Make the Verb Match
The verb copies the subject: one thing gets -s, many things stay bare. One idea that fixes a quarter of all grammar mistakes — plus the tricky words that lie.
What is Agreement?
One boss, one worker
In English the subject and the verb must match: one thing takes -s, many things stay bare. Two verbs — be and have — do their own thing.
One thing → -s
he, she, it carry the -s on the verb
She works in a bank.
Many things → bare verb
I, you, we, they: no -s
They work in a bank.
be is special
am, is, are — three forms
I am ready. She is ready.
have is special too
have vs has
I have a car. She has a car.
⚠️ One job, one boss: the verb copies the subject.
The Formula
Match the subject, then relax
Ask one question: is the subject one thing or many? One → -s. Many → bare verb. In questions and negatives, the helper does the matching instead.
Sheworksin a bank
Theyworkin a bank
Doessheworkhere?
Shehasa car
Common Mistakes
Five traps to escape
The -s on the verb is the most skipped letter in English. These five traps catch almost every learner — including a few native speakers.
He work in a hospital.
He works in a hospital.
💡 he/she/it takes -s — never skip it.
They works hard.
They work hard.
💡 They is many — no -s.
She have a brother.
She has a brother.
💡 With he/she/it, have becomes has.
My brother play football.
My brother plays football.
💡 My brother = he — the verb takes -s.
Everyone are happy.
Everyone is happy.
💡 Everyone, nobody, everything — always singular.
Quick Quiz
Test what you just learned
Three minutes, five questions — check what stuck. No essay questions, we promise.
My sister ___ in a hospital.
💡 Info supplémentaire2 sections
The Full Line-Up
One verb, five subjects
Scan the table: only he/she/it changes the verb. Everything else keeps the base form. Then be arrives and throws its three forms into the mix.
| Subject | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | I work | I don't work | Do I work? |
| You | You work | You don't work | Do you work? |
| He / She / It | He works | He doesn't work | Does he work? |
| We | We work | We don't work | Do we work? |
| They | They work | They don't work | Do they work? |
The verb "be"Am, is, are — each subject gets its own form
| Subject | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | I am ready | I'm not ready | Am I ready? |
| He / She / It | She is ready | She isn't ready | Is she ready? |
| You / We / They | They are ready | They aren't ready | Are they ready? |
Tricky Subjects
Words that lie about their number
Everyone sounds like many people but counts as one. Money and news are singular. Spot the liar and the verb follows the truth, not the sound.