SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT
English grammar rules
(Subject and Verb agreement)
In English, the verb
must agree with its subject in number and person. In other words, the verb must
be of the
same number and
person as the subject. Subjects and verbs must agree in number. This is the
main rule that
forms the background
of the concept.
RULE 1
Subjects don’t always
come before verbs in questions. Make sure you accurately identify the subject
before
deciding on the
proper verb form to use.
Examples
1 Where are the
pieces of this puzzle?
(The subject is not
this puzzle but it is the pieces of this puzzle so the subject is plural)
2 The study of
languages and sciences is very important for your study.
(The subject is not
languages and sciences but it is study.)
RULE 2
When two singular
nouns are connected by and the verb used will be plural.
Example
The boy and the girl
are waiting outside the school.
Important note
A) But when the two
nouns connected by and together represent the same person, same thing or same
idea the
verb used will be
singular.
Eg The principal and
science teacher has not come to the school today. (Here the principal is also
the science
teacher)
B) If two different
singular nouns express one idea, the verb should be in the singular form. Or
the two singular
nouns/uncountable
nouns are used in pairs then the verb used will be singular.
The law and order
situation in the state are under control ✘
The law and order
situation in the state is under control
Profit and loss is a
part of business. (Profit and loss goes in pairs so a singular verb (is)
Hard work and luck is
important for success.
RULE 3
‘Unlike’, no less than’, ‘nothing
but’ ‘As well as’, ‘with’, ‘alongwith’, ‘together with’, ‘and not’, ‘In
addition to’, ‘but’, ‘besides’,
‘except’, ‘rather than’, ‘accompained by’ and ‘like’ . If these words are the
connecting words that join two
subjects then the verb used will be according to the first subject.
(1) My sister unlike my brothers
wishes to have a career in engineering.
(Singular) (singular verb)
(2) The actress, along with her
manager and some friends, are invited to the function ✘
The actress, along with her
manager and some friends, is invited to the function
RULE 4
When two or more subjects are
connected by or, nor, either … or, neither … nor, the verb is according to the
subject close to it.
Examples:
1 Either James or John are to be
promoted. (Incorrect)
Either James or John is to be
promoted. (Correct)
2 Neither the girls nor he are to
take up this task (Incorrect)
Neither you nor he is to take up
this task (Correct)
3 Either the Chief Minister or
the Cabinet Ministers is responsible for this problem. (Incorrect)
Either the Chief Minister or the
Cabinet Ministers are responsible for this problem. (Correct)
4 Either you or I are responsible
for this mistake. (Incorrect)
Either you or I am responsible
for this mistake. (Correct)
RULE 5
Usage of either, neither, none
etc.
‘Neither of……’ It is only used in
case of two things or persons and not one of the two.
Neither of his five sons settled
in India. (incorrect)
None of his four sons looked
after him. (correct)
‘Either of……”It means the choice
is between two persons and things and one of the two.
Either of the three children has broken
the window. (incorrect)
One of……….. It is used to select
one out of something that has more than two.
One of the six boys admitted
before the principal that they had all cheated in the exam.
‘Both’/‘not’
Do not use both and not in the
same sentence. If we wish to state that out of the two things not even one of
them then use neither of.
Both of the girls did not reach
the examination centre on time. (incorrect )
Neither of the girls reached the
examination centre on time. (correct)
RULE 6
When ‘not only ……. but also’ is
used to combine two subject, the verb agrees with the subject close to it.
Examples:
Not only silver, but also gold
are mined in this country.✘
Not only silver, but also gold is
mined in this country.
Not only the boys but also the
coach wants a day off.
Not only the coach but also the
boys want a day off.
RULE 7
When two nouns joined by “and”
have their own articles then we consider them as plural and plural verb
is used.
Examples:
The director and the producer is
shooting in Himachal. (✘)
The director and the producer are
shooting in Himachal. ( )
But when two nouns joined by
“and” do not have their own articles then we consider them as singular and
singular verb is used. The
article is used only before the first noun.
Examples:
The principal and director of the
school is on leave for three days.
A large and comfortable chair is
needed in my study.
A black and a white cat —– means
two cats.
A black and white cat ——–only one
cat with both colours black and white.
RULE 8
Majority can be singular or
plural. If it is used alone it is usually singular, if it is followed by a
plural
noun, it is usually plural.
The majority believe that the
country can progress ✘
The majority believe that the
country can progress ✘
The majority believes that the
country can progress
The majority of the lecturers
believes that the student has not copied in the examination ✘
The majority of the lecturers
believe that the student has not copied in the examination
RULE 9
Collective nouns
A collective noun is a word that
is used for a whole group. It denotes a group of individuals.
Examples of collective nouns
family, group, committee, class,
organisation, team, army, club, crowd, government, jury, minority, public, mob
etc.
Examples
The committee have met and accepted
the proposal ✘
The committee has met and
accepted the proposal
The family were happy at the news
✘
The family was happy at the news
The crowd was wild with
excitement
Our team is certain to win the
match
Note:
A collective noun is treated as
plural when the group it names is considered to be made up of individuals.
