Agreement in the English language

Agreement (also called concord) is the way a word (marked with an underline in this article) has the form appropriate to the number or gender of the noun or pronoun (written here in bold).^[1]

Subject/complement–verb agreement

In general, a verb's number is matched to its subject (which commonly precedes the verb).^[2]

A singular subject takes a singular verb.^[3][4][5]

• The zoo's main attraction is the elephants.

A plural subject takes a plural verb.^[6][3][4][5]

• Elephants are the zoo's main attraction.

Compound subjects

When the subject is complex (for example contains a prepositional phrase or a relative clause), the verb usually agrees with the head noun or pronoun.^[5][7][3]

• The engine of the car wants repairing.
• The teachers at my school are notoriously unprepared for lessons.
• The man who lives next door is very outgoing.

Quantifying expressions

However, with quantifying expressions (phrases expressing parts) the verb agrees with the noun or pronoun following of.^[8][5][7]

• A group of protesters have gathered outside the government building.
• Half of the team members are working remotely today.
• Only a handful of students were on time for classes.

The number of and A number of

The literal phrase the number of takes a singular verb, whereas the fixed phrase a number of is treated as plural.^[9][10][11]

• The number of cars on the roads has decreased.
• A number of people have complained about the noise.

Brackets

Brackets can always be removed, so they don't affect the agreement.^{[5][12][13][14][15]}

• Our mobile phone (and its accessories) comes with a two-year warranty.

Subjects with prepositional or adverbial phrases

Adding a prepositional or adverbial phrase (e.g. with, in addition to, along with, as well (as), together with, besides, not) to the subject does not change its number.^[5][16][17]

• The computer as well as the printer is malfunctioning.

Subject after the verb

When here or there appear at the beginning, the subject follows the verb.^[5][18]

• Here is your coffee.

Some other constructions also place the subject after the verb.^[3][19]

• Little does he realise how much he means to us.
• So ravishing was the fireworks display that everyone stopped to watch.
• The new policy is beneficial to the environment, as are the prior regulations.
• A: He's dangerous. B: So am I.

Complement–verb agreement

When the subject is far from the verb, the verb is sometimes matched to the complement.^[2]

A singular complement takes a singular verb.^[6]

• The main reason for his success in international competitions, as he explained, was money.

A plural complement takes a plural verb.^[6]

• The main reason for his success in the international competition, as he explained, were the hours spent practising.

This often occurs when the subject is a relative clause introduced by what, especially if the complement is long.^[16][7][3]

• What we need to consider are the potential consequences of this decision.

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

Number agreement

A singular pronoun is used for a singular noun.^[6][20]

• The computer is on the desk and it is not working properly.

A plural pronoun is used for a plural noun.^[6][20]

• The computers are on the desk and they are not working properly.

Gender agreement

Pronouns are also matched for gender. He or she and who are normally used for people.^[21][20]

• My uncle is a doctor. He works in the city hospital.

It and which are normally used for things or animals.^[21]

• I saw a cat. It was sleeping on the sofa.

When animals are thought of as having personality, intelligence, or feelings, he or she may sometimes be used; this is common with pets.^[21]

• This is Bella, a friendly golden retriever. She enjoys playing fetch with her owner.

In such cases who is used instead of which.^[21]

• Meet Luna, a playful cat who loves to chase toys.

Sometimes she is used for cars and motorcycles.^[21]

• I love my car. She runs smoothly on the motorway.

Sailors often refer to ships and boats as she.^[21]

• This is my ship. She's got a long history of cruising.

Countries can be referred to as she, though it is more common in modern usage.^[21]

• Italy is famous for its/her cuisine.

Everybody, Everyone

When pronouns refer back to everyone and everybody, they may be singular (more formal) or plural (less formal).^[22]

• Everybody is responsible for his or her actions.
• Everybody is responsible for their actions.

