IELTS Grammar: Subject / Verb Agreement

Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement for IELTS Success

Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental aspect of English grammar, and mastering it is essential for success in the IELTS examination, particularly in the Writing and Speaking modules.

Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement

At its core, subject-verb agreement means that the subject of a sentence must match the verb in number and person. In other words:

• A singular subject requires a singular verb.
• A plural subject requires a plural verb.

Example:

• She writes every day. (singular subject and verb)
• They write every day. (plural subject and verb)

In IELTS, precision is key. Even minor grammatical errors can cost you points under the “Grammatical Range and Accuracy” criterion, so a firm grasp of this rule is vital.

Key Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement

1. Basic Singular and Plural Agreement

This is the simplest form of agreement:

• He likes music.
• They like music.

2. Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns often confuse learners. Some are always singular, others are always plural, and some can be both depending on context.

Always Singular: each, everyone, someone, nobody, anybody

• Everyone is welcome.

Always Plural: few, many, others, several

• Many have tried and failed.

Can be Singular or Plural (based on context): all, some, most

• Some of the water is contaminated. (uncountable)
• Some of the students are absent. (countable)

3. Compound Subjects

When two subjects are joined by “and,” the verb is usually plural.

• Tom and Jerry are best friends.

However, when the subjects refer to a single idea or person, use a singular verb.

• Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite sandwich.

4. Either/Neither, Or/Nor Constructions

With these constructions, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

• Neither the teacher nor the students are in the classroom.
• Either the books or the pen is in the drawer.

5. Collective Nouns

Collective nouns like “team,” “group,” or “committee” can be singular or plural depending on whether the group is acting as a unit or individuals.

• The team is winning. (acting as a unit)
• The team are arguing among themselves. (acting as individuals)

6. Phrases Between Subject and Verb

Ignore phrases between the subject and verb when determining agreement.

• The bouquet of roses smells lovely.

Common Subject-Verb Agreement Errors

Understanding common mistakes can help avoid them in your IELTS exam.

Mistake 1: Treating Uncountable Nouns as Plural

• Incorrect: The information are inaccurate.
• Correct: The information is inaccurate.

Mistake 2: Overcorrecting Compound Subjects

• Incorrect: Neither of the answers have been marked.
• Correct: Neither of the answers has been marked.

Mistake 3: Misinterpreting Inverted Sentences

• Incorrect: Here is the results.
• Correct: Here are the results.

Subject-Verb Agreement in IELTS Writing

In IELTS Writing Task 2, you’ll often need to express complex ideas clearly. Misusing verbs can confuse your argument or make your writing appear less polished.

Example:

• Incorrect: The number of tourists visiting the country have increased.
• Correct: The number of tourists visiting the country has increased.

“The number of” is singular, while “A number of” is plural. Know the difference.

Correct usage:

• A number of tourists have complained.

IELTS Speaking Considerations

During the IELTS Speaking test, accuracy in grammar is equally important. Candidates often rush and make agreement errors.

Tip:
Slow down slightly when speaking. It gives you time to ensure correct subject-verb agreement.

Example:

• Incorrect: My family are very supportive.
• Correct (in most IELTS contexts): My family is very supportive.

Practice Exercises

Fill in the blanks with the correct verb:

1. Each of the boys ___ a football. (has/have)
2. The committee ___ discussing the issue. (is/are)
3. Neither the manager nor the employees ___ happy. (was/were)
4. The number of applicants ___ increasing. (is/are)
5. There ___ a book and some pencils on the desk. (is/are)

Answers:

1. has
2. is
3. are
4. is
5. are

IELTS Writing Task (Practice)

Prompt:
Some people believe that a country becomes more interesting and develops faster when its population includes a mixture of different cultures. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Task:
Write a 250-word essay. Focus on maintaining subject-verb agreement throughout. After writing, review your work specifically for agreement errors.