The Core Rule
A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb. Errors arise when the subject and verb are separated by other phrases, or when subjects are tricky to categorise.
Common Problem Cases
| Case | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Intervening phrase | Ignore phrase between subject and verb | “The quality of the reports was poor.” (not “were”) |
| Each / Every / Either / Neither | Always singular | “Each of the students has submitted.” |
| Collective nouns | Singular (AmE); can be plural (BrE) | “The team has decided.” / “The team have decided.” |
| Neither…nor / Either…or | Verb agrees with nearer subject | “Neither the teacher nor the students were ready.” |
| Uncountable nouns | Always singular | “The information was helpful.” |
| A number of | Plural | “A number of studies show…” |
| The number of | Singular | “The number of students is increasing.” |
Tricky Subjects
- News, mathematics, economics, physics — singular despite the -s ending: “The news is alarming.”
- There is / There are — agrees with the following noun: “There are many factors.”
- Gerund phrases as subject — singular: “Learning new skills is essential.”
Quick Self-Test
Choose the correct verb:
- “The impact of digital technologies on education (has / have) been significant.”
- “A number of researchers (has / have) challenged this view.”
- “Neither the policy nor its outcomes (was / were) assessed.”
Answers: 1. has | 2. have | 3. were