Subject and Verb Agreement Rules

 The Subject verb Agreement is vital to both the

spoken and the written form. If mismatched it will sound

and look wrong.

1.The Main thing to remember is that, singular

subjects take singular verbs whereas, Plural subjects take

Plural Verbs.

Noun + s / es / ies = Plural

As,

Noun Plural Verb (Plural)

Fans are / do / have/ were / ……

Dishes

Ponies

Verb + s / es / ies = Singular

As,

Singular Verb Plural Verb

Runs Run

Goes Go

Replies Reply

Singular Subject + Singular Verb

Plural Subject + Plural Verb

As,

Singular Plural

He runs They run

It goes We go

She replies You reply

By these examples, you must have understood, by

now, that Singular Noun + Singular Verb and Plural

Noun + Plural Verb. