pluralsubject

A plural subject is a noun phrase that denotes more than one entity and governs plural agreement on the finite verb and auxiliary verbs in a sentence. In many languages, including English, the number of the subject determines the form of the verb. When the subject is plural, the verb typically appears in its base or non-suffixed form, while a singular subject requires a singular verb form.

Examples in English illustrate the rule: The dogs bark. The dog barks. Pronouns such as they, these, and those also act as plural subjects (They are here; These have arrived). In addition, certain nouns are plural in form but may function as a single unit and take a singular verb in American English, or a plural verb in British English when the emphasis is on the individuals within the group (for example, The team is winning vs The team are winning).

Collective nouns present a common complication. A collective noun can be treated as a single unit with a singular verb (The committee approves the proposal) or as a group of individuals with a plural verb (The committee are arguing among themselves) depending on dialect and emphasis. This distinction is a key aspect of plural-subject usage in many varieties of English.

Cross-linguistic differences are notable. Some languages mark number directly on verbs to reflect the subject’s plurality, while others rely on noun phrases and pronouns to convey plurality without explicit verb agreement in all tenses. In learning contexts, understanding plural-subject agreement helps ensure correct verb forms and clearer sentence structure.

See also: subject-verb agreement, collective noun, number, grammar.