Subject-verb agreement is an important aspect of grammar that is often overlooked. The verb must agree with the subject in terms of number and person. Here are 15 rules to keep in mind when it comes to subject-verb agreement:

1. A singular subject needs a singular verb, and a plural subject needs a plural verb. For example, “The cat walks” (singular) and “The cats walk” (plural).

2. When the subject is plural but is treated as a collective noun, use a singular verb. Examples include “The crowd is cheering” and “The team is playing.”

3. Words that end in -s, such as mathematics, politics, and economics, are singular and require a singular verb. For example, “Politics is a divisive subject.”

4. Indefinite pronouns such as everyone, somebody, and nobody are singular and require a singular verb. For example, “Nobody wants to go to the store.”

5. When two or more subjects are joined by and, they require a plural verb. For example, “The dog and the cat are playing.”

6. When two or more singular subjects are joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the closest subject. For example, “The boy or his friends are coming.”

7. A subject that comes after the verb does not affect the agreement. For example, “There are two cats” and “Two cats are there.”

8. A compound subject joined by or or nor takes the verb that agrees with the subject closest to it. For example, “The cat or the dogs are outside.”

9. In sentences with words like with, as well as, and along with, the subject is the noun that comes before these words. For example, “The cat, as well as the dogs, is outside.”

10. In sentences with collective nouns like group, team, and staff, the verb can be singular or plural depending on the intended meaning. For example, “The team is happy” and “The team are celebrating.”

11. Some words, such as each and every, take singular verbs even when they refer to plural subjects. For example, “Each of the cats is sleeping.”

12. Singular nouns ending in -s, such as news and politics, take singular verbs. For example, “The news is depressing.”

13. Distance or time does not affect subject-verb agreement. For example, “Five miles is a long way to walk” and “Three hours is a long time to wait.”

14. The verb agrees with the antecedent in relative clauses. For example, “The cat that is sleeping is mine.”

15. Certain phrases, such as a number of, a majority of, and a variety of, take a plural verb. For example, “A variety of colors are available.”

Keeping these rules in mind can help you ensure proper subject-verb agreement in your writing. By doing so, your writing will sound more polished and professional.