English in Use/Agreement

Agreement (also called concord) is the way a word (marked with an underline in this article) has the form appropriate to the person, number, or gender of the noun or pronoun (written here in bold).Definition of 'agreement' Collins Dictionary https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/agreement 5 April 2026 en For example, the sentences "It exists." and "They exist." are grammatically correct, while "It exist." or "They exists." are grammatically incorrect. English grammar requires that the verb and its subject agree in person: the pronoun it and the verb exists are singular, whereas the pronoun they and the verb exist are plural. Subject/Complement–Verb agreement Subject–Verb agreement In general, a verb's number is matched to its subject (which normally precedes the verb).Swan 2016 205 A singular subject takes a singular verb.Hewings 2023 80ELT COBUILD 2017 36, 42, 49, 51Straus Jane https://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectVerbAgree.asp Subject–Verb Agreement 5 April 2026 en The zoo's main attraction is the elephants. A plural subject takes a plural verb.Hewings 2023 80ELT COBUILD 2017 36, 42, 49, 51 Elephants are the zoo's main attraction. Subject after the verb The subject follows the verb in a range of constructions, including certain formal, literary, or emphatic structures as well as using here and there at the beginning of a sentence.https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/here-and-there Here and there 5 April 2026 enSwan 2016 57-58Hewings 2023 80Swan 2016 400-402 Look, here comes your boyfriend! Little does he realize how much he means to us. The new policy is beneficial to the environment, as are the prior regulations. Complement–Verb agreement When the subject is far from the verb, the verb is sometimes matched to the complement.Swan 2016 205 The main problem with the new policy, along with several unexpected complications, are/is the unclear rules and guidelines. This often occurs when the subject is a relative clause introduced by what, especially if the complement is long.Swan 2016 206Hewings 2023 80 What we need to consider is the potential consequence of this decision. If the complement is plural, the verb can be plural (more formal) or singular.Hewings 2023 80 What we need to consider are the potential consequences of this decision. (more formally) What we need to consider is the potential consequences of this decision. Parentheses Parentheses can always be removed, so they don't affect the agreement.How to use parenthesis: brackets, dashes and commas https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zhpt7yc 5 April 2026 enParentheses vs. Brackets: Definitions and Examples 16 November 2022 https://www.grammarly.com/blog/punctuation-capitalization/parentheses-and-brackets 5 April 2026 enEinsohn 348Eastwood 1994 192 Our laptop computer (and its accessories) comes with a two-year warranty. Complex nouns When a noun is complex, i.e., it contains a preposition, prepositional phrase, adverb, adverbial phrase (e.g., with, in addition to, along with, as well (as), together with, besides, or not), or a relative clause, the verb usually agrees with the head noun or pronoun.Hewings 2023 80Swan 2016 206https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/grammar/subject_verb_agreement.html Making Subjects and Verbs Agree 5 April 2026 en The engine of the car needs to be repaired. The man who lives next door is very outgoing. The computer as well as the printer is malfunctioning. The teachers in my school are notoriously unprepared for classes. Quantifying expressions However, with quantifying expressions (phrases expressing parts), percentages, and fractions, the verb agrees with the noun or pronoun following of.Swan 2016 204fraction https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/fraction 5 April 2026 enHewings 2023 84 Half of the team members are working remotely today. Less than 2% of water in the world is drinkable. Only a handful of students were on time for the class. Pronoun-Antecedent agreement Number agreement A singular pronoun is used for a singular noun.ELT COBUILD 2017 106 The computer is on the desk, and it is not working properly. A plural pronoun is used for a plural noun.ELT COBUILD 2017 106 The computers are on the desk, and they are not working properly. Gender agreement Pronouns are also matched for gender. He or she and who are normally used for people.Swan 2016 513ELT COBUILD 2017 106 My uncle is a doctor. He works in the city hospital. When referring back to indefinite pronouns such as somebody, someone, anybody, anyone, no one, nobody, everybody, and everyone, the phrase he or she is used.they