Agreement of verb rules

1. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular too. 2. If the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural. 3. When the subject of the sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by and, use a plural verb. 4. When there is one subject and more than one verb, the verbs throughout the sentence must agree with the subject. 5. When a phrase comes between the subject and the verb, remember that the verb still agrees with the subject, not the noun or pronoun in the phrase following the subject of the sentence. 6. When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by "or" or "nor," use a singular verb. 7. When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or pronoun joined by "or" or "nor," the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is closest to the verb. This is also called the rule of proximity. 8. The words and phrases "each," "each one," "either," "neither," "everyone," "everybody," "anyone," "anybody," "nobody," "somebody," "someone," and "no one" are singular and require a singular verb. 9. Noncount nouns take a singular verb. 10. Some countable nouns in English such as earnings, goods, odds, surroundings, proceeds, contents, and valuables only have a plural form and take a plural verb. 11. In sentences beginning with "there is" or "there are," the subject follows the verb. Since "there" is not the subject, the verb agrees with what follows the verb. 12. Collective nouns are words that imply more than one person but are considered singular and take a singular verb. Some examples are "group," "team," "committee," "family," and "class.".