Determiner–noun agreement

Some determiners are used only with certain kinds of nouns. For example, this and that change to these and those when the following noun is plural.^[6]

• this cat — these cats
• that cat — those cats

The table below shows which determiners and determiner phrases combine with which kinds of nouns:

Determiner	Countable singular nouns (e.g. notebook, week)	Uncountable nouns (e.g. luggage, music)	Countable plural nouns (e.g. notebooks, weeks)
a / an / each[23][24] / many a/an[25][26] / one / either[27][28] / neither[29][30]	Yes	No	No
every	Yes	No	Yes
many / quite a few / a good few / a good many / not a few / a number of / few / fewer[31][32] / fewest / a few / several[33] / these / those / zero, two, three, etc. / umpteen	No	No	Yes
much / little / a little	No	Yes	No
this / that	Yes	Yes	No
quantity of[34][35] / enough / a lot of / lots of	No	Yes	Yes
amount of[36] / a good deal of[37][38][39] / a great deal of[37][38][39] / less[31][32][40] / least	No	Yes	Questionable
all[41][42] / some / any / no	Yes	Yes	Yes

Kind(s)/Sort(s)/Type(s) of

After kind/sort/type of, a singular noun is usually used.^{[43][44][45][46][47][48][49]}

• It's a kind of cheese you can't find in regular stores.
• That's the sort of music I listen to when I study.
• This kind of problem is difficult.

It's also possible to use kind/sort/type of with a plural noun.^[44][46]

• What sort of films do you usually watch?

The phrases kinds/sorts/types of can also be used with either singular or plural verb.^[45][46]

• We studied many sorts of political systems.
• She likes different kinds of jewellery.
• These kinds of problems are difficult.

Certain structures with this, that, these, those occur, but they are considered incorrect.^[44][45][46]

• This kind of problems is difficult. (this/that + kind/sort/type of + plural noun)
• These kind of problems is difficult. (these/those + kind/sort/type of + plural noun)
• These kinds of problem are difficult. (these/those + kinds/sorts/types of + singular noun)

In formal style, a plural verb followed by of this/that kind/sort/type is also possible.^[44][45]

• Problems of this kind are difficult.

Fractions

Fractions between 1 and 2 are used with plural nouns.^[50]

• The meeting lasted around 1.25 hours.

Special expressions

Titles, Countries, Quotes

Titles referring to a single thing take singular verbs. Country names take singular verbs and pronouns.^[3][15][2]

• The Times is a British newspaper.
• The Netherlands is famous for its fields of tulips.

Clauses

Singular verbs are used with clauses used as subjects.^[3][51]

• For all of us to get enough sleep is crucial.

Indefinite pronouns

As subjects, another, anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, every, everybody, everyone, everything, less, little, much, neither, no one, nobody, nothing, one, somebody, someone, something take singular verbs.^[6][52]

• Everybody is a genius.

The pronouns both, few, fewer, many, others, several take plural verbs.

• Few know the full story.

The pronouns all, any, enough, more, most, none, some, such take a singular verb when they refer to an uncountable noun, or a plural verb when they refer to a plural noun.^[53][5]

• I found the equipment in the garage, but it turned out that none is useful.
• I found the tools in the garage, but it turned out that none are useful.

Amounts and quantities

Expressions of distance, sums of money, periods of time, etc., take singular determiners, verbs and pronouns.^{[8][5][54][55]}

• Five minutes is all I need.
• Fifty pounds is a fair price.
• Two litres of water is required for the experiment.

More than one

The expression more than one uses a singular noun and verb.^[8]

• More than one factor contributes to climate change.

Here's, there's, where's

In informal style, here's, there's, where's are often used with plural nouns (instead of here are, there are, where are); sometimes this is considered incorrect.^[50][5][56]

• Where are (or Where's) my keys?

Calculations

What/Who questions

Every

Every is followed by a singular noun and a singular verb.^[57][56]

• Every episode of the series presents a new story.

Every is used with a plural noun when it refers to intervals.^[22]

• A train leaves the station every three hours.

Every one of

Every one of is followed by a plural personal pronoun or a plural determiner and noun, and a singular verb.^[57]

• Every one of her arguments is wrong.

Each

Each is followed by a singular noun and a singular verb.^[56][58]

• Each episode of the series presents a new story.

When each refers to the subject and is in mid-position, plural nouns, pronouns and verbs are used.

