📚 English — English Language and Competitive English
19. Subject Verb Agreement
Exam-oriented Subject Verb Agreement notes, rules and revision facts
Quick Reference
Major Subject-Verb Agreement Rules and Patterns
19. Subject Verb Agreement
| Subject Pattern | Rule | Correct Verb/Example |
|---|---|---|
Singular Subject | उत्तर देखें Takes a singular verb with -s/-es suffix | उत्तर देखें The boy runs fast. |
Plural Subject | उत्तर देखें Takes a base plural verb without -s/-es | उत्तर देखें The boys run fast. |
Two subjects joined by 'and' | उत्तर देखें Normally requires a plural verb | उत्तर देखें Ram and Shyam are coming. |
Two nouns expressing a single unified concept | उत्तर देखें Governs a singular verb | उत्तर देखें Bread and butter is wholesome. |
Two nouns preceded by 'each' or 'every' | उत्तर देखें Governs a singular verb even with 'and' | उत्तर देखें Every man and woman was present. |
Subjects linked by 'as well as' / 'along with' | उत्तर देखें Verb agrees with the first subject | उत्तर देखें He as well as they was present. |
Subjects linked by 'either...or' / 'neither...nor' | उत्तर देखें Verb agrees with the nearest subject | उत्तर देखें Neither he nor his friends were there. |
Indefinite pronouns (each, everyone, nobody) | उत्तर देखें Always take a singular verb | उत्तर देखें Everyone has submitted the paper. |
Phrase 'A number of' + plural noun | उत्तर देखें Governs a plural verb | उत्तर देखें A number of students have passed. |
Phrase 'The number of' + plural noun | उत्तर देखें Governs a singular verb | उत्तर देखें The number of applicants was fifty. |
Unit of distance, time, or money as single whole | उत्तर देखें Governs a singular verb | उत्तर देखें Ten miles is a long walk. |
Relative clause with 'one of the + plural noun' | उत्तर देखें Verb in relative clause is plural | उत्तर देखें One of the men who were present. |
Quick Reference
Confusing Subject Structures and Verb Selection
19. Subject Verb Agreement
| Subject Pattern | Rule | Correct Verb/Example |
|---|---|---|
Collective noun acting as unanimous unit | उत्तर देखें Governs a singular verb and singular pronoun | उत्तर देखें The committee has submitted its report. |
Collective noun with divided members | उत्तर देखें Governs a plural verb and plural pronoun | उत्तर देखें The committee are divided in opinions. |
Nouns plural in form, singular in sense (News, Physics) | उत्तर देखें Governs a singular verb | उत्तर देखें Physics is an interesting subject. |
Academic subjects modified by possessive (His mathematics) | उत्तर देखें Governs a plural verb (calculative ability) | उत्तर देखें His mathematics are very weak. |
Nouns singular in form, plural in sense (Cattle, Police) | उत्तर देखें Governs a plural verb | उत्तर देखें The police have caught the thief. |
Uncountable mass nouns (Furniture, Luggage) | उत्तर देखें Governs a singular verb | उत्तर देखें All the luggage was scanned. |
Introductory 'There' or 'Here' construction | उत्तर देखें Verb agrees with following true subject noun | उत्तर देखें There are three books on table. |
Phrase 'More than one' + singular noun | उत्तर देखें Governs a singular noun and singular verb | उत्तर देखें More than one person was injured. |
Phrase 'More + plural noun + than one' | उत्तर देखें Governs a plural verb | उत्तर देखें More persons than one were injured. |
Phrase 'The only one of + plural noun + relative' | उत्तर देखें Governs a singular verb due to 'only' | उत्तर देखें The only one of books that is good. |
Fractions and percentages of uncountable nouns | उत्तर देखें Governs a singular verb | उत्तर देखें Two-thirds of the work is done. |
Fractions and percentages of plural countable nouns | उत्तर देखें Governs a plural verb | उत्तर देखें Two-thirds of the students have passed. |
Basic Principles, Number Harmony & Compound Subjects
Definition of subject-verb agreement (concord)
Harmony in number and person between them.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb ending for third-person singular present tense
Takes suffix -s or -es.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Does a plural noun take suffix -s while plural verb does not?
Yes, opposite inflection patterns.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
General rule for two subjects joined by 'and'
Governs a plural verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Example of compound subject with 'and'
Gold and silver are precious metals.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb rule when two nouns joined by 'and' express single idea
Governs a singular verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Bread and butter ___ wholesome food'
Is (single unified dish).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Slow and steady ___ the race'
Wins (unified proverb idea).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Rice and curry ___ his favorite meal'
Is (unified meal concept).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb rule when two titles joined by 'and' refer to one person
Governs a singular verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Identification clue for two titles referring to one person
Article used before first title only.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'The director and producer ___ arrived'
Has arrived (one single person).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb rule when two titles joined by 'and' refer to two persons
Governs a plural verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Identification clue for two distinct persons holding titles
Article repeated before both titles.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'The director and the producer ___ arrived'
Have arrived (two distinct persons).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb rule when two singular nouns joined by 'and' are preceded by 'every'
Governs a singular verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Every boy and girl ___ present'
Was present.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb rule when two singular nouns joined by 'and' are preceded by 'each'
Governs a singular verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Each officer and clerk ___ signed'
Has signed.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Does grammatical person affect auxiliary verb form?
