Subject-verb agreement
The subject and verb in a sentence need to agree. Sentences with singular subjects use the singular form of the verb.
The student likes the class.
Sentences with plural subjects use the plural form of the verb.
The students like the class.
Sometimes you need to look for the subject more carefully. When sentences begin with there is or there are, the subject is after the verb.
There is a book on the table.
There are four books on the table.
When a sentence uses a prepositional phrase, the phrase is before the verb. It does not affect verb.
The box of books is on the table.
The boxes of paper are on the table.