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Level: B1

Subject–Verb Agreement — Practice

In English, the verb must agree with its subject in number. The biggest pain point: he/she/it needs an -s in the simple present, while plural subjects do not. 50+ correct-vs-wrong ESL examples with audio.

📝 Verbs unit · lesson 3 of 17 ⏱ about 15 minutes 🔊 every example has audio

Builds on The 5 Verb Forms Next in unit Irregular Verbs →

  • He / She / It — needs -s
  • She play tennis every day. – Wrong
  • She plays tennis every day. – Correct
  • He go to school by bus. – Wrong
  • He goes to school by bus. – Correct
  • My sister have a new car. – Wrong
  • My sister has a new car. – Correct
  • The dog bark loudly at night. – Wrong
  • The dog barks loudly at night. – Correct
  • It rain a lot in spring. – Wrong
  • It rains a lot in spring. – Correct
  • I / You / We / They — no -s
  • I works at a bank. – Wrong
  • I work at a bank. – Correct
  • You knows the answer. – Wrong
  • You know the answer. – Correct
  • We lives in a small house. – Wrong
  • We live in a small house. – Correct
  • They speaks three languages. – Wrong
  • They speak three languages. – Correct
  • The children plays in the park. – Wrong
  • The children play in the park. – Correct
  • Doesn't vs don't
  • He don’t like coffee. – Wrong
  • He doesn’t like coffee. – Correct
  • She don’t understand. – Wrong
  • She doesn’t understand. – Correct
  • They doesn’t want to come. – Wrong
  • They don’t want to come. – Correct
  • I doesn’t know him. – Wrong
  • I don’t know him. – Correct
  • Has vs have
  • He have two brothers. – Wrong
  • He has two brothers. – Correct
  • My friend have a new bike. – Wrong
  • My friend has a new bike. – Correct
  • We has three children. – Wrong
  • We have three children. – Correct
  • Is / are / was / were
  • The dogs is hungry. – Wrong
  • The dogs are hungry. – Correct
  • The cat are sleeping. – Wrong
  • The cat is sleeping. – Correct
  • You was late yesterday. – Wrong
  • You were late yesterday. – Correct
  • They was at school. – Wrong
  • They were at school. – Correct
  • Everyone / someone / each — singular
  • Everyone are here. – Wrong
  • Everyone is here. – Correct
  • Someone have left a bag. – Wrong
  • Someone has left a bag. – Correct
  • Each student have a book. – Wrong
  • Each student has a book. – Correct
  • Nobody know the answer. – Wrong
  • Nobody knows the answer. – Correct
  • A team / family / group — singular (AmE)
  • The team are ready. – Wrong
  • The team is ready. – Correct
  • My family live in Texas. – Wrong
  • My family lives in Texas. – Correct
  • The group meet on Mondays. – Wrong
  • The group meets on Mondays. – Correct
  • Phrases between subject and verb don't change agreement
  • The box of cookies are on the table. – Wrong
  • The box of cookies is on the table. – Correct
  • The list of names are long. – Wrong
  • The list of names is long. – Correct
  • One of my friends live in Tokyo. – Wrong
  • One of my friends lives in Tokyo. – Correct
  • Either / neither — singular
  • Neither answer are correct. – Wrong
  • Neither answer is correct. – Correct
  • Either option work for me. – Wrong
  • Either option works for me. – Correct