Verbs must agree with their subjects in every sentence you write. The verb must agree in number (singular or plural?) and must also agree in person (first, second, or third).
Singular Subjects in Present Tense:
*A singular subject in first or second person uses the base form of the verb.
-I run every day.
-You talk too much.
*A singular subject in third person adds -s or -es to the base form.
-She runs every day.
-The student talks too much.
*Identify the subject of the sentence (who or what is the sentence about?) and then make sure the verb agrees with that word or words. Do not be fooled by other words that fall in between the subject and the verb.
-A vase of roses BRIGHTENS up the room.
In the above sentence, the subject is vase. Vase is singular, so the verb is brightens. 'Of roses' is a prepositional phrase, not the subject, so eliminate these words from consideration when matching the verb with the subject.
-Roses in a vase brighten up the room.
In the above sentence, the subject is roses. Roses is plural, so the verb is brighten. 'In a vase' is a prepositional phrase, not the subject, so eliminate these words from consideration when matching the verb with the subject.
*Two or more subjects joined by 'and' usually take a plural verb.
-A textbook and a journal WERE issued to each student.
*Two or more subjects joined by 'and' but referring to the same person or object will take a singular verb.
-Legendary performer and Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famer Elvis Presley IS known
by many as 'The King.'
*Two or more subjects joined by 'or' or 'nor' will take a verb that agrees with the subject closest to the verb.
-Neither the team nor the coaches BELIEVE the call was fair.
-Neither the coaches nor the team BELIEVES the call was fair.
In the first example above, the plural subject (coaches) is closest to the verb and so the verb is plural (believe). In the second example, the singular subject (team) is closest to the verb, and so the verb is singular (believes).
*If the word each or every precedes the subjects joined by 'and' the verb will be singular.
-Each boy and girl RECEIVES one book to take home.
*Fractions that refer to singular subjects should take a singular verb.
-Two-thirds of the pizza WAS eaten.
*Fractions that refer to plural subjects should take plural verbs.
-Two-thirds of voters WERE in favor of the amendment.
*The pronouns another, any, anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, much, neither, nobody, no one, nothing, one, other, somebody, someone, and something take singular verbs.
-Everybody HAS a portable music device.
*The pronouns both, few, many, others, and several take plural verbs.
-Many HAVE portable music devices.
*The pronouns all, any, enough, more, most, none, and some can be singular or plural depending on the noun to which they are referring.
-Most of the pizza WAS eaten.
-Most of the pizzas WERE eaten.
The first example above indicates there was only one pizza, so 'most' took the singular verb WAS. The second example indicates there were multiple pizzas, so 'most' took the plural verb WERE.
*If the sentence is inverted, the verb should continue to agree with the subject, even though the subject appears after the verb. Look closely at the sentence to identify the subject correctly.
-In the closet ARE the maps of the states I have visited.
The subject of this sentence is maps, so the plural verb ARE is needed. When dealing with an inverted sentence, ask yourself what the sentence is talking about. Is this sentence about the closet? No- it is about the maps, which are in the closet. The inverted sentence doesn't happen very often in the English language.
*Titles to books, movies, songs, etc, require singular verbs, even if the title is plural.
-'Promises' IS a powerful play.
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