Here is some easy and basic rules of subject verb agreement with few examples.

1. Usage - Subject-Verb Agreement
Subjects and verbs must AGREE with one another in number (singular or plural). Thus, if a
subject is singular, its verb must also be singular; if a subject is plural, its verb must also be
plural.
In present tenses, nouns and verbs form plurals in opposite ways:
nouns ADD an s to the singular form,
BUT
verbs REMOVE an s from the singular form.
Here are nine subject-verb agreement rules.
1. A phrase or clause between subject and verb does not change the number of the subject.
Examples:

2. 2. Indefinite pronouns as subjects
• Singular indefinite pronoun subjects take singular verbs.
Neither of my parents has a formal education.
• Plural indefinite pronoun subjects take plural verbs.
PLURAL: several, few, both, many
Few seek the enlightenment of higher education.
EITHER SINGULAR OR PLURAL: Some words such as a lot, none, any, all, more, most,
some, majority may take either singular or plural verbs depending on the meaning. Here we are
guided by the noun after of. If the noun after of is singular/uncountable, use a singular verb. If it
is plural/countable, use a plural verb.
All the money has been spent.
All of the students know the answer.
Sugar is uncountable; therefore, the sentence has a singular verb.

3. Marbles are countable; therefore, the sentence has a plural verb.
A NOTE ON ‘NONE’: In recent years, the SAT testing service has considered none to be strictly
singular. However, according to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage: "Clearly none has been
both singular and plural since Old English and still is. If in context it seems like a singular to you, use a
singular verb; if it seems like a plural, use a plural verb. Both are acceptable beyond serious criticism.”
When none is clearly intended to mean "not one," it is followed by a singular verb.
3. Compound subjects joined by and are always plural.
4. The verb is singular if the two subjects separated by and refer to the same person or thing.
Red beans and rice is my mom's favorite dish.
5. With compound subjects joined by or/nor, the verb agrees with the subject nearer to it.
In the above example, the plural verb are agrees with the nearer subject actors.
In this example, the singular verb is agrees with the nearer subject director.
Either the teacher or the students are responsible.

4. 6. Inverted Subjects (subjects that come after verbs) must agree with the verb.
On the wall were several posters.
7. Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by such words as along with, with, as well
as, besides, in addition to, accompanied by, including etc. These words and phrases are not part
of the subject. Ignore them and use a singular verb when the subject is singular.
Examples: The politician, along with the newsmen, is expected shortly.
Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause of her shaking.
The book, including all the chapters in the first section, is boring.
The woman with all the dogs walks down my street.
All of the books, including yours, are in that box.

5. 8. Group Nouns
Some nouns which name groups can be either singular or plural depending upon their meaning in
individual sentences.
If we refer to the group as a whole and, therefore, as a single unit, we consider the noun
singular. In this case, we use a singular verb.
In this example, the jury is acting as one unit; therefore, the verb is singular.
If, on the other hand, we are actually referring to the individuals within the group, then we
consider the noun plural. In this case, we use a plural verb.
In this example, the jury members are acting as twelve individuals; therefore, the verb is plural.

6. Of course group nouns, like other nouns, can also appear in plural forms (with an s).
When used in the plural form, group nouns mean MORE THAN ONE GROUP. Thus, it uses a
plural verb.
Thus, there are three important subject – verb agreement rules to remember when a group noun
is used as the subject:
1. Group nouns can be considered as a single unit, and, thus, take a singular verb.
2. Group nouns can be considered as individual members within a single unit and, thus, take a
plural verb.
3. Group nouns can be given plural forms to mean two or more units and, thus, take a plural verb.
9. Titles of single entities (books, organizations, countries, etc.) are always singular.
Great Expectations is my favorite novel.
The United Nations (UN) is an international organization.
10. Plural form subjects
• Plural form subjects with a singular meaning take a singular verb. (e.g. news, measles,
mumps, etc.)

7. Plural form nouns ending in -ics, such as economics, politics, ethics, statistics take singular
verbs when they refer to principles, a system or a field of study; however, when they refer to
individual practices or applications, they usually take plural verbs.
In this example, politics is a field of study; therefore, the sentence has a singular verb.
In this example, politics refers to the many aspects of the situation; therefore, the sentence has a
plural verb.
Plural form subjects with a plural meaning take a plural verb. (e.g. scissors, trousers, jeans)

8. Note: In this example, the subject of the sentence is pair; therefore, the verb must agree with it.
11. A. With one of those ________ who, use a plural verb.
The above example implies that others besides Hannah like to read comic books. Therefore, the
plural verb is the correct form to use.
B. With the only one of those ________who, use a singular verb.
The above example implies that no one else except for Hannah likes to read comic books.
Therefore, the singular verb is the correct for to use.
12. Subjects preceded by every, each, and many a are singular.
Example: Every man, woman, and child was given a life insurance.
Example: Each graduate and undergraduate is required to pass a proficiency exam.
Example: Many a child dreams about becoming famous one day.

9. 13. Fractions: Fractions such as one-half and one-third may be singular or plural depending on
the referent.
Example: Half of the mail has been opened.
Example: Half of the letters have been read.
14. Subjects preceded by the number of or the percentage of are singular, while subjects
preceded by a number of or a percentage of are plural.
Example: The number of vacationers in Florida is increasing.
Example: A number of vacationers are young people. However, a large percentage of the
vacationers are senior citizens.
15. A verbal noun, for example, infinitive (to+verb) or gerund (verb+ing) serving as a subject
is treated as singular, even if the object of the verbal phrase is plural.
Example: Hiding your mistakes does not make them go away.
Example: To run five miles is my goal.
16. Plural subjects followed by a singular appositive require a plural verb; similarly, a singular
subject followed by a plural appositive requires a singular verb.
Example: When the girls throw a party, they each bring a gift.
Example: The board, all ten members, is meeting today.
17. Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc., when considered as
a unit.
Examples:
Three miles is too far to walk.
Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense.
Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
BUT
Ten dollars (i.e., dollar notes) were scattered on the floor. Dollars are often used instead of
rubles in Russia.

10. 13. Fractions: Fractions such as one-half and one-third may be singular or plural depending on
the referent.
Example: Half of the mail has been opened.
Example: Half of the letters have been read.
14. Subjects preceded by the number of or the percentage of are singular, while subjects
preceded by a number of or a percentage of are plural.
Example: The number of vacationers in Florida is increasing.
Example: A number of vacationers are young people. However, a large percentage of the
vacationers are senior citizens.
15. A verbal noun, for example, infinitive (to+verb) or gerund (verb+ing) serving as a subject
is treated as singular, even if the object of the verbal phrase is plural.
Example: Hiding your mistakes does not make them go away.
Example: To run five miles is my goal.
16. Plural subjects followed by a singular appositive require a plural verb; similarly, a singular
subject followed by a plural appositive requires a singular verb.
Example: When the girls throw a party, they each bring a gift.
Example: The board, all ten members, is meeting today.
17. Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc., when considered as
a unit.
Examples:
Three miles is too far to walk.
Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense.
Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
BUT
Ten dollars (i.e., dollar notes) were scattered on the floor. Dollars are often used instead of
rubles in Russia.