https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/they 26 April 2026they https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/they 26 April 2026Swan 2016 264 If someone wants to join, he or she must register online. Nowadays, it is also generally considered correct to use the word they.Swan 2016 264 If someone wants to join, they must register online. It and which are normally used for things or animals.Swan 2016 513 I saw a cat. It was sleeping on the sofa. When animals are thought of as having personality, intelligence, or feelings, he or she may sometimes be used; this is common with pets.Swan 2016 513 This is Bella, a friendly golden retriever. She enjoys playing fetch with her owner. In such cases, who is used instead of which.Swan 2016 513 Meet Luna, a playful cat who loves to chase toys. Sometimes she is used for cars and motorcycles as well as countries, though it is more common in modern usage.Swan 2016 513she https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/sheshe https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/she I love my car. It/She never lets me down. Italy is famous for its/her cuisine. Sailors often refer to ships and boats as she, but it's less common than it used to be.Swan 2016 513 This is my ship. She's got a long history of cruising. Determiner–Noun agreement Some determiners are used only with certain kinds of nouns. For example, this and that change to these and those when the following noun is plural.Swan 2016 this cat — these cats that cat — those cats The table below shows which determiners and determiner phrases combine with which kinds of nouns: DeterminerCountable singular nouns (e.g. notebook, week)Uncountable nouns (e.g. luggage, music)Countable plural nouns (e.g. notebooks, weeks)a / an / eachHewings 2023 82Swan 2016 239each https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/each 5 April 2026 eneach https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/each 5 April 2026 en / many a/anmany https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/many 5 April 2026 enmany a/an https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/many%20a%2Fan 5 April 2026 en / one / eitherSwan 2016 242either https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/either 5 April 2026 en / neitherSwan 2016 243neither https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/neither 5 April 2026 enmany / quite a few / a good few / a good many / not a few / a number of / few / fewerhttps://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/less less 5 April 2026 enhttps://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/less-or-fewer Less or fewer? 5 April 2026 enhttps://www.britannica.com/dictionary/less less 5 April 2026 en / fewest / a few / severalhttps://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/grammar/online-grammar/quantifiers-both-several-most-and-all both, several, most, all 5 April 2026 en / these / those / zero, two, three, etc. / umpteenmuch / little / a littlethis / thatquantity ofhttps://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/amount-of-number-of-or-quantity-of Amount of, number of or quantity of? 5 April 2026 enCarter McCarthy 2006 361 / enough / a lot of / lots ofamount ofhttps://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/amount_1 amount 5 April 2026 en / a good deal ofhttps://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/a-great-good-deal a great/good deal 5 April 2026 enCarter McCarthy 2006 348Swan 2016 257 / a great deal ofCarter McCarthy 2006 361Swan 2016 257 / lesshttps://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/less_1 less 5 April 2026 en / leastQuestionableallhttps://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/all_1 all 5 April 2026 enSwan 2016 235 / some / any Every Every is followed by a singular noun.Swan 2016 237Hewings 2023 82every https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/every 5 April 2026 en Every episode of the series presents a new story. Every is used with a plural noun when it refers to intervals.Swan 2016 238 A train leaves the station every three hours. No The word no is followed by a singular noun when referring to the absence of even a single item.Hewings 2023 92https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv354.shtml no = not / not any 5 April 2026 en He has no passport. The word no is followed by a plural noun when referring to the absence of multiple items.Hewings 2023 92 He has no socks. Often both are possible though it's more formal to use a singular noun.Hewings 2023 98 No dog allowed! (more formally) No dogs allowed! Kind(s)/Sort(s)/Type(s) of After kind/sort/type of, a singular noun is usually used.kinds / types / sorts / varieties (of music) https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv310.shtml 5 April 2026 enSwan 2016 684–685Uk 2019 281,282,485,539kind https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/kind_1 5 April 2026 enkind https://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=kind The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language 5 April 2026 en What sort of book do you usually read? It's also possible to use kind/sort/type of with a plural noun.Swan 2016 684–685 What sort of books do you usually read? The phrases kinds/sorts/types of can also be used with either a singular or a plural noun.Uk 2019 281,282,485,539 We studied many sorts of political system(s). Certain structures with this, that, these, and those occur, but they are considered incorrect.Swan 2016 684–685Uk 2019 281,282,485,539 This kind of problems is difficult. (this/that + kind/sort/type of + plural noun) These kind of problems is difficult. (these/those + kind/sort/type of + plural noun) These kinds of problem are difficult. (these/those + kinds/sorts/types of + singular noun) In formal style, a plural verb followed by of this/that kind/sort/type is also possible.Swan 2016 684–685Uk 2019 281,282,485,539 Problems of this kind are difficult. Dozen, hundred, thousand, million, and billion The words dozen, hundred, thousand, million, and billion are used without the -s ending when they follow a number.Swan 2016 505hundred Definition of 'hundred'; Collins English Dictionary https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/hundred 5 April 2026 enhundred https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/hundred 5 April 2026 enELT COBUILD 2017 302Uk 2019 727 The population of South Korea grew to almost 52 million and then began to decline. I have two hundred dollars on me. Fractions Fractions between 1 and 2 are used with plural nouns.Swan 2016 207 The meeting lasted around 1.25 hours. Notional agreement Notional agreement (also called notional concord or synesis) is a type of agreement that stems from the meaning. It is more commonly used in British English than in American English.On Notional Agreement, the Majority Speak https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/notional-agreement-subject-verb-principle-proximity And Expressions joined by and generally take a plural verb.ELT COBUILD 2017 799Swan 2016 206Hewings 2023 82 A cat and a dog are playing in the garden. If the nouns, however, suggest one idea or refer to the same thing or person, the verb is singular.ELT COBUILD 2017 799Swan 2016 206Hewings 2023 82 The new bed and breakfast opens this week. The singer and songwriter is performing tonight. When expressions joined by and follow each or every, the verb is singular.ELT COBUILD 2017 799Hewings 2023 82 Each teacher and student has completed the survey. The verb is also singular when uncountable nouns joined by and follow all.ELT COBUILD 2017 799 All the information and advice is available on our website. Amounts and quantities Expressions of distance, sums of money, periods of time, etc., regarded as one unit, take singular determiners, verbs, and pronouns.Swan 2016 204Murphy 2019 158https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/course/towards-advanced/unit-21/tab/grammar Subject–Verb Agreement 2 5 April 2026 enHewings 2023 84 Five minutes is all I need. Fifty dollars is a fair price. Two liters of water is required for the experiment. However, when these expressions are deemed separate individual units, they are plural. A few dollars were missing from the victim's wallet. Calculations When speaking calculations, both singular and plural verbs are possible depending on the phrasing.Swan 2016 507 Three and three is/are six. Three plus three is six. Groups American English In American English, collective nouns (i.e. nouns expressing groups singular in form such as committee, team, Sony and The United Nations)Swan 2016 205Carter McCarthy 2006 351Hewings 2023 80 generally take singular verbsMurphy 2019 301family https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/family 5 April 2026 and either singular or plural pronouns.Swan 2016 203 The committee was arguing among itself/themselves during the session. My family is all coming over for Thanksgiving. The United Nations is holding a conference next month. It/They has/have invited delegates from all over the world to attend. British English In British English, collective nouns may take either singular or plural verb and pronouns forms.Swan 2016 203Murphy 2019 301 Singular forms are used when the emphasis is on the group as a whole.Swan 2016 203Hewings 2023 80 The committee has postponed its meeting until next