential consequences of this decision.

Parentheses

Parentheses can always be removed, so they don't affect the agreement.^{[5][11][12][13][14]}

• Our laptop computer (and its accessories) comes with a two-year warranty.

Complex nouns

When a noun is complex, i.e., it contains a preposition, prepositional phrase, adverb, adverbial phrase (e.g., with, in addition to, along with, as well (as), together with, besides, or not), or a relative clause, the verb usually agrees with the head noun or pronoun.^{[5][10][3][9][15]}

• The engine of the car needs to be repaired.
• The man who lives next door is very outgoing.
• The computer as well as the printer is malfunctioning.
• The teachers in my school are notoriously unprepared for classes.

Number agreement

A singular pronoun is used for a singular noun.^[19]

• The computer is on the desk, and it is not working properly.

A plural pronoun is used for a plural noun.^[19]

• The computers are on the desk, and they are not working properly.

Gender agreement

Pronouns are also matched for gender. He or she and who are normally used for people.^[20][19]

• My uncle is a doctor. He works in the city hospital.

When referring back to indefinite pronouns such as somebody, someone, anybody, anyone, no one, nobody, everybody, and everyone, the phrase he or she is used.^[21][22][23]

• If somebody wants to join, he or she must register online.

Nowadays, it is also generally considered correct to use the word they.^[21][22][23]

• If somebody wants to join, they must register online.

It and which are normally used for things or animals.^[20]

• I saw a cat. It was sleeping on the sofa.

When animals are thought of as having personality, intelligence, or feelings, he or she may sometimes be used; this is common with pets.^[20]

• This is Bella, a friendly golden retriever. She enjoys playing fetch with her owner.

In such cases, who is used instead of which.^[20]

• Meet Luna, a playful cat who loves to chase toys.

Sometimes she is used for cars and motorcycles as well as countries, though it is more common in modern usage.^[20][24][25]

• I love my car. She never lets me down.
• Italy is famous for its/her cuisine.

Sailors often refer to ships and boats as she, but it's less common than it used to be.^[20][24][25]

• This is my ship. She's got a long history of cruising.

Every

Every is followed by a singular noun.^[50][27][51]

• Every episode of the series presents a new story.

Every is used with a plural noun when it refers to intervals.^[52][51]

• A train leaves the station every three hours.

No

The word no is followed by a singular noun when referring to the absence of even a single item.^[53][54]

• He has no passport.

The word no is followed by a plural noun when referring to the absence of multiple items.^[53][54]

• He has no socks.

Often both are possible.^[53][54]

• No dog(s) allowed!

Kind(s)/Sort(s)/Type(s) of

After kind/sort/type of, a singular noun is usually used.^{[55][56][57][58][59]}

• What sort of book do you usually read?

It's also possible to use kind/sort/type of with a plural noun.^[56][58]

• What sort of books do you usually read?

The phrases kinds/sorts/types of can also be used with either a singular or a plural noun.^[57][58]

• We studied many sorts of political system(s).

Certain structures with this, that, these, and those occur, but they are considered incorrect.^[56][57][58]

• This kind of problems is difficult. (this/that + kind/sort/type of + plural noun)
• These kind of problems is difficult. (these/those + kind/sort/type of + plural noun)
• These kinds of problem are difficult. (these/those + kinds/sorts/types of + singular noun)

In formal style, a plural verb followed by of this/that kind/sort/type is also possible.^[56][57]

• Problems of this kind are difficult.

Dozen, hundred, thousand, million, and billion

The words dozen, hundred, thousand, million, and billion are used without the -s ending when they follow a number.^{[60][61][62][63][64]}

• The population of South Korea grew to almost 52 million and then began to decline.
• I have two hundred dollars on me.

Fractions

Fractions between 1 and 2 are used with plural nouns.^[65]

• The meeting lasted around 1.25 hours.

And

Expressions joined by and generally take a plural verb.^{[67][5][9][27]}

• A cat and a dog are playing in the garden.

If the nouns, however, suggest one idea or refer to the same thing or person, the verb is singular.^{[67][5][9][27]}

• The new bed and breakfast opens this week.
• The singer and songwriter is performing tonight.

When expressions joined by and follow each or every, the verb is singular.^[67][27]

• Each teacher and student has completed the survey.

Amounts and quantities

Expressions of distance, sums of money, periods of time, etc., regarded as one unit, take singular determiners, verbs, and pronouns.^{[16][5][68][69][18]}

• Five minutes is all I need.
• Fifty dollars is a fair price.
• Two liters of water is required for the experiment.

However, when these expressions are deemed separate individual units, they are plural.^[5][69]

• A few dollars were missing from the victim's wallet.

