1. Lesson Overview
In this lesson, you will examine the most common subject–verb agreement errors made by English learners.
Although the basic rule of subject–verb agreement is simple, errors often occur when sentences contain:
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complex noun phrases
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indefinite pronouns
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collective nouns
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compound subjects
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intervening phrases between the subject and verb
Many learners mistakenly choose verb forms based on the closest noun, rather than identifying the true grammatical subject.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
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recognise frequent subject–verb agreement mistakes
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identify agreement problems involving complex subjects
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detect errors involving indefinite pronouns and collective nouns
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apply strategies for correcting agreement errors
2. Concept Introduction
Consider the following sentence:
Incorrect:
The results of the experiment is reliable.
Correct:
The results of the experiment are reliable.
Although the noun experiment appears close to the verb, the true subject is results, which is plural.
Many subject–verb agreement errors occur because writers focus on nearby nouns instead of the true subject.
3. Core Explanation
Subject–verb agreement errors usually arise in several predictable situations.
Misidentifying the Subject
Modifiers between the subject and the verb can cause confusion.
Example:
The list of participants is complete.
The subject is list, not participants.
Errors with Indefinite Pronouns
Many indefinite pronouns take singular verbs, even though they refer to many people.
Example:
Everyone understands the instructions.
Errors with Collective Nouns
In British English, collective nouns may take singular or plural verbs depending on meaning.
Example:
The team is winning the match.
The team are discussing their strategies.
Errors with Compound Subjects
Subjects joined by and usually require plural verbs.
Example:
The scientist and the technician analyse the results.
4. Rule Table
Common Agreement Errors
| Error Type | Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong subject identification | The results of the study is accurate. | The results of the study are accurate. |
| Indefinite pronoun error | Everyone know the answer. | Everyone knows the answer. |
| Compound subject error | The researcher and the assistant is analysing the data. | The researcher and the assistant are analysing the data. |
| Collective noun inconsistency | The committee has reached their decision. | The committee has reached its decision. |
| Quantity expression error | A number of researchers is studying the problem. | A number of researchers are studying the problem. |
5. Usage
Understanding agreement errors helps writers revise sentences accurately.
1. Correcting subject identification errors
Incorrect:
The results of the experiment is reliable.
Correct:
The results of the experiment are reliable.
2. Correcting indefinite pronoun errors
Incorrect:
Everyone understand the procedure.
Correct:
Everyone understands the procedure.
3. Correcting compound subject errors
Incorrect:
The researcher and the technician analyses the data.
Correct:
The researcher and the technician analyse the data.
4. Correcting collective noun agreement
Incorrect:
The team has won their match.
Correct:
The team has won its match.
5. Correcting quantity expression errors
Incorrect:
A number of experiments is conducted each year.
Correct:
A number of experiments are conducted each year.
6. Signal Words
Certain expressions often appear in sentences where agreement errors occur.
| Expression | Example |
|---|---|
| of phrase | The results of the study are reliable. |
| a number of | A number of researchers are studying the problem. |
| each | Each participant receives instructions. |
| everyone | Everyone understands the procedure. |
| along with | The researcher along with the assistants is presenting the report. |
These structures require careful identification of the true subject.
7. Special Cases
Titles and Names
Titles of books, reports, and theories are treated as singular subjects.
Example:
The Theory of Evolution is widely discussed.
Measurements
Expressions of time, distance, and money usually take singular verbs.
Example:
Ten kilometres is a long distance to walk.
Collective Nouns with Plural Meaning
When the members act individually, plural verbs may be used.
Example:
The committee are expressing different opinions.
8. Additional Notes
The most effective strategy for avoiding agreement errors is to identify the true subject before choosing the verb.
Example:
Sentence:
The quality of the samples is excellent.
Subject → quality
Verb → is
Ignoring the modifying phrase of the samples helps determine the correct agreement.
9. Common Errors
⚠ Misidentifying the subject
Incorrect:
The results of the experiment is reliable.
Correct:
The results of the experiment are reliable.
Explanation:
The subject is results, not experiment.
⚠ Indefinite pronoun with plural verb
Incorrect:
Everyone know the answer.
Correct:
Everyone knows the answer.
Explanation:
Everyone takes a singular verb.
⚠ Incorrect compound subject agreement
Incorrect:
The scientist and the technician analyses the results.
Correct:
The scientist and the technician analyse the results.
Explanation:
Subjects joined by and require a plural verb.
⚠ Incorrect agreement with “a number of”
Incorrect:
A number of experiments is conducted every year.
Correct:
A number of experiments are conducted every year.
Explanation:
A number of takes a plural verb.
⚠ Incorrect agreement with modifiers
Incorrect:
The researcher along with the assistants are analysing the samples.
Correct:
The researcher along with the assistants is analysing the samples.
Explanation:
The subject is researcher, not assistants.
10. Lesson Mastery
After completing this lesson, you should now be able to:
✅ recognise common subject–verb agreement errors
✅ identify agreement problems with complex subjects
✅ correct errors involving indefinite pronouns and collective nouns
✅ apply strategies for identifying and correcting agreement mistakes