• They each have their own room.

Each of

Each of is followed by a plural personal pronoun or a plural determiner and noun, and a singular verb^[59] (or, in informal style, a plural verb).^[56][60]

• Each of the books has/have a different cover design.
• Each of the houses is/are painted in a different colour.

None of

When none of is followed by a determiner and a plural noun or a plural personal pronoun, the verb may be singular (more formal) or plural (more informal).^[61][62][56]

• None of the students is/are ready for the exam yet.

Either of

After either of, English uses a plural personal pronoun or a plural determiner and noun, and optionally a singular verb or a plural verb in informal style.^{[27][63][28][56]}

Neither of

After neither of, English uses a plural personal pronoun or a plural determiner and noun, and optionally a singular verb in formal style or a plural verb in informal style.^{[29][64][65][30][56]}

• My boyfriends live in different cities, so neither of them know(s) about the other's existence.

Any of

When any of is followed by a determiner and a plural noun or a plural personal pronoun the verb may be singular (more formal) or plural.^[66][56]

One of

The expression one of is usually followed by a plural noun.^[8]

• One of the apples is rotten.

Sometimes one of is used with a singular noun referring to a group.^[67]

• Why don't you invite one of the team for lunch?

The verb after the noun is singular.^[8]

• One of my co-workers is from Seoul.

After one of in relative clauses, both plural and singular verbs are used; the plural form is generally considered correct.^[2]

• He's one of the professors who teach quantum physics.

The

The phrase consisting of the and an adjective is plural when referring to well-known groups of people in a particular physical or social condition.^[68][69][70]

• Do the disabled have special facilities?

In certain fixed, formal expressions the phrase consisting of the and an adjective may be singular.^[68]

• The deceased has not yet been formally identified.

The phrase consisting of the and an adjective is singular when it refers to general abstract ideas.^[71]

• The unknown is often scarier than the known.

The phrase consisting of the and an adjective is plural when referring to people from a specific country.^[68][70]

• The British often talk about the weather.

Expressions with 'in' and 'out of'

After number followed by in or out of, English uses a number with a plural noun and either a singular or plural verb.^[72]

• Almost nine in ten students hate(s) maths.

And

Expressions joined by and generally take a plural verb.^{[73][5][16][56]}

• A cat and a dog are playing in the garden.

If the nouns, however, suggest one idea or refer to the same thing or person, the verb is singular.^{[73][5][16][56]}

• Fish and chips is a traditional dish in England.
• The MD and CEO has arrived.
• The new bed and breakfast opens this week.
• The president and founder of the company has just arrived.
• The good and generous thinks the whole world is friendly.

When expressions joined by and follow each or every, the verb is singular.^[73][56]

• Each teacher and student has completed the survey.

(Either) or, (Neither) nor, Not only but also

A singular verb is used if the second expression is singular.^{[16][73][5][7][56]}

• My friends or Tom guards the safe.
• Either my classmates or my teacher is wrong.

A plural verb is used if the second expression is plural.^{[16][5][7][56]}

• Tom or my friends guard the safe.
• Either my teacher or my classmates are wrong.

Organisations

Organisation names that are plural may take singular or plural verbs and pronouns.^[2][74]

• The United Nations is/are holding a conference next month. It/They has/have invited delegates from all over the world to attend.

Groups of people

British English

In British English, collective nouns (e.g. team, family, club) may take either singular or plural verb and pronouns forms.^[75][3][76]

Singular forms are used when the emphasis is on the group as a whole.^[75]

• The committee has postponed its meeting until next week.

In these cases which is also used as the relative pronoun.^[75]

• The band, which was formed in the 1980s, gained international fame.

Plural forms are used when the emphasis is on the individual members.^[75]

• The committee were arguing among themselves during the session.

In those cases who is often used as the relative pronoun.^[75]

• The band, who have been performing together for decades, released a new album.

American English

In American English, collective nouns generally take singular verbs^[76] and either singular or plural pronouns.^[75]

• The committee was arguing among itself/themselves during the session.

An exception is family, which may take singular or plural verbs.^[75]

• My family is/are all coming over for Thanksgiving.