Language Fundamentals
Subject–Verb Agreement
Match singular and plural subjects with the correct verb form.
In Language FundamentalsLast updated
What it is
The grammatical rule requiring singular subjects to take singular verbs and plural subjects to take plural verbs, ensuring clarity and correctness in professional communication by maintaining proper concordance.
Before & after
Before
“Agreement error: "The list of requirements are attached" (should be "is")”
After
“Correct agreement: "The list of requirements is attached" (singular subject "list")”
When you’ll use it
Team presentations: "The data shows" (singular) vs "The data show" (plural in some contexts)
Meeting minutes: "The committee has decided" (singular collective) vs "The committee have disagreed" (plural emphasis)
Progress reports: "Neither the manager nor the employees were" (plural verb matches closest subject)
Policy documents: "Each of the departments is responsible" (singular with "each of")
Pro tip
Locate the true subject, ignore interrupting phrases.
Questions & answers
What is subject-verb agreement in business writing?
Subject-verb agreement ensures that singular subjects take singular verbs and plural subjects take plural verbs. For example: 'The team is meeting' (singular) vs. 'The teams are meeting' (plural). Proper agreement maintains professional credibility.
What are common subject-verb agreement mistakes in business communication?
Common mistakes include treating collective nouns incorrectly ('The data are' vs. 'The data is'), compound subjects ('Neither the manager nor the employees was' should be 'were'), and intervening phrases obscuring the real subject.
How do I handle subject-verb agreement with collective nouns?
Treat collective nouns as singular when the group acts as one unit ('The team is deciding') or plural when emphasizing individual members ('The team are arguing among themselves'). Choose based on whether you mean the group or its members.
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