week. In these cases which is also used as the relative pronoun.Swan 2016 203 The band, which was formed in the 1980s, gained international fame. Plural forms are used when the emphasis is on the individual members.Swan 2016 203Hewings 2023 80 The committee were arguing among themselves during the session. In those cases who is often used as the relative pronoun.Swan 2016 203 The band, who have been performing together for decades, released a new album. Indefinite pronouns As subjects, another, anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, every, everybody, everyone, everything, less, little, much, neither, no one, nobody, nothing, one, somebody, someone, and something take singular verbs.Murphy 2019 170, 180 Everybody is a genius. The pronouns both, few, fewer, many, others, and several take plural verbs. Few know the full story. The pronouns all, any, enough, more, most, none, some, and such take a singular verb when they refer to an uncountable noun or a plural verb when they refer to a plural noun.https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/no-none-and-none-of No, none and none of 5 April 2026 en I found the equipment in the garage, but it turned out that none is useful. I found the tools in the garage, but it turned out that none are useful. "the number of" vs "a number of" and "the total" vs "a total of" The literal phrase the number of takes a singular verb, whereas the fixed phrase a number of is treated as plural.https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/number number 5 April 2026 enStraus Jane https://www.grammarbook.com/blog/numbers/the-number-vs-a-number The Number vs. A Number 9 December 2010 5 April 2026 enhttps://www.noslangues-ourlanguages.gc.ca/en/writing-tips-plus/verb-agreement-with-number Verb agreement with "number" 5 April 2026 en The number of cars on the roads has decreased. A number of people have complained about the noise. The same is true for the total and a total of.Iverson Cheryl AMA Manual of Style 10th Oxford University Press Oxford, Oxfordshire 2007 978-0-19-517633-9 https://archive.org/details/amamanualofstyle0000unse 7.8.11 Number registration The total was growing. A total of 28 volunteers have submitted applications. Special cases Titles and names Titles and names plural in form and referring to a single thing (e.g. countries, movies, restaurants, and quotations) take singular verbs.Hewings 2023 80Eastwood 1994 192Swan 2016 205 The Netherlands is famous for its fields of tulips. The Avengers has been a huge box-office success. The New York Times is an American newspaper. "Sales figures" is the phrase used in the report title. the United States Usually the United States is used with a singular verb just like other countries. However, it's possible to use it with a plural noun though it's not common.fraction https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/the-united-states-of-america 10 July 2026 en The United States is (or rarely: are) the country with the largest number of English native speakers. What/Who questions In questions, what and who are followed by a singular verb when they are used as subject.Swan 2016 207Hewings 2023 52 Who lives in that house? However, when they are used as complements (this happens often after linking verbs), they are followed by either a plural or singular verb.Swan 2016 207Hewings 2023 52 Who is the person living in that house? Who are the people living in that house? Both versions are also possible in echo questions if the subject is plural or consists of at least two nouns with "and".Hewings 2023 52 John and Mary are coming tomorrow. – Who are coming tomorrow? John and Mary are coming tomorrow. – Who's coming tomorrow? A pair of After a pair of, both singular and plural verbs can be used.pair https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/pair_1 5 April 2026 A pair of glasses is/are on the bench. Clauses Singular verbs are used with clauses used as subjects.Hewings 2023 80Eastwood 1994 193 What she said was suspicious. For all of us to get enough sleep is crucial. To err is human. Where they went remains unknown. Everyone, everybody, and each When pronouns refer back to everyone, everybody, and each they may be singular (more formal) or plural (less formal).Swan 2016 238 Everyone is responsible for his or her actions. Everyone is responsible for their actions. Each When each refers to the subject and is in mid-position, plural nouns, pronouns, and verbs are used.Swan 2016 240 The students each have their own locker. More than one The expression more than one uses a singular noun and verb.Swan 2016 204 More than one factor contributes to climate change. Here's, there's, and where's In informal