Yes, determines am/is/are and have/has.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Subject-verb agreement rule for dummy subject 'It'
Always takes a singular verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'It ___ the children who made noise'
Was (governed by It).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Primary rule to isolate true grammatical subject
Ignore non-essential descriptive modifier phrases.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'The quality of these mangoes ___ not good'
Is (agrees with quality).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Why 'The quality of these mangoes are' is erroneous
Mistakes prepositional object mangoes for subject.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Disjunctive Connectors, Proximity & Parenthetical Phrases
Subject-verb agreement rule for subjects joined by 'as well as'
Verb agrees with the first subject.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'The teacher as well as students ___ present'
Was present.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'The students as well as teacher ___ present'
Were present.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Connectors following first-subject agreement rule
Along with, together with, with, accompanied by.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Additional connectors following first-subject agreement rule
In addition to, like, unlike, besides.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'The captain along with players ___ training'
Is training.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'He, rather than his associates, ___ culpable'
Is culpable.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Subject-verb agreement rule for 'either...or'
Verb agrees with the nearest subject.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Subject-verb agreement rule for 'neither...nor'
Verb agrees with the nearest subject.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Subject-verb agreement rule for 'not only...but also'
Verb agrees with the nearest subject.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Either Ram or his brothers ___ done this'
Have done this.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Neither the players nor the coach ___ happy'
Was happy.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Not only he but also his friends ___ coming'
Are coming.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Subject-verb agreement rule for subjects joined simply by 'or'
Verb agrees with the nearest subject.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Is Ram or his friends attending the seminar?'
Is (agrees with nearest subject Ram).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Are his friends or Ram attending the seminar?'
Are (agrees with nearest friends).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Pronoun agreement rule when subjects differ in number or gender
Pronoun matches the nearest subject.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Pronoun in: 'Neither the manager nor subordinates did ___ duty'
Their duty.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Pronoun in: 'Neither subordinates nor the manager did ___ duty'
His duty.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Rule of proximity definition in syntax
Verb agrees with adjacent nominal element.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Connectors governed strictly by rule of proximity
Or, nor, either...or, neither...nor, but also.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Can parenthetical commas alter subject-verb agreement?
No, parenthetical elements are disregarded.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'The king, with his councilors, ___ executed'
Was executed.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'My dog, unlike cats, ___ swimming'
Loves swimming.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Why intervening prepositional phrases create exam errors
They disguise the true sentence subject.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Indefinite Pronouns, Distributives & Quantifiers
Verb agreement governed by distributive pronoun 'each'
Always takes a singular verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Each of the participants ___ a certificate'
Receives or was given.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb rule when plural noun/pronoun precedes 'each'
Governs a plural verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'The students each ___ submitted their papers'
Have submitted.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'We each ___ an opinion'
Have an opinion.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement governed by 'everyone', 'someone', 'anyone', 'no one'
Always take singular verbs.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Everyone ___ entitled to medical care'
Is entitled.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement governed by 'everybody', 'somebody', 'nobody'
Always take singular verbs.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Nobody ___ allowed to leave early'
Is allowed.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement governed by 'everything', 'something', 'nothing'
Always take singular verbs.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Nothing ___ impossible for hard workers'
Is impossible.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement governed by 'neither of the + plural noun'
Takes a singular verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Neither of the proposals ___ approved'
Was approved.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement governed by 'either of the + plural noun'
Takes a singular verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Either of the two routes ___ safe'
Is safe.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement governed by 'none' in formal standard English
Traditionally singular, plural with countables.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'None of the counterfeit money ___ recovered'
Was recovered (uncountable noun).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'None of the students ___ passed'
Have passed (plural countable noun).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement governed by 'all' referring to countable items
Takes a plural verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'All the members ___ present'
Were present.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement governed by 'all' referring to general state/uncountable
Takes a singular verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'All ___ well that ends well'
Is (proverbial singular usage).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement governed by 'any of' with uncountable noun
Takes a singular verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement governed by 'both', 'few', 'many', 'several'
Always take plural verbs.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Both of the candidates ___ qualified'
Are qualified.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Collective Nouns, Quantities & Inverted Constructions
Verb agreement for collective noun acting in complete unison
Takes a singular verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'The jury ___ reached a unanimous decision'
Has reached.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement for collective noun with divided individual members
Takes a plural verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'The jury ___ divided in their opinions'
Were divided.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'The committee ___ submitted its annual report'
Has submitted.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'The committee ___ discussing among themselves'
Are discussing.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement governed by phrase 'A number of' + plural noun
Always takes a plural verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'A number of applicants ___ rejected'
Were rejected.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement governed by phrase 'The number of' + plural noun
