Subject-Verb Agreement with Complex Subjects.

A long subject can make it difficult to choose between is and are, has and have, or works and work. To make the verb agree, identify the main part of the subject, then check whether a special pattern affects the choice.

1.Find the head of the subject

The head is the central word in a noun phrase. In most noun phrases, this word determines whether the verb is singular or plural. Words between the head and the verb do not normally change the agreement.

Complete subject	Head	Sentence
The list of suggested changes	list	The list of suggested changes is ready.
The changes to the original plan	changes	The changes to the original plan are important.
The woman carrying two bags	woman	The woman carrying two bags needs help.
The books on the highest shelf	books	The books on the highest shelf belong to me.

2.Subjects joined by and, or and nor

Two separate people or things joined by and normally take a plural verb.

A singular verb is possible when the joined words describe one person, one thing or a single combination.

• The owner and chef is greeting customers. One person has both roles.
• Fish and chips is my favourite meal. The words name one dish.
• Every desk and every chair needs cleaning. Repeated every presents the items individually.

With or, either … or and neither … nor, use a singular verb when both alternatives are singular, and a plural verb when both are plural.

Alternatives	Example
Both singular	Either the key or the code is needed.
Both plural	Neither the teachers nor the students are ready.
Mixed number	Either the manager or the assistants are attending.
Mixed number, reversed	Either the assistants or the manager is attending.

With mixed singular and plural alternatives, the verb usually agrees with the nearer part. If the result sounds awkward, rewrite it: Either the manager is attending, or the assistants are.

3.Quantity expressions

Some quantity expressions have their own agreement patterns. Do not apply the head-word shortcut mechanically to all expressions with of.

Expression	Agreement	Example
Each/either/neither of + plural noun	Singular in careful formal writing	Each of the rooms has a window.
One of + plural noun	Singular	One of my neighbours works here.
A number of + plural noun	Plural: several	A number of guests have arrived.
The number of + plural noun	Singular: the total	The number of guests has increased.
All/some/most of + uncountable noun	Singular	Most of the equipment is new.
All/some/most of + plural countable noun	Plural	Most of the computers are new.
A fraction or percentage of something	Depends on what is measured	Half of the cake is left. Half of the sandwiches are left.

Everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, anyone, anybody, no one and nobody take singular verbs: Everyone in these offices has a security pass.

4.Keep agreement separate in each clause

A relative clause has its own agreement. When who, which or that is the subject of that clause, its verb agrees with the person or thing it refers to. The main verb still agrees with the main subject.

In the last sentence, are made refers to the plural products, while is agrees with singular quality. Do not let the verb inside the relative clause control the main verb.

5.Groups and amounts: meaning matters

Collective nouns such as team, family, staff and committee name groups. In British English, singular agreement often presents a group as one unit; plural agreement can focus on its members.

American English generally prefers singular agreement with these collective nouns. To focus clearly on individuals in either variety, write The committee members are divided. Keep related pronouns consistent with your choice: The team is celebrating its victory or, in British English, The team are celebrating their victory.

Amounts of time, money and distance often take singular verbs when understood as one total.

• Ten kilometres is a long way to walk.
• Fifty pounds is enough for the ticket.
• Two hours is plenty of time.

Compare The last two hours have been exhausting: here the subject describes a period experienced, rather than measuring how much time is needed.

6.An activity or a whole clause as subject

An -ing phrase naming one activity normally takes a singular verb, even if it contains a plural noun.

A single clause introduced by that or whether also normally takes a singular verb.

• That several files are missing is worrying.
• Whether the guests stay overnight depends on the weather.

In the first example, are agrees with files inside the clause. The main verb is treats the whole situation as one subject.

7.Check the sentence before you finish

Use this short checklist:

1. Find the subject of each verb separately.
2. For an ordinary noun phrase, identify its head and ignore added descriptions.
3. Check for a special pattern: joined subjects, quantity expressions or collective nouns.
4. Decide whether an amount describes one total or separate items.
5. Rewrite mixed or awkward subjects if this makes the agreement clearer.