Because members of the group can
act on their own, the word is considered plural.
The play’s cast are rehearsing
their lines.
The plural subject cast requires
the plural verb are because the members of the cast are functioning as
individual
people doing separate things.
The jury often have different
reactions to the evidence they hear.
The plural subject jury requires
the plural verb have because the members of the jury are being considered as
individuals.
Our team is going to win the
match. ( treated as one unit)
The team have to buy their
uniforms themselves. (Referring to the individual members)
RULE
10
Generally with a plural number we
use a plural verb.
Example
Ten trees were cut down by the
wood cutters.
But for nouns indicating a
specific time, money, and measurements (weight , distance and height) used as a
whole are singular and take a
singular verb.
Examples:
Twentyfive
thousand rupees are not such big
amount for him ✘
Twentyfive
thousand rupees is not such big
amount for him
Two miles are too much for this
man to run ✘
Two miles is too much for this
man to run
But when they are not used as a
whole and are further subdivided into smaller units we use a plural verb.
Note the differenceTwenty
thousand a handsome salary.
(Treated as a singular unit)
Twenty thousand been spent on
different useful commodities such as rent, grocery, fees etc.
RULE
11
When a lot of, a great deal of,
plenty of, most of, and some of refer to number (countable noun) , a plural
verb is
used.
Examples:
A lot of people was present in
the gallery some of the students were absent ✘
A lot of people were present in
the gallery some of the students were absent
Note : If these expressions refer
to an amount (Uncountable noun) , the verb is in the singular number.
A lot of work has to be completed
before we go
A great deal of work has been
finished
RULE
12
Names of countries are always
singular. Certain names like West indies and United States may seem to be
plural
as they end in s but they are
singular. But in sports, while referring to the players, the name of the
country is
followed by plural verb.
Examples:
England has won the World Cup.
(Incorrect)
England have won the World Cup.
(Correct)
RULE
13
When the ‘enemy’ is used in the
sense “armed forces” of a nation with which one’s country is at war, we have to
When the ‘enemy’ is used in the
sense “armed forces” of a nation with which one’s country is at war, we have to
use the plural verb.
Example
The enemy were forced to retreat.
The enemy were pushed back into
their own terrortries by the Indian Army.
RULE
14
Structure: none + of the +
noncount
noun + singular verb
Examples:
None of the counterfeit money
have been found (incorrect)
None of the counterfeit money has
been found (correct)
Structure: none + of the + plural
count noun + plural verb
Examples:
None of the students has finished
the exam yet (incorrect)
None of the students have
finished the exam yet (correct)
No can take either a singular or
plural verb depending on the noun which follows it.
Structure: No + singular noun +
singular verb
No example is relevant to this
case (correct)
Structure: No + plural noun +
plural verb
No examples are relevant to this
case (correct)
RULE
15
A number of / the number
Observe the two structures:
(i) a number of + plural noun +
plural verb.
(ii) the number of + plural noun
+ singular verb.
Examples:
A number of students is going to
the class picnic (Incorrect)
A number of students are going to
the class picnic (Correct)
The number of days in a week are
seven (Incorrect)
The number of days in a week is
seven (correct)
The number of residents who have
been residing in this colony is quite small (Correct)
The number of residents who have
been residing in this colony is quite small (Correct)
A number of the applicants have
already been interviewed. (correct)
RULE
16
Relative pronouns
Sometimes the pronoun who, that,
or which is the subject of a verb in the middle of the sentence . The pronouns
who, that, and which become
singular or plural according to the noun directly in front of them. So, if that
noun is
singular, use a singular verb. If
it is plural, use a plural verb.
The verb should not be chosen
according to the subject of the sentence.
Example:
He is one of the men who do the
work.
The word in front of who is men,
which is plural. Therefore, use the plural verb do.
RULE
17
The word were replaces was in
sentences that express a wish or are contrary to fact.
Example: If the teacher were
here, you’d have to answer the question.
The teacher is singular so it
should be followed by was. But the teacher isn’t actually here, so we say were,
not
was. The sentence shows things
that are hypothetical, wishful, imaginary, or factually contradictory. In
such sentences we use were.
Examples:
I wish it were Friday.
RULE
18
The following are considered as
singular.
Each, Every, Everyone, Someone,
Somebody, Nobody, None, One, Any, Many a, More than one are
treated as singular. We use a
singular verb, singular pronoun and singular noun with them.
Examples
(1) Each students from Pinnacle
has cleared the exam.
(2) Each boy and each girl has to
finish his work by the weekend.
(3) More than one man present
there.
(4) Each man and each woman was
garlanded by the host.
The word many can be used in the
following ways.
1 Many a students is standing in
the canteen.
Although the word preceding the
verb ‘is’ is plural in nature, the correct verb is singular, because of the
presence
of ‘many a’.
‘Many a’ will be followed by the
singular noun and a singular verb will be used.
