by Larry Alexander | Tutor With Larry | tutorwithlarry.com
Why Subject-Verb Agreement Matters
For college students, clearly communicating your ideas is a key part of academic writing. One small rule can change a sentence from feeling shaky to being solid: subject-verb agreement. When you understand this rule, your meaning comes through clearly. Readers can navigate your paper without stumbling over awkward phrases.
Subject-verb agreement may sound like complicated grammar, but it’s straightforward. The subject and the verb must match in number. A singular subject takes a singular verb. A plural subject takes a plural verb. That’s the basics. The trickier part is spotting the instances where other words distract from the main subject.
William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White stressed the importance of clarity in The Elements of Style: “Make the paragraph the unit of composition” (Strunk and White 15). Strong paragraphs stem from sentences that fit well together, and sentences fit together when the grammar is correct. Subject-verb agreement is one of those subtle rules that keeps your writing steady, measured, and professional.
The Basic Rule
Start simple.
The student attends the lecture.
The students attend the lecture.
In the first example, “student” refers to one person, so the verb is “attends.” In the second example, “students” refers to more than one, so the verb changes to “attend.”
Most people get this right without thinking when the sentences are short. Problems arise when extra words separate the subject and the verb.
False Subjects: The Most Common Problem
A common issue occurs when another noun sits near the verb, leading you to match the verb to the wrong word.
Incorrect: “The list of ingredients on the recipe sound delicious.”
Correct: “The list of ingredients on the recipe sounds delicious.”
The true subject is “list,” not “ingredients.” Since “list” is singular, the verb must also be singular: “sounds.”
The Paradigm Online Writing Assistant warns students to watch for phrases that insert themselves between the subject and verb, as these interruptions often lead to errors (“Subject-Verb Agreement”).
Here’s the same problem in a different sentence.
Incorrect: “The box of old notebooks were stored in the closet.”
Correct: “The box of old notebooks was stored in the closet.”
Once again, “box” is the subject, not “notebooks.”
A useful editing technique is to mentally strip away the extra phrases and identify the core subject, then check the verb.
Compound Subjects and the Word “And”
When you connect two subjects with “and,” you typically end up with a plural subject.
Incorrect: “Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite sandwich.”
Correct: “Peanut butter and jelly are my favorite sandwich.”
Two items linked by “and” usually require a plural verb.
However, English has cases where two words function as a single item.
Correct: “Macaroni and cheese is my favorite meal.”
Correct: “Law and order remains an important political issue.”
In these examples, the pair acts as one unit, not two individual parts.
That’s why grammar isn’t just about memorizing rules. Meaning and context matter.
Collective Nouns Can Go Either Way
Collective nouns refer to groups using singular terms: team, committee, jury, class, family, audience.
They can be tricky because the choice of verb depends on what you want to emphasize.
Singular Focus
“The committee decides on the issue tomorrow.”
Plural Focus
“The committee disagree among themselves about the issue.”
In the first case, the group acts as a single unit. In the second, the emphasis is on individual members of the group.
What’s most important is consistency. Decide if the group is acting together or as individual members, then choose the verb that best fits.
Indefinite Pronouns Require Care
Terms like “everyone,” “someone,” “each,” “either,” “neither,” and “none” can create confusion because they don’t always sound singular, even when they are.
Incorrect: “Everyone in the classrooms are prepared.”
Correct: “Everyone in the classrooms is prepared.”
Even with “classrooms” in the sentence, the subject remains “everyone,” which takes a singular verb.
“None” is more flexible.
Singular: “None of the pizza has been eaten.”
Plural: “None of the students have finished the assignment.”
As the Paradigm Online Writing Assistant points out, context determines the choice with indefinite pronouns because you have to decide if the subject is singular or plural (“Subject-Verb Agreement”).
What The Elements of Style Says About Clarity
In The Elements of Style, Strunk Jr. and White emphasize clear, direct writing. One reason agreement is important is that mistakes disrupt the flow and obscure the message.
Consider these examples:
Weak: “The arguments presented by the students in the classroom was confusing.”
Stronger: “The students’ arguments were confusing.”
The second version feels cleaner because the subject and verb connect directly, without unnecessary clutter.
They also suggest that writers should “omit needless words” (23). Many agreement issues disappear when a sentence is simplified.
Practical Editing Strategies for Students
Read Your Sentences Out Loud
Your ear often catches what your eyes miss. If a line sounds off when you read it, check subject-verb agreement right away.
Find the Core Subject
Set prepositional phrases aside for a moment.
Sentence: “The collection of essays written by first-year students needs revision.”
The subject is “collection,” not “essays” or “students.”
Watch Out for Long Academic Sentences
It’s easy to assume that longer sentences sound smarter. Most of the time, they don’t. Long sentences increase the risk of agreement errors. Clear writing comes across as confident when the grammar is correct.
Take Your Time During Revision
Many agreement mistakes happen during quick drafting. While revising, analyze sentences step by step.
- What is the subject?
- Is it singular or plural?
- Does the verb match?
This routine can significantly improve your writing.
Why Strong Grammar Builds Stronger Arguments
Subject-verb agreement isn’t just about being correct. It influences how believable your writing sounds. A professor might not mark every mistake, but repeated errors can undermine your credibility. Readers start noticing the slips instead of engaging with the ideas.
Strong grammar doesn’t guarantee strong thinking, but poor grammar can distract from good ideas.
That’s the true reason grammar matters in academic writing. It’s not about achieving perfection for its own sake. It’s about clarity. When your sentences fit together, your argument holds strong.
Over time, subject-verb agreement becomes less like a set of rules and more like a familiar sound. The more you read and write, the more recognizing the right patterns feels natural.
Additional Resource
For more on subject-verb agreement, visit the Paradigm Online Writing Assistant.
Works Cited
“Subject-Verb Agreement.” Paradigm Online Writing Assistant, www.powa.org/edit/six-problem-areas.html?start=1. Accessed 21 May 2026.
Strunk, William, Jr., and E. B. White. The Elements of Style. 4th ed., Pearson, 2000.
About the Author
Larry Alexander is a professional English tutor, former college English professor, and lifelong hip-hop enthusiast. He has nine years of teaching experience at Prairie State College and is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He offers tutoring in essay writing, personal narratives, business writing, grammar, and proofreading.
He believes in the power of hip-hop as literature, education, and a path to self-knowledge. Visit Tutor With Larry to learn more or to book a session.vehicle for self-knowledge. Visit tutorwithlarry.com to learn more or book a session.
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