Subject-Verb Agreement
Overview
Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental grammar rule that ensures the verb in a sentence matches its subject in number and person. 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.
Key Facts
| 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.
- Five kilometres is a long distance.
- Ten thousand rupees is a big amount.
Plural-looking Singular Nouns: News, mathematics, physics, economics, measles, mumps, billiards, athletics take singular verbs.
Singular-looking Plural Nouns: Cattle, people, police, gentry always take plural verbs.
Worked Examples
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
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
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.
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.
- Each, every, either, neither, everyone, someone = always singular verb.
- Collective nouns: singular when united, plural when divided.
- "A number of" = plural verb; "The number of" = singular verb.
- News, physics, mathematics = singular; police, cattle, people = plural.