# Subject-Verb Agreement: Examples & How to Fix It

> Subject-verb agreement means a singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb. The trap is words between them: “The list of items is long” (the subject is “list”, not “items”).

**URL:** https://humanit.app/writing/subject-verb-agreement  ·  **Updated:** May 2026  ·  Humanit

Subject-verb agreement means a singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb. The trap is words between them: “The list of items is long” (the subject is “list”, not “items”). Paste your own sentence into the free checker below to fix it in one click.

## How it works

1. **Spot the pattern** — Find the real subject (ignore prepositional phrases like “of items”, “along with the others”). Then check the verb matches that subject’s number.
2. **Apply the rule** — Strip the in-between phrase, test the bare subject and verb, then restore the phrase. “The list … is long” reads correctly once “of items” is set aside.
3. **Check your sentence** — Paste your text into the grammar checker below — it flags the issue and shows the correction.
4. **Re-read it** — Read the corrected version aloud to confirm it says exactly what you meant.

## The rule

The verb must match the number of its true subject — singular with singular, plural with plural — no matter what words sit between them.

## How to spot it

Find the real subject (ignore prepositional phrases like “of items”, “along with the others”). Then check the verb matches that subject’s number.

## How to fix it

Strip the in-between phrase, test the bare subject and verb, then restore the phrase. “The list … is long” reads correctly once “of items” is set aside.

## The most common mistake

Letting a nearby noun control the verb (“The list of items are long”) when the actual subject is singular. If you’re not sure whether your sentence has the problem, paste it into the checker above — it catches this and explains the fix in plain language.

**Before → after**

| ❌ Incorrect | ✓ Corrected | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The list of items are long. | The list of items is long. | Subject is “list” (singular) |
| Each of the students have a book. | Each of the students has a book. | “Each” is singular |
| Neither the manager nor the staff was ready. | Neither the manager nor the staff were ready. | Verb agrees with the nearer subject “staff” |

## FAQ

**What is subject-verb agreement?**

It’s matching a verb to its subject in number: a singular subject takes a singular verb (“she runs”), a plural subject takes a plural verb (“they run”).

**Why do words like “of items” cause errors?**

They sit between the subject and verb and tempt you to match the verb to the nearest noun. Always match the verb to the true subject, not the in-between phrase.

**How do I check my own writing for this?**

Paste your text into the free grammar checker on this page. It flags the issue, suggests a correction, and explains why — so you learn the rule, not just the fix.

**Is it free?**

Yes — your first run needs no account, and a free account adds 5 more, each up to 1,500 words. They are a one-time grant, not a daily allowance. Upgrade for a word pool that removes the per-run cap, or use the free iOS app.

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_Last updated: June 2026._