One basic rule what writing your easy that you should is that a verb only agrees only with its subject. Occasionally, a word or group of words comes between the subject and the verb. Even though another word may be closer to the verb than the subject is, the verb must still agree in number with its subject. When words come between the subject and the verb, identify the subject and make sure the verb agrees with it.

The words with, together with, along with, as well as, and in addition to are prepositions. A phrase starting with these prepositions does not affect the number of the subject, which is what you should use in your essay writing.

Use plural verb with most compound subjects joined by and. Use a singular verb with a compound subject joined by and that is habitually used to refer a single thing. Use a singular verb with a compound subject that is preceded by each, every, or many a. When words in compound subject are joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the subject nearer the verb which is the right thing to do in essay writing

Some indefinite pronouns are always singular; some are always plural. Other may be either singular or plural.

Other agreement problems

There are several other solutions where problems in subject-verb agreement may arise.

Inverted sentences problems in agreement often occurs in inverted sentences beginning with here and there; in questions beginning with words such as why, where, and what; and inverted sentences beginning with phrase. Even when the subject comes after the verb, it still determines whether the verb should be singular or plural.

The containers here’s, there’s, what’s and where’s contain the verb is. Use them only with singular subjects. Sentence with predicates nominatives Use a verb that agrees in number with the subject, not with the predicate nominative. Sentence with don’t and doesn’t Use doesn’t with singular subjects and with the personal pronoun he, she and it. Use don’t with plural subjects and with the personal pronouns I, we, you, and they.

Remember that not and its abbreviation n’t are adverbs-not part of the verb.