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Subject-verb agreement involving singular, plural and collective nouns.
The verb must agree with its subject in number and person.
Singular subjects take singular verbs, while plural subjects take plural verbs.
The dog runs in the backyard every morning.
Собака каждое утро бегает во дворе.
"Dog" is singular, so the present simple verb is "runs".
The dogs run in the backyard every morning.
Собаки каждое утро бегают во дворе.
"Dogs" is plural, so the verb is "run".
My brother lives in Chicago.
Мой брат живет в Чикаго.
"Brother" is singular, so the verb is "lives".
My brothers live in Chicago.
Мои братья живут в Чикаго.
"Brothers" is plural, so the verb is "live".
The student studies every evening.
Студент занимается каждый вечер.
"Student" is singular, so "studies" agrees with it.
The students study every evening.
Студенты занимаются каждый вечер.
"Students" is plural, so "study" is used.
The car needs new tires.
Машине нужны новые шины.
"Car" is the singular subject, so the verb is "needs".
The cars need new tires.
Машинам нужны новые шины.
"Cars" is the plural subject, so the verb is "need".
A singular subject normally takes a singular verb.
Examples include The dog barks. My brother lives in London.
The baby sleeps through the night.
Ребенок спит всю ночь.
"Baby" is singular, so the verb is "sleeps".
My sister works at a bank.
Моя сестра работает в банке.
"Sister" is singular, so the verb is "works".
The computer needs an update.
Компьютеру нужно обновление.
"Computer" is a singular subject, so the verb is "needs".
The restaurant opens at eleven.
Ресторан открывается в одиннадцать.
"Restaurant" is singular and takes "opens".
My friend lives near the airport.
Мой друг живет возле аэропорта.
"Friend" is singular, so "lives" is required.
The bus arrives at 7:30.
Автобус приезжает в 7:30.
"Bus" is singular, so the verb is "arrives".
The manager knows the answer.
Менеджер знает ответ.
"Manager" is singular, so "knows" agrees with it.
This book belongs to my sister.
Эта книга принадлежит моей сестре.
"Book" is singular, so the verb is "belongs".
A plural subject normally takes a plural verb.
Examples include The dogs bark. My friends live nearby.
The dogs bark at night.
Собаки лают по ночам.
"Dogs" is plural, so the verb is "bark".
My friends live nearby.
Мои друзья живут неподалеку.
"Friends" is plural, so the verb is "live".
The students study together.
Студенты учатся вместе.
"Students" is plural and takes the plural verb "study".
The cars are parked outside.
Машины припаркованы снаружи.
"Cars" is plural, so the verb is "are".
The children are playing in the yard.
Дети играют во дворе.
"Children" is an irregular plural, so the verb is "are".
The women work downtown.
Женщины работают в центре.
"Women" is plural, so the verb is "work".
The books on the shelf belong to me.
Книги на полке принадлежат мне.
"Books" is the plural subject of "belong".
The new employees are attending orientation.
Новые сотрудники проходят ознакомление с работой.
"Employees" is plural and takes "are".
Subjects connected by and usually take a plural verb.
The verb is plural because the subject refers to more than one person or thing.
Tom and Sarah are at home.
Том и Сара дома.
Two subjects joined by "and" normally take a plural verb.
My brother and sister live in Texas.
Мои брат и сестра живут в Техасе.
"Brother and sister" refers to two people, so the verb is plural.
The dog and the cat are sleeping.
Собака и кошка спят.
The two noun phrases joined by "and" require "are".
Coffee and tea are available in the kitchen.
Кофе и чай есть на кухне.
"Coffee and tea" refers to two things, so the verb is plural.
The manager and the assistant work together.
Менеджер и помощник работают вместе.
Two singular nouns joined by "and" normally require a plural verb.
The car and the truck need repairs.
Машине и грузовику нужен ремонт.
The compound subject contains two separate vehicles.
John and his parents are visiting this weekend.
Джон и его родители приедут в эти выходные.
"John and his parents" is a plural subject.
The teacher and the students are ready.
Учитель и студенты готовы.
The subjects joined by "and" refer to more than one person.
When subjects are joined by or or nor, the verb usually agrees with the subject closest to it.
This is known as the principle of proximity.
Either the manager or the assistants are available.
Либо менеджер, либо помощники доступны.
The verb agrees with the nearer subject "assistants".
Either the assistants or the manager is available.
Либо помощники, либо менеджер доступен.
The verb agrees with the nearer singular subject "manager".
