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Subject Verb Agreement Rules

Singular subjects Singular verb
I, You, He, She, It, Hanif, The Student, The Girl Is, Am, Was, Has, does, Eats, Plays.

Plural subjects Plural verb

We, You, They, Raj and Ravi, The students, The Girls Are, Were, have, Do, Eat, Play
Rule – 1. Singular subject → Singular verb

Example: He has a book.

Rule – 2. Plural subject → Plural verb

Example: The students are learning.

Rule – 3. S1 + and S2 + verb plural

Example: He and she were playing.

Rule – 4. Article/ Possessive adjective + singular noun + and + singular noun +singular verb.

Example: The poet and painter has died.

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Rule – 5. Article/ Possessive adjective + singular noun + and +Article/
Possessive adjective + singular noun + plural verb.
Example: The poet and the painter have died.
Rule – 6. Article + adjective + and + adjective + singular noun + singular verb.

Example: A black and white dog was barking.

Rule – 7. Article + adjective+and+article + adjective + singular noun +plural verb.

Example: A black and a white dog were barking.

Rule – 8. Each/every + Singular noun+and each/every + singular noun + singular verb.

Example: Each boy and each girl is present today.

Rule – 9. S1 + and + S2 + singular verb (If S1 and S2 refer to the same

object/concept)

Example: Bread and butter is not easy to earn nowadays.

Rule – 10. Follow S1 when following keywords relate two nouns.

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FIRST SUBJECT
Formation: S1 + of + S2 + V + O
Keywords: Of, Unlike, no less than, nothing but, as well as, with, along
with, together, with, and not, but not, but, in addition to, besides, except, rather
than, accompanied by, excluding including and like. If these words are the
connecting words that join two subjects then the verb used will be according to the
first subject.
Examples:

(i) The boy with his parents was / were called.

(ii) The players along with their luggage has / have arrived.

(iii) The army together with the politicians are/is serving.

(iv) The people as well as the government are/is feeling unrest.

(v) Extra benefits besides salary make/makes government job attractive.

(vi) One of the boys get/gets first position in the exams.

(vii) All except the slave were/was calm.

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Rule – 11. Follow S2 when keywords relate two nouns.
SECOND SUBJECT
Formation: S1 + of + S2 + V + O
Keywords: Neither….. Nor
Either ….. Or
Not only ….. but also
Examples:
Neither the teacher nor the students stops/stop using the mobile phones.

Not only the teacher but also the students stop/stops using the mobile

phones.

Either the students or the teacher stop / stops using the mobile phones.

Note: The subject word-2 may be singular, or plural, you are advised to use

verb and helping verb accordingly.

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Rule – 12. Fraction of something
SECOND SUBJECT
Keywords: 1. Half of the ______ 2. Quarter of _____ 3. Heap of __________

4. Heaps of ______ 5. The rest of _____ 6. Most of __________

7. A lot of/Lots of _____ 8. Some of _____ 9. Two thirds of _____.

Examples:

(i) Half of the tables is/are occupied.

(ii) Three quarter of a potato is/are water.

(iii) Two thirds of the field were/was under water.

(iv) 21% of the population are/is poor.

(v) 21% of the books are/is paperback.

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Rule – 13.
SECOND SUBJECT
SANAM
S A N A M

Most of/
Some of Any of None of All of/All the
Majority of

Examples:
Some of the marbles are on the floor.
All the milk was drunk by the cat.
The majority of lecturers believe that the student has not
performed well.
Note: - “Majority” alone as subject takes singular verb.
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Rule – 14:
SINGULAR VERB
(No + any + some + every) + (body + one + where + thing) 16 words
e.g. nobody, no one
16 +(each + either + neither ) = 19 words
With these 19 words singular verbs is used (Each of the boys is present)
Anybody who comes onto the stage will get a chance to win a return
ticket to the U.K.
Nothing costs higher than the wastage time.
 Either-or/ neither – nor in combinations used as adjectives

follows S2

 Either and neither used as subject pronouns take singular verb.

 Referring to humans, all these words are followed by Masculine

possessive pronouns.
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Rule – 15: Plural compound Noun

Plural compound noun referring to a particular quantity is considered singular.
Nouns indicating a specific time, money, and measurement (weight,
distance and height) used as a whole are singular and take a singular verb.
(a) Four years was/were a long time.
(b) Sixty quintals are/is a huge weight.
(c) Fifty rupees is/are not a big amount.
(d) Fifteen minutes are/is allowed to each speaker.
But when they are not used as a whole and are further subdivided into
smaller unit we use a plural verb. Note the difference.
(i) Twenty thousand rupees is a handsome salary. (Treated as a singular unit)

(ii) Twenty thousand rupees have been spent on different commodities.

