Subject-Verb Agreement: Subject after Verb

Subject-Verb Agreement: Subject after Verb

When the subject comes after the verb in the sentence, make the subject and verb agree.

1.	Questions In a question, the auxiliary verb agrees with the subject, which follows the verb.

Examples

Does the editor agree to the changes?
[singular subject]

Do the editor and the production manager agree to them?
[plural subject}

2.	Initial here or there When a sentence begins with here or there, the verb agrees with the subject, which follows the verb.

Examples

There is a reason to rejoice.
[singular subject]

There are many reasons to rejoice.
[plural subject]

However, avoid excessive use of the initial there structure and revise accordingly: "We have a reason to rejoice."

Note:

It does not follow the same pattern as here and there. Sentences beginning with it always take a singular verb.

Example

It is hundreds of mile away.

3.	Inverted order When a sentence begins not with the subject but with a phrase preceding the verb, the verb still agrees with the subject, which follows it.

Example

In front of the library sit two stone lions.
[Who or what performs the action of the verb? Two stone lions do.]