style, here's, there's, and where's are often used with plural nouns (instead of here are, there are, where are); sometimes this is considered incorrect.Swan 2016 207Hewings 2023 82 Where are (or questionable: Where's) my keys? Any of, none of, either of, and neither of After any ofSwan 2016 246Hewings 2023 82, none ofSwan 2016 249Murphy 2019 172Hewings 2023 82, either ofSwan 2016 242https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/either_1 either 5 April 2026 enHewings 2023 82https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/either either 5 April 2026 en, and neither ofSwan 2016 243Murphy 2019 178https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/neither_1 neither 5 April 2026 enHewings 2023 82https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/neither neither 5 April 2026 en, English uses a plural personal pronoun or a plural determiner and noun and optionally a singular verb in formal style or a plural verb in informal style. Any of the students is/are allowed to retake the test. None of the students is/are ready for the exam. Either of them is/are welcome to join us. Neither of them is/are ready yet. Each of Each of is normally followed by a plural personal pronoun or a plural determiner and noun and a singular verbSwan 2016 239-240. However in informal style a plural verb is sometimes used.Hewings 2023 82https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/each Each 5 April 2026 en Each of the books has (or informally: have) a different cover design. Expressions with "in" and "out of" After number followed by in or out of, English uses a number with a plural noun and either a singular or plural verb.Swan 2016 503 Almost nine in ten students hate(s) math. Over six out of ten young men feel(s) lonely regularly. Every one of Every one of is followed by a plural personal pronoun or a plural determiner and noun and a singular verb.Swan 2016 237 Every one of her arguments is wrong. One of The expression one of is usually followed by a plural noun.Swan 2016 204 One of the apples is rotten. Sometimes one of is used with a singular noun referring to a group.Swan 2016 661 Why don't you invite one of the team for lunch? The verb after the noun is singular.Swan 2016 204 One of my co-workers is from Seoul. After one of in the relative clauses, both plural and singular verbs are used; the plural form is generally considered correct.Swan 2016 205 He's one of the professors who teach quantum physics. The The phrase consisting of the and an adjective is plural when referring to well-known groups of people in a particular physical or social condition.Swan 2016 279ELT COBUILD 2017 65Murphy 2019 152Subject-Verb Agreement 1 https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/course/towards-advanced/unit-20/tab/grammar 5 April 2026 en Do the disabled have special facilities? In certain fixed, formal expressions, the phrase consisting of the and an adjective may be singular.Swan 2016 279 The deceased has not yet been formally identified. The phrase consisting of the and an adjective is singular when it refers to general abstract ideas.Swan 2016 280 The unknown is often scarier than the known. The phrase consisting of the and an adjective is plural when referring to people from a specific country.Swan 2016 279Murphy 2019 152 The Japanese value punctuality highly. (Either) or, (neither) nor, not only (but) also The verb should agree with the expression in these structures closest to it (the rule of proximity). Other forms of agreement occur, but they are not considered correct.Swan 2016 206ELT COBUILD 2017 799https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/course/towards-advanced/unit-22/tab/grammar Subject–Verb Agreement 3 5 April 2026 enHewings 2023 82 Either my teacher or I am wrong. Are neither the employees nor the manager aware of the change? References Bibliography Books Swan Michael Practical English Usage 4th 2016 Oxford University Press Oxford 978-0-19-420243-5 Hewings Martin Advanced Grammar in Use: Book with Answers and eBook and Online Test 4th 2023 Cambridge University Press & Assessment Oxford 9781108920216 Murphy Raymond English Grammar in Use 5th 2019 Cambridge University Press Eastwood John Oxford Guide to English Grammar Oxford University Press 1994 Carter Ronald McCarthy Michael Cambridge Grammar of English: A Comprehensive Guide 2006 ELT Collins COBUILD Collins Collins COBUILD Grammar - COBUILD English Grammar Collins Cobuild 2017-03-23 978-0-00-813581-2 Uk Collins Collins COBUILD Grammar - English Usage: B1-C2 2019 978-0-00-835640-8 HarperCollins Publishers Limited Fourth Einsohn Amy The Copyeditor's Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications Fourth