(iii) Fifteen minutes are left in the paper.

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Rule 16. 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 also singular. But in sports, while referring to the players, the
name of the country is followed by plural verb.
Example:
 Pakistan has/have won the World Cup.
 Pakistan win/wins by seven wickets.
Rule 17. Relative pronoun follows its antecedent in agreeing to its verb: (singular or plural)

(a) Yasir who is my brother will help you.

(b) I who am at your service should not be ignored.
(c) The Quaid’s mausoleum in Karachi is the place which gives me a lot inspiration.
(d) I get a lot of impetus from the Quaid’s speeches that are so popular.
Rule-18. One of the + Noun Plural + Verb singular.
 One of the boys is/are absent.

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Rule–19. One of the + Noun Plural (who/which/that + Verb plural)

+ Verb Singular + Objective.
 He is one of the boys who is/are absent.

 One of the scientists who study culture is coming here.

Rule–20. Only + one of the + Noun plural + (who/which/that +

Verb singular) + Verb Singular + Objective
 He is only one of the boys who is absent.
 I am only one of the residents who protests.
Rule–21. A number of + N plural + Verb Plural.
(a) A number of students is/are out of the campus.
Rule–22. The number of + N plural + Verb singular.
(a) The number of students is/are rising in the college.

(b) The number of the students has/have paid their fee.

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SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT
Rule 23. A great many N Plural + Verb Plural + Plural Possessive
A great many soldiers has / have participated in wars to please their gods.
A great many miscreants were / was arrested with weapons in their hands.
Rule 24. Many a + N Singular + Verb Singular + Singular Possessive.
Many a soldier has / have met his death.
Many a student is / are getting rid of old methods or cramming.
Rule 25. Collective nouns + verb singular

A band of A chain of A range of A galaxy of A series of

A team of A herd of A bevy of (flock) A set of A crowd of
A regiment of A flock of A class of A batch of A list of
A band of singers has performed well. A regiment of soldiers was fighting against the enemy.
Rule 26. Clear Reference:
Bilal and Ali were going on the road where he saw an accident. Incorrect („he‟; a confusing pronoun)
Bilal and Ali were going on the road where Bilal/Ali/they/the latter/the former saw an accident.
Rule 27. Mean‟ and „Wages‟ take Plural Verb: when used in the sense of income, salary, or finance.
(a) His wages are low.
(b) His means of income are poor.
(c) The wages in IT are higher than the national average.
(d) His means are more than adequate.
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But: in the sense of “a way to an end.” Means may be treated as either a singular or plural.
It is singular when referring to a particular strategy or method.
(a) The best means of securing the cooperation of the builders is to appeal to their self-interest.
(b) Means of transportation has/have improved in recent times. (Both Correct)
It is plural when it refers to a group of strategies or methods:
(a) The most effective means for dealing with the drug problem have generally been those
suggested by the affected communities.
(b) There are no means to listen to what he is saying.
Means is most often followed by of e.g, a means of noise reduction. But „for, to, and toward‟ are
also used: a means for transmitting sound; a means to an end; a means toward achieving
equally.
Rule 28. Wages + singular verb (if taken as reward or outcome of something)
(a) Wages of sin is hell.
(b) Wages of his lifelong struggle is the outcome of sagacity.
Rule 29. 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.
(a) The enemy were forced to retreat.
(b) They enemy were pushed back into their own areas by the Pakistan Army.
Rule 30. The + Adj + Plural verb
(a) The poor need our help
(b) The beautiful are proud.

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Rule 31. The + Language same (Refers to a Nation) + Plural verb

(a) The English are a hardworking nation.

Rule 32. The + Family name _______ + Plural verb

(a) The ____ youngs were proud of two things.

(b) The ___ visiting us this evening.

Rule 33. Subject name _____ takes plural verb

(a) His mathematics are weak.

(b) The affair the home are not laudable.

(Furthers ___________ is S-V agreement study).

Rule 34. Many / A good many a great many + plural subject + plural verb.

> A good many students are intelligent.

Rule 35. Noun + preposition + same noun + singular verb.

> City after city was destroyed.

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Rule 36. More than one + SCN + singular verb.

> More than one student was allowed.

Rule 37. More than two/three + plural noun + plural verb.

> More than two students were allowed.

Rule 38. Infinitive, Gerund, phrase, Or clause + singular verb.

> Two swim is a good exercise.

> Swimming is a good exercise.

> How to start is a big question.

> That she is poor is known to me.

Rule 39. Dare & need model verbs.

> He need not wear a tie.

> She dare not oppose your proposal.

Rule 40. Scissors, pants, trousers, glasses etc + plural verb.

> Her spectacles are beautiful.

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