How to Identify the Main Verb in a Long Sentence
Learn how to identify the main verb in a long sentence with clear rules, examples, common mistakes, and quick practice for error spotting and writing.
A long sentence can contain many words that look like verbs. Some end in -ing, some are past participles, some appear inside relative clauses, and some belong to phrases. The real question is: which verb is controlling the main statement?
Wrong: The boy sitting near the window are my cousin.
Right: The boy sitting near the window is my cousin.
The word sitting looks like a verb, but it is not the main verb of the sentence. It only describes the boy. The main statement is The boy is my cousin, so the main verb must agree with boy, not with window.
This skill matters in error spotting, fill-in-the-blanks, sentence correction, and ordinary writing. If you cannot identify the main verb, subject-verb agreement becomes guesswork.
For related agreement rules, revise Subject-Verb Agreement with One Of and Subject-Verb Agreement with As Well As.
The main verb is the verb that carries the main action, state, or condition of a clause. In a simple clause, it is the verb that connects directly with the subject.
Rule box: To identify the main verb, first find the subject and then find the finite verb that agrees with it. Ignore non-finite phrases such as -ing phrases, to + verb phrases, and past participle phrases until the main clause is clear.
A sentence may have several verb-like words, but not all of them are main verbs.
| Verb-like form | Example | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Finite verb | She writes well. | Main verb of the clause |
| Auxiliary + main verb | She has written the answer. | Verb phrase of the main clause |
| -ing form | The girl standing there is my sister. | Modifier, not main verb |
| To-infinitive | To win requires discipline. | Non-finite subject phrase |
| Past participle | The book written by him is popular. | Modifier, not main verb |
A main verb can be a single word (is, runs, requires) or a verb phrase (has finished, will be selected, was being discussed). In grammar questions, treat the whole finite verb phrase as the main verb.
Long subjects often contain extra information before the real verb appears.
The list of items on the table is missing.
The subject is the list, not items and not table. The phrase of items on the table only describes the list.
| Long subject | Head noun | Correct main verb |
|---|---|---|
| The list of items | list | is |
| The quality of the products | quality | is |
| The students in the first row | students | are |
| The sound of the machines | sound | is |
An -ing phrase can describe a noun, but it usually does not act as the finite verb.
The boy sitting near the window is my cousin.
Remove the modifier:
The boy is my cousin.
This test is very useful in exam sentences.
A to + verb phrase can act as the subject of a sentence. When it does, the main verb is usually singular.
To complete the work quickly requires effort.
The subject is the whole idea to complete the work quickly. It is treated as one action or idea, so requires is correct.
A noun clause can also act as the subject.
What he said was true.
Inside the subject clause, said is a finite verb, but the main verb of the full sentence is was. The sentence means: His statement was true.
A sentence can have more than one clause, so it can have more than one finite verb.
The teacher explained the rule, and the students understood it.
Here, explained and understood are both main verbs of their own clauses. The key is not to force one sentence to have only one verb; instead, identify the main verb of each clause.
Use this method whenever a sentence looks crowded:
- Find the complete sentence first. Do not judge from one phrase only.
- Look for the main subject. Ask: who or what is the sentence mainly about?
- Remove interrupting phrases. Ignore prepositional phrases, relative clauses, and modifiers for a moment.
- Ignore non-finite verb forms. Be careful with -ing, to + verb, and participles.
- Find the finite verb that agrees with the subject. This is usually the main verb of the clause.
- Read the sentence again for meaning. The final sentence must be grammatical and logical.
The boy sitting near the window are my cousin.
Subject: The boy.
Modifier: sitting near the window.
Main verb needed: singular is.
The boy sitting near the window is my cousin.
To complete the work quickly require effort.
Subject: To complete the work quickly. It is one idea.
Main verb needed: singular requires.
To complete the work quickly requires effort.
What he said were true.
Subject: What he said. The whole clause means the thing he said.
Main verb needed: singular was.
What he said was true.
- The boy near the gate is my brother.
- The boys near the gate are my classmates.
- The book lying on the desk belongs to Riya.
- The books lying on the desk belong to Riya.
- To finish the project on time requires planning.
- The list of items is missing.
- The items on the list are missing.
- What he said was true.
- The people who live next door are friendly.
- The report prepared by the committee has been approved.
Notice how the nearest noun is not always the subject. In The list of items is missing, the noun items is plural, but it is not the head of the subject. The head noun is list.
The list of documents ___ incomplete.
Correct: The list of documents is incomplete.
Students often choose are because documents is near the blank. But the main subject is list.
The student preparing for the debate ___ nervous.
Correct: The student preparing for the debate is nervous.
Preparing describes the student. It is not the main finite verb.
What the witness said during the hearing ___ important.
Correct: What the witness said during the hearing was important.
The subject is a clause. The main verb of the larger sentence comes after that clause.
In a verb phrase, auxiliary verbs help the main verb.
The decision has been announced.
Here the main verb phrase is has been announced. Do not separate it carelessly. In passive voice and perfect tenses, the main verb phrase may contain several words.
Compound and complex sentences can have more than one clause.
She called me because she needed help.
Called is the main verb of the main clause. Needed is the main verb of the because-clause.
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The boy sitting near the window are my cousin. | The boy sitting near the window is my cousin. | Subject is boy. |
| To complete the work quickly require effort. | To complete the work quickly requires effort. | Infinitive subject is singular. |
| The list of items are missing. | The list of items is missing. | Subject is list. |
| What he said were true. | What he said was true. | Noun clause acts as singular idea. |
| The report written by the officers were accepted. | The report written by the officers was accepted. | Subject is report. |
Choose the correct option or correct the error.
- The sound of the bells ___ pleasant.
a) is b) are - The girls standing near the bus ___ from our school.
a) is b) are - To learn grammar properly ___ patience.
a) require b) requires - What she explained ___ useful.
a) was b) were - Error spotting: The quality of these mangoes are excellent.
- Error spotting: The child playing with the dogs are my nephew.
- Error spotting: To answer all questions correctly need practice.
- Fill in the blank: The file kept on the upper shelves ___ important documents.
- Rewrite correctly: What they decided were surprising.
- Identify the main verb phrase: The results have been declared.
- is — subject is sound.
- are — subject is girls.
- requires — the infinitive phrase is one idea.
- was — what she explained acts as one subject.
- is excellent — subject is quality.
- is my nephew — subject is child.
- requires/needs practice — infinitive subject is singular.
- contains — subject is file.
- What they decided was surprising.
- have been declared — complete finite verb phrase.
Final rule: Find the subject first, remove extra phrases, ignore non-finite verb forms, and then choose the finite verb that agrees with the real subject.
Memory trick: Do not marry the nearest noun; find the real subject.
Revise these before an exam:
- The list of items is missing.
- The boys sitting near the window are my cousins.
- What he said was true.