Subjects and verbs must agree in person and number. Note the following rules:

1. Plural subjects require a plural verb, and a singular subject requires a singular verb.

Ex. The symbol for hydrogen is H. (singular subject; singular verb)

Ex. Their friends play soccer every weekend. (plural subject; plural verb)

2. Subject and verb must agree even when they are not next to each other in a sentence.

Ex. Colleges across the United States want students to expand their academic knowledge.

Ex. The president of the organization proposes a new budget every year.

3. Subjects joined by the word "and" are generally followed by a plural verb construction.

Ex. Senators and congressmen work together on certain legislation. (plural subject because of "and;" plural verb)

Ex. Ray Romano and Patricia Heaton star in Everybody Loves Raymond. (plural subject because of "and;" plural verb.)

4. As a subject, the pronoun "you," whether singular or plural in meaning, takes a plural verb.

Ex. As the new cashier, you must complete a two-week training course.

Ex. As the new cashiers, you must complete a two-week training course.

5. In a sentence containing both a positive and negative subject, the verb agrees with the positive.

Ex. The employees, not the manager, discuss working conditions at every meeting. (The positive subject, "the employees," is plural; therefore, the verb "discuss" is in its plural form.)

Ex. The supervisor, not the cashiers, controls the shipments. (The positive subject, "the supervisor," is singular; therefore, the verb "controls" is in its singular form.)

6. The verb agrees with the nearest subject when two subjects are joined by "or" or "nor."

Ex. The employees or the manager speaks first at the company's weekly meeting. ("the manager" is the nearest subject. It is a singular subject; therefore, the verb is "speaks.")

Ex. Neither the president nor the cabinet members have a press conference today. ("the cabinet members" is the nearest subject. It is a plural subject; therefore, the verb is "have.")