Subject–Verb Agreement in Tricky Sentences Explained for Everyone

Getting subject–verb agreement right seems simple at first. A singular subject takes a singular verb. A plural subject takes a plural verb.

That’s what most people learn in school. But as soon as real-life writing begins, especially with long or tricky sentences, this simple rule gets confusing fast.

Think about sentences with words like “each,” “none,” or “together with.” Think of long phrases between the subject and the verb.

Even native speakers stumble. Teachers, business writers, public speakers, and students all get caught in subject–verb mismatches. Why? Because English has many exceptions and sentence structures that disguise the real subject.

To help you stay clear, this guide breaks down subject–verb agreement in complex or tricky cases. The goal is to help anyone, regardless of age or background, understand and use the right verb forms confidently.

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What Is Subject–Verb Agreement?

Subject–verb agreement means the verb in a sentence must agree in number with the subject. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular.

If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. This sounds straightforward until other words appear to confuse the subject or distract the eye.

Examples of basic agreement:

1. The dog barks every morning.

2. The dogs bark every morning.

3. The teacher knows the answer.

4. The teachers know the answer.

But problems arise when the sentence includes words that pull attention away from the subject. That’s what we focus on next.

How Do Prepositional Phrases Confuse Agreement?

Prepositional phrases often sit between the subject and the verb. They begin with words like of, in, with, between, and among. The verb must agree with the subject, not the object of the preposition.

Correct use:

1. The box of pencils is on the table.

2. A pile of books was scattered across the floor.

3. The list of names has been updated.

4. A group of students is visiting the museum.

In all four examples, focus on the true subject: box, pile, list, and group. These are all singular, even if the nouns inside the prepositional phrases are plural. This pattern confuses people often, especially in formal writing.

What Happens with Indefinite Pronouns?

Indefinite pronouns like everyone, someone, each, nobody, and anybody are always singular, even if they refer to more than one person in meaning. This is where many writers make mistakes.

Examples of correct agreement:

1. Everyone in the room was silent.

2. Each of the players has a unique style.

3. Nobody knows the answer.

4. Something about these paintings makes me sad.

Despite appearing to represent groups, these pronouns are grammatically singular. According to the University of Michigan’s Department of English Language and Literature, this is one of the most frequent errors in undergraduate writing submissions.

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What If the Sentence Has “Together With” or “As Well As”?

When words like along with, together with, in addition to, or as well as follow the subject, they do not change the subject’s number. This is a subtle point that often trips up learners and fluent speakers alike.

Use these correctly:

1. The president, along with his ministers, is attending the meeting.

2. The car, as well as the truck, needs repair.

3. The teacher, in addition to her students, is on the trip.

4. The child, together with his friends, was playing.

The key is that the subject (president, car, teacher, child) remains singular. The additional phrase does not make the subject plural.

What About Sentences Starting with “There” or “Here”?

When sentences begin with there is, there are, here is, or here are, the subject comes after the verb. This can confuse readers and writers if they’re not careful.

Correct examples:

1. There is a cat under the bed.

2. There are five cats in the room.

3. Here is the report you requested.

4. Here are the documents for your review.

The subject is cat, cats, report, or documents — not there or here. Always find the noun after the verb to determine agreement.

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What If the Subject Contains “Either/Or” or “Neither/Nor”?

When using either… or or neither… nor, the verb agrees with the subject that is closer to it. This is sometimes called the proximity rule.

Examples to clarify:

1. Either the manager or the workers are going to fix it.

2. Either the workers or the manager is going to fix it.

3. Neither the students nor the teacher was late.

4. Neither the teacher nor the students were late.

Switch the order and the verb changes. This rule is widely supported by linguistics departments in several universities, including Purdue and Oxford, who stress this proximity agreement in style guides.

What Do We Do with Collective Nouns?

Collective nouns like team, family, committee, or audience can be either singular or plural depending on the context. American English usually treats them as singular unless the individuals are doing different things.

Examples:

1. The team is winning the match.

2. The team are arguing among themselves.

3. The committee has made its decision.

4. The committee have gone their separate ways.

The difference depends on whether the group is seen as a single unit or as individuals. UK English tends to use plural verbs more often with collective nouns.

What if the Subject Is a Title, Quotation, or a Noun Clause?

If a subject is a long phrase, a quotation, or the title of something, it usually takes a singular verb.

Use this correctly:

1. “To err is human” is a common saying.

2. What she said was surprising.

3. The Lord of the Rings is a classic trilogy.

4. Reading difficult texts takes time.

Even when the subject looks long or plural in meaning, it functions as one idea.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Subject–Verb Agreement in Tricky Sentences

1. Does the verb always agree with the noun closest to it?
Not always. It only does in cases with either/or, neither/nor, and some comparative phrases. In most cases, the verb must agree with the true grammatical subject regardless of proximity.

2. Can I use plural verbs with singular collective nouns?
Yes, if the members are acting individually. For example, “The class are taking their seats” makes sense if the focus is on separate actions.

3. Why does “each of the boys” take a singular verb?
Because each is the true subject, not boys. Each is singular even if it refers to multiple people.

4. Do all sentences starting with “there is” use singular verbs?
No. You must look at the subject after the verb. “There is a dog” is singular. “There are dogs” is plural.

5. What if I’m still unsure which word is the subject?
Remove unnecessary words, phrases, and modifiers. Then look at the core noun performing the action. That’s your subject. Reading the sentence aloud can help reveal what sounds right.

Graphical Guide: Quick Rules Summary

Final Thoughts

Subject–verb agreement in tricky sentences is more than a grammar rule. It affects clarity, trust, and professionalism.

It can change how people understand your point. Whether you’re writing an email, preparing a legal report, or explaining something in a classroom, proper subject–verb agreement makes your message clearer.

Once you master the principles behind these trickier cases, you avoid common errors and develop more confidence in your writing.

Understanding the logic behind agreement also improves reading skills. You’ll spot errors in others’ writing and know how to fix them in your own.

If you focus on identifying the subject first before deciding on the verb, you’ll handle even the most complicated sentence structures with ease.