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Grammar reference

Agreement

Subject-Verb Agreement

Matching the verb to the real subject.

b2

Explanation

The verb agrees with the head noun of the subject, not with the nearest noun. Phrases between subject and verb do not change agreement, and collective nouns take a singular verb in British formal writing when acting as one body.

Examples

  • The list of names was long.
  • Each of the students has a locker.
  • The team is presenting at noon.

Common mistakes

  • The list of names were long.

    The list of names was long.

    The head noun is list, not names.

  • Each of the students have a locker.

    Each of the students has a locker.

    Each is singular.

  • Neither of the options are good.

    Neither of the options is good.

    Neither is singular.

More Agreement

There Is and There Are

Introducing that something exists.