Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental grammar rule that ensures the verb in a sentence matches its subject in number and person. This topic appears consistently in CG TET Paper I and Paper II under Language II (English), typically carrying 2-4 questions. Examiners test your ability to identify correct verb forms when subjects are complicated by intervening phrases, compound structures, or indefinite pronouns.
Mastering this topic is essential because errors in concord are common in everyday English usage, and teachers must be able to identify and correct such mistakes in student writing. The questions often present sentences with tricky subjects—collective nouns, either/or constructions, or subjects separated from verbs by prepositional phrases—where candidates must select the grammatically correct option.
Focus your preparation on the core rules and their exceptions. Most exam questions test the same 8-10 patterns repeatedly, so learning these systematically will yield quick marks.
Key Concepts
**Basic Rule**: A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb. Example: The boy *runs* (singular). The boys *run* (plural).
**Intervening Phrases**: Words between subject and verb do not change agreement. The subject, not the words in between, determines the verb. Example: The quality of the mangoes *was* good (not *were*).
**Compound Subjects with 'and'**: Two subjects joined by 'and' usually take a plural verb. Example: Ram and Shyam *are* friends. Exception: When they refer to one person or one idea, use singular verb. Example: Bread and butter *is* my breakfast.
**Either/Or, Neither/Nor Rule**: The verb agrees with the subject nearest to it. Example: Neither the teacher nor the students *were* present. Neither the students nor the teacher *was* present.
**Collective Nouns**: Take singular verb when acting as one unit; plural verb when members act individually. Example: The committee *has* decided (as one unit). The committee *have* expressed different opinions (individually).
**Indefinite Pronouns**: Some are always singular (everyone, someone, each, either, neither, nobody). Some are always plural (both, few, many, several). Some depend on context (all, some, none, most).
**Subject After Verb**: In sentences beginning with 'there' or 'here', the subject follows the verb, but the verb must still agree with that subject. Example: There *are* many books on the table.
**Titles and Names**: Titles of books, films, and names of countries/organizations take singular verbs even if they appear plural. Example: The United States *is* a large country. "The Arabian Nights" *is* an interesting book.
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| Rule | Singular Verb | Plural Verb | |------|---------------|-------------| | Each, Every, Either, Neither | Each of the boys *has* a book | — | | Both, Few, Many, Several | — | Many students *have* passed | | News, Mathematics, Physics | The news *is* good | — | | Scissors, Trousers, Spectacles | — | The scissors *are* sharp | | A number of | — | A number of students *are* absent | | The number of | The number of students *is* fifty | — | | None (countable) | — | None of them *have* come | | None (uncountable) | None of the water *is* clean | — |
**Distance, Time, Money**: When referring to a single unit, use singular verb.
**Example 1**: Choose the correct option. *The list of items _____ on the desk.* (a) is (b) are (c) were (d) have been
**Solution**: The subject is "list" (singular), not "items". The prepositional phrase "of items" is an intervening phrase. Singular subject takes singular verb. **Answer**: (a) is
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**Example 2**: Fill in the blank. *Neither the principal nor the teachers _____ present at the meeting.* (a) was (b) were (c) is (d) has been
**Solution**: With neither/nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject. "Teachers" (plural) is nearer to the verb. Plural subject takes plural verb. **Answer**: (b) were
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**Example 3**: Identify the error. *Each of the students have submitted their assignments.*
**Solution**: "Each" is an indefinite pronoun that always takes a singular verb. "Have" should be "has". **Correct sentence**: Each of the students *has* submitted their assignments.
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**Example 4**: Choose the correct option. *Bread and butter _____ served for breakfast.* (a) are (b) is (c) were (d) have been
**Solution**: When two nouns joined by 'and' refer to a single item or concept (here, a single dish), use a singular verb. **Answer**: (b) is
Common Mistakes
**Mistake**: Matching verb with the nearest noun instead of the actual subject.
*Wrong*: The box of chocolates are expensive. **Fix**: Identify the true subject by asking "what is expensive?" — the box. Use singular verb: The box of chocolates *is* expensive.
**Mistake**: Using plural verb with "everyone", "someone", "each", "either".
*Wrong*: Everyone have finished their work. **Fix**: These indefinite pronouns are always singular. Use: Everyone *has* finished their work.
**Mistake**: Treating "a number of" and "the number of" the same way.
*Wrong*: The number of applicants are increasing. **Fix**: "The number of" = singular (refers to the number itself). "A number of" = plural (means many). Correct: The number of applicants *is* increasing.
**Mistake**: Using singular verb with inherently plural nouns.
*Wrong*: The police has arrived. **Fix**: Words like police, cattle, people are always plural. Correct: The police *have* arrived.
**Mistake**: Forgetting that in "there is/are" sentences, the verb must agree with the subject that follows.
*Wrong*: There is many reasons for his failure. **Fix**: The subject "reasons" is plural. Correct: There *are* many reasons for his failure.
Quick Reference
Subject determines verb, not intervening words—always find the true subject.
Either/or, neither/nor—verb agrees with the nearer subject.