Subject Verb Agreement
Basic Rules
A singular subject takes a singular verb whereas a plural subject takes a plural verb.
Examples:
→ The list of items is on the desk.
→ The items are on the desk
Rule 1
When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by or or nor, use a
singular verb.
Example:
→ The book or the pen is in the drawer.
Rule 2
The verb in a sentence with either/or, or neither/nor agrees with the noun or pronoun
closest to it.
Examples:
→ Neither the plates nor the serving bowl goes on that shelf.
→ Neither the serving bowl nor the plates go on that shelf.
→ Either Lina or Sara is helping today with stage decorations.
Rule 3
As a general rule, use a plural verb with two or more subjects when they are connected
by and.
Example:
→ A car and a bike are my means of transportation.
Exceptions:
→ Breaking and entering is against the law.
→ The bed and breakfast was charming.
‘breaking and entering’ and ‘bed and breakfast ‘are compound nouns.
Rule 4
Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by such words as along with, as well
as, besides, not, etc
These words and phrases are not part of the subject
The verb agrees with the subject, not with a noun or pronoun in the phrase.
Examples:
→ One of the boxes is open
→ The team captain, as well as his players, is anxious.
→ The book, including all the chapters in the first section, is boring.
→ The woman with all the dogs walks down my street every evening
Rule 5
Expressions such as with, together with, including, accompanied by, in addition to, or as
well do not change the number of the subject. If the subject is singular, the verb is too.
Examples:
→ The President, accompanied by his wife, is traveling to India.
→ All of the books, including yours, are in that box.
→ The politician, along with the newsmen, is expected shortly.
Rule 6:
Nouns such as ‘civics, mathematics, dollars, measles, and news’ require singular verbs.
Example:
→ The news is on at six.
Rule 7:
Collective nouns such as group, team, committee, class, and family. are words that
imply more than one person but that are considered singular and take a singular verb,
Examples:
→ The team runs during practice.
→ The committee decides how to proceed.
→ The family has a long history.
→ My family has never been able to agree.
→ The crew is preparing to dock the ship.
Rule 8:
Nouns such as scissors, tweezers, trousers, and cutters require plural verbs. (There are
two parts to these things.)
→ These scissors are dull.
→ Those trousers are made of wool.
Rule 9
In sentences beginning with here or there, the true subject follows the verb.
Examples:
→ There are four hurdles to jump.
→ There is a high hurdle to jump.
→ Here are the keys.
→ There are many questions.
→ There is a question.
Rule 10
Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc., when
considered as a unit.
Examples:
→ Three miles is too far to walk.
→ Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense.
→ Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
BUT
→ Ten dollars (i.e., dollar bills) were scattered on the floor.
Rule 11
The words each, each one, either, neither, everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone,
nobody, somebody, someone, and no one are singular and require a singular verb.
Examples:
→ Each of these hot dogs is juicy.
→ Everybody knows Mr. Jones.
→ Either is correct.
Rule 12
With words that indicate portions—e.g., a lot, a majority, some, all—
If the noun after ‘of’ is singular, use a singular verb. If it is plural, use a plural verb.
Examples:
→ A lot of the pie has disappeared.
→ A lot of the pies have disappeared.
→ A third of the city is unemployed.
→ A third of the people are unemployed.
→ All of the pie is gone.
→ All of the pies are gone.
→ Some of the pie is missing.
→ Some of the pies are missing.
SOME EXERCISES
Q1 Complete the following paragraph by filling in the blanks with the help of the
given options.
Camels (a) ________ friends of man. They are extremely useful to him. But, today
their population (b) ________ dwindling due to innumerable difficulties of their harsh
habitat. Moreover, the construction of roads (c) ________ them useless. Therefore,
local people (d) _________ little interest in breeding them.
(a) (i) was (ii) were (iii) are (iv) is
(b) (i) is (ii) are (iii) has (iv) have
(c) (i) make (ii) are making (iii) were making (iv) makes
(d) (i) takes (ii) take (iii) is taking (iv) was taking
Grandfather and my cousins (a) ____________ to the park. Neither I nor my brother
(b) ________________ them. Several benches (c) _____________ placed near the
small pond. Everybody (d) ____________ visiting the park.
(a) (i) is going (ii) goes (iii) has gone (iv) are going
(b) (i) have accompanied (ii) accompany (iii) is accompanying (iv) are accompanying
(c) (i) has been (ii) have been (iii) are (iv) is
(d) (i) are enjoying (ii) enjoy (iii) enjoys (iv) were enjoying
(c) Chennai (a) __________ the 1st Indian city to have suburban rail established in
1930.But, Chennai (b) __________ boast of a strong train culture. The problem (c)
______________ not in the infrastructure but in access to the stations. It is important
is to create an integrated transportation system that (d) ________ into the metro network.
(a) (i) was (ii) has (iii) have (iv) were
(b) (i) do not (ii) does not (iii) have not (iv) has not
(c) (i) lies (ii) lie (iii) is lying (iv) was lying
(d) (i) fed (ii) have fed (iii) has fed (iv) feeds
Mr. Jones, our neighbour (a) _____________ a number of trees in his garden. The
trees in his garden (b) ______________ a lot of fruit every year. Either me or my sons
usually (c) _________ him in the garden. He often (d) ___________ his children who stay in another town.
(i) have (ii) is (iii) are (iv) has
(i) produce (ii) produces (iii) is producing (iv) was producing
(i) was helping (ii) helps (iii) help (iv) were helping
(i) visit (ii) have visited (iii) visits (iv) is visiting
Q 2 In the following passage one word has been omitted in each line. Write the
missing word, in the sentences of the given paragraph, along with the word that
comes before and the word that comes after it in the space provided.
BEFORE MISSING AFTER
Strong winds rain wear down rocks and e.g winds and rain winds and rain
reduce them to gravel. When rain falls the (a)
earth it carries the gravel streams and (b)
Rivers. The meandering river cuts sides of (c)
the riverbank. This causes the river widen. (d)
Q3 Rearrange the following words and phrases to form meaningful sentences.
(a) board members / for / the / the chairman / the meeting / along with / was present
(b) papers / you / or / the / going / either / to sign / I am
(c) The / in / their / was divided / members of the council / opinion
(d) wants / are spoken /in /Tania / which languages/ Paris/ to know
(e) rapidly / the / number of / seeking jobs / people / computer industry/ is rising/ in the