Calculations

When speaking calculations, both singular and plural verbs are possible depending on the phrasing.^[69][70]

• Three and three is/are six.
• Three plus three is six.

Groups of people

Indefinite pronouns

As subjects, another, anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, every, everybody, everyone, everything, less, little, much, neither, no one, nobody, nothing, one, somebody, someone, and something take singular verbs.^[74]

• Everybody is a genius.

The pronouns both, few, fewer, many, others, and several take plural verbs.

• Few know the full story.

The pronouns all, any, enough, more, most, none, some, and such take a singular verb when they refer to an uncountable noun or a plural verb when they refer to a plural noun.^[75][5]

• I found the equipment in the garage, but it turned out that none is useful.
• I found the tools in the garage, but it turned out that none are useful.

"the number of" vs "a number of" and "the total" vs "a total of"

The literal phrase the number of takes a singular verb, whereas the fixed phrase a number of is treated as plural.^[76][77][78]

• The number of cars on the roads has decreased.
• A number of people have complained about the noise.

The same is true for the total and a total of.^[79]

• The total was growing.
• A total of 28 volunteers have submitted applications.

Titles and names

Titles and names (e.g., of countries, movies, restaurants, and quotations) referring to a single thing take singular verbs.^[3][14][2]

• The Netherlands is famous for its fields of tulips.
• "Sales figures" is the phrase used in the report title.
• The New York Times is an American newspaper.
• The Avengers has been a huge box-office success.

Organizations

Organization names that are plural may take singular or plural verbs and pronouns.^[2][80]

• The United Nations is/are holding a conference next month. It/They has/have invited delegates from all over the world to attend.

What/Who questions

In questions, what and who are followed by a singular verb when they are used as subject.^[65][81]

• Who lives in that house?

However, when they are used as complements, they are followed by either a plural or singular verb.^[65][81]

• Who is the person living in that house?
• Who are the people living in that house?

A pair of

After a pair of, both singular and plural verbs can be used.^[82]

• A pair of glasses is/are on the bench.

Clauses

Singular verbs are used with clauses used as subjects.^[3][83]

• For all of us to get enough sleep is crucial.
• To err is human.
• That she lied was obvious.
• Where they went remains unknown.

More than one

The expression more than one uses a singular noun and verb.^[16]

• More than one factor contributes to climate change.

Here's, there's, and where's

In informal style, here's, there's, and where's are often used with plural nouns (instead of here are, there are, where are); sometimes this is considered incorrect.^[65][5][27]

• Where are (or questionable: Where's) my keys?

Expression with "of"

After any of^[85][27], none of^[86][87][27], either of^{[33][88][34][27][89]}, neither of^{[35][90][91][36][27][92]}, and each of^[93][27][94], English uses a plural personal pronoun or a plural determiner and noun and optionally a singular verb in formal style or a plural verb in informal style.

• Any of the students is/are allowed to retake the test.
• None of the students is/are ready for the exam.
• Either of them is/are welcome to join us.
• Neither of them is/are ready yet.
• Each of the books has/have a different cover design.

Expressions with "in" and "out of"

After number followed by in or out of, English uses a number with a plural noun and either a singular or plural verb.^[95]

• Almost nine in ten students hate(s) math.
• Over six out of ten young men feel(s) lonely regularly.

Every one of

Every one of is followed by a plural personal pronoun or a plural determiner and noun and a singular verb.^[50]

• Every one of her arguments is wrong.

One of

The expression one of is usually followed by a plural noun.^[16]

• One of the apples is rotten.

Sometimes one of is used with a singular noun referring to a group.^[96]

• Why don't you invite one of the team for lunch?

The verb after the noun is singular.^[16]

• One of my co-workers is from Seoul.

After one of in the relative clauses, both plural and singular verbs are used; the plural form is generally considered correct.^[2]

• He's one of the professors who teach quantum physics.

The

The phrase consisting of the and an adjective is plural when referring to well-known groups of people in a particular physical or social condition.^{[97][98][99][100]}

• Do the disabled have special facilities?

In certain fixed, formal expressions, the phrase consisting of the and an adjective may be singular.^[97]

• The deceased has not yet been formally identified.

The phrase consisting of the and an adjective is singular when it refers to general abstract ideas.^[101]

• The unknown is often scarier than the known.

The phrase consisting of the and an adjective is plural when referring to people from a specific country.^{[97][99][100]}

• The Japanese value punctuality highly.

(Either) or, (neither) nor, not only (but) also

The verb should agree with the expression in these structures closest to it (the rule of proximity). Other forms of agreement occur, but they are not considered correct.^{[9][67][5][10][27]}

• Either my teacher or I am wrong.
• Are neither the employees nor the manager aware of the change?