Subject-Verb Agreement

For most English verbs, there are in effect only two verb forms: Third-person singular subjects (he, she, it) take verbs which usually end in “s”; all others usually take a verb without an “s” at the end:

I see dead people.
You see what I mean.
He sees a therapist.
We see eye to eye.
You seniors see why those freshmen failed English 101, don’t you?
They see the scenic sea from their seats by the seashore.

1) Indefinite Pronouns: The indefinite pronouns anybody, anyone, anything, everybody, everyone, everything, somebody, someone, something, nothing, no one, and nobody are always singular and, therefore, always require third-person singular verbs:
• Everybody loves somebody some time.
• Nobody likes a sore loser.
Some indefinite pronouns — such as all and some — can be singular or plural, depending on what they're referring to. If the thing referred to is countable (1 person, 2 people), it’s plural. If it isn’t countable, it’s singular:
• Some of the people are amused.
• All of the fun has gone out of it.

2) None can be either singular or plural; none meaning not one usually gets a singular verb, none meaning not any often gets a plural verb (though the Brits would disagree with this, but what do they know about English?):
• None of them wants a piece of pie?
• None of the cabins have a lake view?

3) Everyone, everybody, and each are always 3rd person singular:
• Everyone loves Raymond.
• Everybody hates Raymond.
• Each of these episodes is lamer than the last one.

4) Phrases such as together with, as well as, and along with modify the subject, and therefore do not create plural (compound) subjects (as the word and would):
• The governor, along with his cronies, is going to jail.
• The governor and his cronies are going to jail.

5) The pronouns neither and either are singular and require singular verbs:
• Neither of the bums is worth voting for.
• Either one is a bad choice.

6) When nor or or is used, the subject closer to the verb determines the number (plural or singular) of the verb (no matter whether the subject comes before or after the verb):
• Either my cat or my dogs are going to travel with me.
• Neither my dogs nor my cat is going to come.
• Have either my cats or my dog made a mess?
• Has either my dog or my cats bitten you?

7) The words there and here are not subjects. The subject of a sentence is always one or more persons, places or things:
• There are two kinds of people: those who think there are only two kinds of people, and everybody else.
• There is no second option.
• Here are two ways to look at it.

8) Sometimes modifying phrases come between a subject and its verb, but these modifiers do not change the agreement between a subject and its verb:
• The man, who owns many stocks and bonds, is very particular about whom he trusts.

9) Some words that end in -s are actually singular and require singular verbs.
• The news from Washington is all bad.
• Politics is a dirty business.

10) Collective nouns that do not end in "s" take a singular verb:
• The family is trying to recover from the tragedy.
• This group needs a new leader.

An exception to this rule is sports teams:
• The Chicago Fury have a fantastic goalie.
• The Stanford Cardinal suck.