Agreement with subject, not with words following verb

One sentence pattern in English consists of a subject, a linking verb, and a subject complement:

Example sentence: Jack is a securities lawyer. Explanation: The subject is 'Jack'; the linking verb is 'is'; the subject complement is 'lawyer.'

Because the subject complement names or describes the subject, it is sometimes mistaken for the subject. But the verb must agree with the subject, not the subject complement.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: A tent and a sleeping bag is the required equipment. Revised sentence: A tent and a sleeping bag are the required equipment. Explanation: The word 'is' has been replaced by 'are.'

Tent and bag is the subject, not equipment.

Example sentence with editing. Original sentence: A major force in today's economy are women – as earners, consumers, and inventors. Revised sentence: A major force in today's economy is women – as earners, consumers, and inventors. Explanation: The word 'are' has been replaced by 'is.'

Force is the subject, not women. If the corrected version seems awkward, make women the subject: Women are a major force in today’s economy—as earners, consumers, and investors.

Subject-verb agreement at a glance

When to use the -s (or -es) form of a present-tense verb

Exercise: Subject-verb agreement 1

Exercise: Subject-verb agreement 2

Exercise: Subject-verb agreement 3

Exercise: Subject-verb agreement 4

Related topic:

Subject complements

subject Grammatically, a word or word group that names who or what a sentence is about.

linking verb A verb that links a subject to a subject complement, a word or word group that renames or describes the subject. Linking verbs are be, am, is, are, was, were, being, been; also appear, become, feel, grow, look, make, seem, smell, sound, taste.

subject complement A word or word group that follows a linking verb and either renames or describes the subject.