Always takes a singular verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'The number of applicants ___ remarkably small'
Was remarkably small.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement for unit of distance acting as single figure
Takes a singular verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Fifty kilometers ___ a long distance'
Is a long distance.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement for sum of money considered as single total
Takes a singular verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Ten thousand rupees ___ paid as fee'
Was paid.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement when sum of money is spent separately
Takes a plural verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Five thousand rupees ___ distributed among beggars'
Were distributed.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement in introductory 'There' sentence
Agrees with following true subject noun.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'There ___ a boy in the courtyard'
Is (agrees with boy).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'There ___ several boys in the courtyard'
Are (agrees with boys).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement in introductory 'Here' sentence
Agrees with following true subject noun.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Here ___ the books you requested'
Are (agrees with books).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement with fraction followed by singular uncountable noun
Takes a singular verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Three-fourths of the land ___ cultivated'
Was cultivated.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement with fraction followed by plural countable noun
Takes a plural verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Three-fourths of the members ___ present'
Were present.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Nouns Plural in Form but Singular in Sense & Vice Versa
Verb agreement for academic subjects (Physics, Mathematics)
Take singular verbs.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Mathematics ___ considered difficult by many'
Is considered.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement when academic subject is modified by possessive
Takes a plural verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Why 'His mathematics are weak' takes a plural verb
Refers to calculation skills, not discipline.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Politics ___ a dirty game'
Is (singular discipline).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'His politics ___ well known to everyone'
Are (personal political beliefs).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement governed by noun 'News'
Always takes a singular verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'No news ___ good news'
Is good news.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement governed by sports/games (Billiards, Darts)
Take singular verbs.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Billiards ___ played globally'
Is played.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement governed by diseases (Measles, Mumps, Rickets)
Take singular verbs.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Measles ___ an infectious viral disease'
Is an infectious disease.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement governed by 'Innings'
Singular or plural by context.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'India won by an innings and three runs'
Singular noun form.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement governed by 'Cattle'
Always takes a plural verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'The cattle ___ grazing in pasture'
Are grazing.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement governed by 'Police'
Always takes a plural verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'The police ___ patrolling the street'
Are patrolling.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement governed by 'Gentry', 'Clergy', 'Poultry'
Always take plural verbs.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'The gentry of the town ___ invited'
Were invited.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement governed by tools/garments with two parts (Scissors, Trousers)
Take plural verbs.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'My scissors ___ sharp'
Are sharp.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement when 'a pair of' precedes scissors or trousers
Governs a singular verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'A pair of scissors ___ bought yesterday'
Was bought.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement governed by uncountable nouns (Furniture, Information)
Always take singular verbs.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Relative Clauses, 'One of the' Patterns & Exam Traps
Verb agreement in relative clause following 'one of the + plural noun'
Takes a plural verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'He is one of the officers who ___ honest'
Are (relative refers to officers).
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement when 'the only one of the + plural noun' precedes relative clause
Takes a singular verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'This is the only one of his books that ___ readable'
Is readable.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Why 'the only one of' governs a singular verb
The word 'only' restricts to one.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb agreement governed by 'one of the + plural noun' as subject
Takes a singular verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'One of the boys ___ absent today'
Is absent.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Structure and verb agreement for 'More than one + singular noun'
Takes a singular verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'More than one candidate ___ disqualified'
Was disqualified.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Structure and verb agreement for 'More + plural noun + than one'
Takes a plural verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'More candidates than one ___ disqualified'
Were disqualified.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Structure and verb agreement for 'Many a + singular noun'
Takes a singular verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Many a man ___ fallen in battle'
Has fallen.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Structure and verb agreement for 'A great many + plural noun'
Takes a plural verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'A great many soldiers ___ wounded'
Were wounded.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Subject-verb agreement rule for nominal adjectives (the rich, the poor)
Take plural verbs.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'The rich ___ expected to help poor'
Are expected.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'The poor ___ suffering across region'
Are suffering.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Agreement rule when title of a book or film is plural in form
Governs a singular verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Gulliver's Travels ___ written by Swift'
Was written.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'The Arabian Nights ___ an enchanting book'
Is an enchanting book.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Agreement rule when subject is an infinitive phrase or gerund
Governs a singular verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Verb in: 'Swimming in cold rivers ___ good health'
Promotes good health.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Agreement rule when two gerunds joined by 'and' express distinct actions
Takes a plural verb.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
Master formula for solving subject-verb agreement questions
Identify true grammatical subject and ignore intervening modifiers.
उत्तर देखने के लिए टैप करें
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