Neither the teacher nor the students are ready.
Ни учитель, ни студенты не готовы.
The nearer subject "students" is plural, so "are" is used.
Neither the students nor the teacher is ready.
Ни студенты, ни учитель не готов.
The nearer subject "teacher" is singular, so "is" is used.
Either the car or the trucks are blocking the driveway.
Либо машина, либо грузовики перекрывают подъезд.
The plural subject closest to the verb controls agreement.
Either the trucks or the car is blocking the driveway.
Либо грузовики, либо машина перекрывает подъезд.
The singular noun closest to the verb is "car".
Neither the doctor nor the nurses are here.
Здесь нет ни врача, ни медсестер.
"Nurses" is the nearer plural subject.
Neither the nurses nor the doctor is here.
Здесь нет ни медсестер, ни врача.
"Doctor" is the nearer singular subject.
Collective nouns may take either a singular or a plural verb depending on whether the group is viewed as a unit or as individuals.
British English allows plural agreement more often than American English.
The team is ready for the game.
Команда готова к игре.
American English normally uses singular agreement when "team" is viewed as one unit.
The committee has reached a decision.
Комитет принял решение.
"Committee" is treated as one decision-making body.
The family is visiting us this weekend.
Семья навестит нас в эти выходные.
Singular agreement is standard in American English for the family as a unit.
The staff is preparing for the meeting.
Персонал готовится к собранию.
American English commonly treats "staff" as a singular collective unit.
The team members are changing their clothes.
Члены команды переодеваются.
"Team members" is explicitly plural, avoiding collective-noun ambiguity.
In British English, the team are changing their uniforms.
В британском английском члены команды переодеваются в форму.
British English more readily permits plural agreement when individual members are emphasized.
The audience was silent during the speech.
Зрители молчали во время выступления.
"Audience" is treated as a single group here.
The committee members disagree about the proposal.
Члены комитета не согласны по поводу предложения.
"Committee members" explicitly refers to individuals and therefore takes a plural verb.
Expressions of amount, distance, money and time usually take a singular verb when considered as a single unit.
Examples include Ten dollars is enough. Five years is a long time.
Ten dollars is enough for lunch.
Десяти долларов достаточно на обед.
"Ten dollars" is treated as one amount of money.
Five years is a long time.
Пять лет — это долгий срок.
"Five years" is treated as one period of time.
Twenty miles is too far to walk.
Двадцать миль — слишком далеко, чтобы идти пешком.
"Twenty miles" is one distance viewed as a single measurement.
Three hours is enough to finish the job.
Трех часов достаточно, чтобы закончить работу.
"Three hours" is treated as one block of time.
Fifty dollars is a lot to pay for a T-shirt.
Пятьдесят долларов — много за футболку.
The amount is viewed as one sum.
Ten pounds is the maximum weight allowed.
Десять фунтов — максимальный разрешенный вес.
A measurement treated as one limit takes a singular verb.
Two weeks is enough for the trip.
Двух недель достаточно для поездки.
"Two weeks" is considered one period of time.
A hundred miles is a long drive.
Сто миль — это долгая поездка.
"A hundred miles" is treated as one distance.
Many indefinite pronouns take singular verbs, while others may take singular or plural verbs depending on the meaning.
Examples include Everyone is here. All are welcome.
Everyone is ready.
Все готовы.
"Everyone" is grammatically singular and takes "is".
Someone is waiting outside.
Кто-то ждет снаружи.
"Someone" takes a singular verb.
Nobody knows the answer.
Никто не знает ответа.
"Nobody" is grammatically singular.
Everything looks fine.
Все выглядит хорошо.
"Everything" takes a singular verb.
Each of the students has a locker.
У каждого из студентов есть шкафчик.
"Each" is singular even though "students" is plural.
Both are welcome.
Оба приветствуются.
"Both" takes a plural verb because it refers to two people or things.
All are welcome.
Все приветствуются.
"All" can take a plural verb when it refers to plural people or things.
All of the water is gone.
Вся вода закончилась.
"All" takes a singular verb because "water" is uncountable.
The agreement of none, neither and either depends on the expression and the intended meaning.
Modern English often allows plural agreement with none when referring to plural nouns.
Neither of the answers is correct.
Ни один из ответов не является правильным.
"Neither" is commonly singular when referring to two individual alternatives.
Neither of the students is ready.
Ни один из студентов не готов.
"Neither" can take singular agreement in careful formal usage.
Either of the options is fine.
Любой из двух вариантов подойдет.
