notes+on+subject-verb+agreement

Subject-verb agreement (Section 21)
 * || Singular || plural ||
 * 1st person || I run || we run ||
 * 2nd person || you run || you run ||
 * 3rd person || he, she, it runs || they run ||

Make the verb agree with its subject, not with a word that comes between. Treat most subjects joined with //and// as plural. Subjects joined with //or// or //nor// make the verb agree with the part nearer to the verb.
 * The //samples// on the tray //need// testing.
 * The //sample// on the tray //needs// testing.
 * Leon and Jan often jog together.
 * Exceptions: When the parts of a subject form a single unit or when they refer to the same person, treat the subject as singular.
 * Fish and chips __was__ added to the menu.
 * Fish and cookies __were__ added to the menu.
 * Sue’s friend and advisor was surprised by her decision.
 * A driver’s license //or// __two credit cards are__ required.
 * Two credit cards //or// __a driver’s license is__ required.

Treat most indefinite pronouns as singular.
 * Anybody, everyone, no one, something, etc.
 * // Each // of the essays //has// been graded.
 * Some are singular or plural depending on the noun they refer to.
 * // Some // of our luggage //was// lost.
 * // Some // of the rocks //were// slippery.

Make the verb agree with the subject even when the subject follows the verb. Words such as //athletics, physics, politics,// and //news// are usually singular. Titles of works, company names, words mentioned as words, and gerund phrases (using –ing) are singular.
 * There //were// a social worker //and// a neighbor at the meeting.
 * // Is // there good //news// about the score?
 * Dutch Brothers //is// a very successful company.
 * Wait//ing// on hold //is// very annoying.