2 Many students were standing in
the canteen.
3 A great many students were
standing in the canteen.
Note : But if each, every, one is
followed by ‘of ‘ then the word of will be followed by a plural noun/pronoun.
But the verb and pronoun used in
the sentence will be singular.
One of the girls/them has made a
card for her teacher.
Indefinite Pronoun
If ‘One’ is the subject of the
sentence then the pronouns used will be one’s, oneself etc.
Do not use him ,himself.
(1) One should complete his work
in time. (Incorrect)
(2) One should keep one’s
promise. (Correct)
RULE
19
In optative sentences the verb
used is always plural irrespective of the subject. Even with singular subjects
we use a plural verb.
Examples.
1) God save the world!
2) Long live our prime minister!
3) May he achieve success!
RULE
20
Amount of/ quantity of +
Uncountable Noun the verb used will be singular.
(1) The amount of sugar not
sufficient to prepare a cup of tea. (Incorrect)
(2) The amount of not sufficient
(Correct)
RULE
21
All can be treated as both
singular and plural.
When it refers to persons or
things it is treated as plural or else it is treated as singular.
Examples
1 All are waiting for the
principal to arrive.
2 All is well at home.
3 All are well at home.
(Referring to persons)
RULE
22
Furniture, advice, work,
evidence, equipment, news, information, luggage, baggage, percentage, poetry,
knowledge, dirt, dust, traffic,
electricity, music, breakage, stationary, scenery, confectionery, pottery,
bakery, crockery, behaviour are
uncountable nouns. So we use a singular verb with them.
(1) The scenery of Himachal was
very beautiful.
(2) I passed but the percentage
of marks was not good.
RULE
23
Headphones , knickers , premises
(buildings) , Alms , ruins, amends , archives , arrears, auspices,
congratulations, embers ,
fireworks, lodgings, outskirts, particulars, proceeds, regards, riches,
remains, savings,
shambles, surroundings, tidings,
furnishings, earnings, leftovers, troops, tactics, thanks, valuables, forceps,
wages, belongings, braces,
Scissors, tongs ,pliers, pincers, bellows trousers, pants, pajamas, shorts ,
gallows ,
fangs spectacles, goggles,
binoculars , eyeglasses .
These nouns are always plural and
a plural verb is used with them.
Examples
These scissors are for cutting
paper.
Your clothes are dirty.
Have you seen my glasses? I want
to read the newspaper.
What kind of goods does your
company produce?
The table of contents should not
contain any pictures.
Firearms were used to disperse
the crowd.
I live on the outskirts of the
city.
Some of these nouns are often
used with the expression a pair of, as they refer to things made up of two
parts:
a pair of trousers
a pair of jeans
a pair of shoes
a pair of slippers
a pair of glasses
a pair of gloves
a pair of earrings
Note : With a pair of ……. A
singular verb will be used.
A pair of trousers was lying on
the bed.
RULE
24
These nouns appear to be plural
but are actually singular and we use a singular verb with them.
News, Innings, Politics, Summons,
linguistics.
Names of subjects ending in s.
Examples Physics,
Economics, Ethics, Mathematics,
Names of diseases ending in s.
Examples – Mumps, Measles,
Rickets Shingles, Billiards, Athletics etc
Examples
Athletics is good for young
people.
Linguistics is the study of
language.
Darts is a popular game in
England.
Billiards is played all over the
world.
RULE
21
These nouns appear as singular
but are plural and a plural verb is used with them.
Cattle, cavalry, infantry,
poultry, peasantry, children , gentry, police, people, etc.
RULE
22
These noun are used in singular
form only and they are uncountable form only.
Scenery, Poetry, Furniture,
Advice, Information, Hair, Business, Mischief, Bread, Stationery, Crockery,
Luggage, Baggage, Postage,
Knowledge, Wastage, Money, Jewellery, Breakage, Equipment, Work,
Evidence, Word ,Fuel .
We cannot use a/an with these
nouns immediately before them. To express a quantity of an uncountable noun,
use a word or expression like
some, a lot of, much, a bit of, a great deal of.
Examples .
He gave me a great deal of advice
before my interview.
Can you give me some information
about uncountable nouns?
He did not have much sugar left.
A lot of wonderful jewellery were
available in the shop.
A piece of jewellery is here for
you.
Note: The verb used varies as per
the usage of the noun.
Rule
23
Hair: Be careful with the noun
hair which is normally uncountable in English, so it is not used in the plural.
It
can be countable only when
referring to individual hairs.
Example : She has long thick
hair.
Two strands of grey hair were
found by the police in the car.
Paper: When paper refers to exams
it is countable otherwise it is singular.
A lot of paper is used by
newspapers.
I have to answer two English
papers in May.
RULE
24
Deer, sheep, series, species, fish,
crew, team, jury, aircraft, counsel etc. These words are in the same form
in singular and plural.
Examples.
1 A deer was seen in the park.
2 Two deer were seen in the park.
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