IELTS Grammar Rule #2 Subject-Verb Agreement

IELTS Grammar Rule #2

Subject-Verb Agreement

Why This Rule Matters

Subject-Verb Agreement is one of the most common grammar areas assessed under Grammatical Range and Accuracy.

Many Band 5–6 candidates make agreement errors that are easy to avoid. Although these mistakes appear small, repeated errors can significantly lower your grammar score.

The basic rule is simple:

Singular Subject → Singular Verb

Plural Subject → Plural Verb

However, IELTS essays contain many structures that confuse candidates.

This chapter covers the 15 most common Subject-Verb Agreement mistakes found in IELTS Writing Task 2.

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Mistake #1

Adding S/ES After Plural Subjects

❌ Many students believes technology is beneficial.

Rule:

Plural subjects use the base verb.

✅ students believe

✅ companies invest

✅ people prefer

✅ governments introduce

Band 9 Example:

✅ Many students believe technology is beneficial.

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Mistake #2

Forgetting S/ES After Singular Subjects

❌ Technology help students learn faster.

Rule:

Singular subjects require verbs ending in s/es.

✅ technology helps

✅ AI improves

✅ government invests

Band 9 Example:

✅ Technology helps students learn faster.

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Mistake #3

Long Noun Phrases

❌ The increase in housing prices have affected young adults.

Rule:

Ignore words after:

- of

- in

- with

- for

- among

Find the real subject.

Real Subject = increase

Band 9 Example:

✅ The increase in housing prices has affected young adults.

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Mistake #4

The Number Of

❌ The number of vehicles are increasing.

Rule:

"The number of" is always singular.

Band 9 Example:

✅ The number of vehicles is increasing.

Exception:

"A number of" is plural.

✅ A number of students are studying abroad.

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Mistake #5

Everyone, Everybody, Someone, Anybody

❌ Everyone have access to the internet.

Rule:

These are always singular.

- everyone

- everybody

- someone

- somebody

- anyone

- anybody

- no one

Band 9 Example:

✅ Everyone has access to the internet.

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Mistake #6

Each / Every

❌ Every student have a smartphone.

Rule:

Each and Every are singular.

Band 9 Example:

✅ Every student has a smartphone.

✅ Each country has different priorities.

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Mistake #7

One Of

❌ One of the main reasons are traffic jams.

Rule:

The subject is "one", not "reasons".

Band 9 Example:

✅ One of the main reasons is traffic congestion.

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Mistake #8

Collective Nouns

❌ The government have introduced new policies.

Rule:

In IELTS writing, collective nouns are usually singular.

Examples:

- government

- company

- committee

- team

- organisation

Band 9 Example:

✅ The government has introduced new policies.

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Mistake #9

There Is / There Are

❌ There is many advantages.

Rule:

Verb agrees with the noun after it.

Band 9 Examples:

✅ There is one advantage.

✅ There are many advantages.

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Mistake #10

Either...Or / Neither...Nor

❌ Neither the students nor the teacher are prepared.

Rule:

Verb agrees with the nearest subject.

Band 9 Example:

✅ Neither the students nor the teacher is prepared.

✅ Neither the teacher nor the students are prepared.

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Mistake #11

Statistics and Percentages

❌ Thirty percent of students is satisfied.

Rule:

Look at the noun after "of".

Students = plural

Band 9 Example:

✅ Thirty percent of students are satisfied.

But:

✅ Thirty percent of the population is satisfied.

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Mistake #12

Amounts Of Money

❌ Ten thousand dollars are enough.

Rule:

Money, time, distance and measurements are usually singular.

Band 9 Examples:

✅ Ten thousand dollars is enough.

✅ Five kilometres is a short distance.

✅ Twenty years is a long time.

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Mistake #13

Titles Of Books, Movies And Subjects

❌ Economics are difficult.

Rule:

Academic subjects and titles are singular.

Band 9 Examples:

✅ Economics is difficult.

✅ Mathematics is important.

✅ The Lord of the Rings is a famous novel.

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Mistake #14

Data, Information, Advice

❌ Information are widely available.

Rule:

These are uncountable nouns.

Band 9 Examples:

✅ Information is widely available.

✅ Advice is useful.

✅ Research is essential.

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Mistake #15

Compound Subjects

❌ Bread and butter is my favourite breakfast.

❌ Technology and innovation has transformed society.

Rule:

Two subjects joined by "and" are usually plural.

Band 9 Example:

✅ Technology and innovation have transformed society.

Exception:

When two words refer to one thing:

✅ Bread and butter is my favourite breakfast.

✅ Fish and chips is popular in the UK.

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IELTS Quick Checklist

Before submitting your essay, check:

✓ People believe

✓ Students prefer

✓ Companies use

✓ Technology helps

✓ AI improves

✓ Everyone has

✓ Each country has

✓ One of the reasons is

✓ The number of students is

✓ A number of students are

✓ Government has

✓ Information is

✓ Advice is

✓ Research is

✓ There are many advantages

✓ There is one advantage

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Band 9 Examiner Tip

Most Subject-Verb Agreement mistakes occur because candidates focus on the noun closest to the verb instead of identifying the real subject.

Before choosing a verb, ask:

"Who or what is performing the action?"

Finding the real subject first eliminates most agreement errors immediately.

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