"Either" is singular when referring to one of two alternatives.
None of the information is useful.
Ни одна из этих сведений не полезна.
"Information" is uncountable, so singular agreement is natural.
None of the money is mine.
Ни одни из этих денег не мои.
"Money" is uncountable, so "is" is used.
None of the students are absent today.
Ни один из студентов сегодня не отсутствует.
"None" commonly takes plural agreement when referring to plural countable nouns.
Neither John nor Maria is available.
Ни Джон, ни Мария недоступны.
Both subjects are singular, so "is" is natural.
Neither the manager nor the assistants are available.
Ни менеджер, ни помощники недоступны.
With "neither...nor", agreement may follow the nearer plural subject "assistants".
Titles of books, films, organizations and other proper names usually take singular verbs even if they appear plural.
Examples include The United Nations is... and Great Expectations was written by Charles Dickens.
Great Expectations was written by Charles Dickens.
"Great Expectations" написал Чарльз Диккенс.
Although "Expectations" is plural in form, the book title refers to one work and takes a singular verb.
The United Nations is headquartered in New York.
Штаб-квартира ООН находится в Нью-Йорке.
"United Nations" looks plural but names one organization.
The United States is a federal republic.
Соединенные Штаты — федеративная республика.
"United States" is plural in form but refers to one country.
The Netherlands is in Western Europe.
Нидерланды находятся в Западной Европе.
"The Netherlands" is a country name and takes singular agreement.
The Chronicles of Narnia is a famous series.
"The Chronicles of Narnia" — известная серия.
The title refers to one named work or series, so singular agreement is possible when the title is treated as one entity.
The Avengers is a popular movie franchise.
"The Avengers" — популярная кинофраншиза.
The title is treated as one named entity, so the verb is singular.
The New York Times is published every day.
The New York Times выходит каждый день.
"The New York Times" names one newspaper organization.
The Bahamas is a popular vacation destination.
Багамы — популярное место для отдыха.
"The Bahamas" names one country and takes singular agreement in this usage.
Some compound subjects represent a single idea and therefore take a singular verb.
Examples include Fish and chips is my favorite meal. Bread and butter was served.
Fish and chips is my favorite meal.
Рыба с картофелем фри — мое любимое блюдо.
"Fish and chips" refers to one combined dish, so singular agreement is possible.
Macaroni and cheese is easy to make.
Макароны с сыром легко приготовить.
"Macaroni and cheese" is treated as one dish.
Peanut butter and jelly is a classic American sandwich.
Бутерброд с арахисовой пастой и джемом — классическое американское блюдо.
"Peanut butter and jelly" is treated as one combined food combination.
Bread and butter was served with dinner.
К ужину подали хлеб с маслом.
"Bread and butter" is viewed as one combined item in this context.
The CEO and founder are speaking together.
Генеральный директор и основатель выступают вместе.
"CEO and founder" refers to two roles or two coordinated references and therefore takes a plural verb.
Trial and error is part of learning.
Метод проб и ошибок — часть обучения.
"Trial and error" expresses one general method or concept and takes singular agreement.
Research and development is an important part of the company.
Исследования и разработки — важная часть компании.
"Research and development" is commonly treated as one business function.
Peanut butter and bananas make a great snack.
Арахисовая паста и бананы — отличная закуска.
Here the two foods are viewed as separate items, so the plural verb "make" is used.
Always identify the true subject before choosing the verb form.
Common mistakes include agreeing with the nearest noun instead of the subject, using plural verbs with singular amounts and confusing collective nouns.
The list of names is on the desk.
Список имен находится на столе.
The true subject is "list", not the nearer plural noun "names".
The number of students is increasing.
Количество студентов увеличивается.
The true subject is "number", which is singular.
A number of students are absent today.
Несколько студентов сегодня отсутствуют.
"A number of" means several, so a plural verb is used.
Ten dollars is enough for lunch.
Десяти долларов достаточно на обед.
An amount of money considered as one sum takes a singular verb.
Everyone is ready.
Все готовы.
"Everyone" is grammatically singular.
The team is playing tonight.
Команда играет сегодня вечером.
In American English, collective nouns normally take singular agreement when viewed as one unit.
Neither the manager nor the assistants are available.
Ни менеджер, ни помощники недоступны.
With "neither...nor", the verb can agree with the nearer subject "assistants".
Great Expectations was written by Charles Dickens.
"Great Expectations" написал Чарльз Диккенс.
Do not choose a plural verb simply because the title looks plural; the title names one work.