Subject Verb Agreement

SUBJECT – VERB AGREEMENT
RULE – 1:- A verb must always agree with its subject.

Eg: The quality of the mangoes is not good.
The results of the fact are seen in the improvement of diet.
RULE – 2:- A subject that comes before a phrase beginning with ‘of’ is always
singular.
Eg: A bouquet of yellow roses lend colour and fragrance to the room.
One of my friends is in Delhi.
RULE – 3:- Two singular subjects connected by or / neither / nor require a
singular verb.
Eg: My aunt or my uncle is arriving by train today.
Neither Juan nor Carmen is available.
Either Kiana or Casey is helping today with stage decorations.
RULE – 4:- The verb in an or / either / or, or neither / nor, sentence agrees
with the noun or pronoun closest to it.
Eg: Neither the plates nor the serving bowl goes on that shelf.
Neither the serving bowl nor the plates go on that shelf.
RULE – 5:- Plural verb is generally used with two or more subjects joined by
‘and’.
Eg: A car and a bike are the means of transportation.
Gold and silver are precious metals.
Exceptions:- But if the nouns give one idea to mind, or refer to a single person,
the verb is singular.
Eg: Bread and butter is a wholesome food.
The novelist and poet is dead.
RULE – 6:- Subject is separated from the verb by phrases such as along with,
as well as, besides, with, not, etc., use singular verb when subject is singular.
Eg: The politician, along with the newsmen, is expected shortly.
Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause of his poor
performance.
RULE – 7:- In sentences beginning with here or there, the true subject
follows the verb.
Eg: There are four hurdles to jump.
There is a high hurdle to jump.
Here are the keys.
RULE – 8:- Use singular verb with distances, periods of time, sums of money,
etc,. when considered as a unit.
Eg: Three miles is too far to walk.
Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
Exceptions:- Ten dollars were scattered on the floor.
RULE – 9:- With words indicating portions such as, a lot, a majority, some, all,
verb is according to the noun after ‘of’. If the noun after ‘of’ is singular, use
singular verb.
Eg: A lot of pie has disappeared.
A lot pies have disappeared.
A third of the city is unemployed.
A third of people are unemployed.
RULE – 10:- With collective nouns such as jury, family, audience, police, the
verb might be singular or plural depending on the writer’s intent.
Eg: All of my family has arrived.
The audience were enthralled by the performance.
Exceptions:- The committee has issued its report.
The committee are divided on one minor point.
RULE – 11:- Nouns like scissors, pants, trousers are always plural.
Eg: These scissors are very sharp.
My pants are dark.
RULE – 12:- Each, and every must be followed by a singular verb.
Eg: Each of these substances is found in India.
Every boy and girl was given a packet of sweets.
RULE – 13:- Some nouns are plural in form, but singular in meaning.
Eg: The news is true.
Politics is not taught in schools.
RULE – 14:- When plural noun is a proper name for a single object or some
collective unit, it must be followed by a singular verb.
Eg: The Arabian Nights is still a great favourite.
The United States has a big navy.
RULE – 15:- Two subjects joined by and, with articles on both the sides take
plural subject.
Eg: The Principal and the Chairman are in the meeting.
The director and the actor are present at the meeting.
EXERCISE :-
1) Gold and silver ________ precious metals. (is/are)
2) The mangoes on the tree ________ ripe. (is/are)
3) _________ your father and mother at home? (is/are)
4) The novelist and poet _______ dead. (is/are)
5) A number of soldiers ________ been killed in the war. (has/have)
6) The news _______ true. (is/are)
7) ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ ________ written by Swift. (is/are)
8) Mathematics _______ a branch of study in every school. (is/are)
9) Ten kilometres ______ a long distance. (is/are)
10)Either he or I _____ mistaken. (is/am)
11)Neither food nor water _____ to be found there. (is/are)
12)Every one of the boys _______ how to ride. (know/knows)
13)The ship, with its crew, ______ lost. (is/are)
14)The quality of the mangoes ________ not good. (is/are)
15)The secretary and the correspondent ______ in the office. (is/are)
16)The owner of these factories _______ rich. (is/are)
17)These scissors _______ to me. (belong/belongs)
18)Much of our labour ____ gone waste. (has/have)
19)Plenty of milk _______ required in summer. (is/are)
20)Plenty of eggs _______ required next week. (is/are)
21)A lot of books _______ lying about. (is/are)
22)Lots of food ______ been wasted. (has/have)
23)The jury ________ found him guilty. (has/have)
24)Not only her books but her watch also _______ (was/were) stolen.
25)Every one of the girls ______ (are/is) tall.

Subject Verb Agreement

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Subject Verb Agreement

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Subject Verb Agreement

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

SUBJECT – VERB AGREEMENT

RULE – 1:- A verb must always agree with its subject.

You might also like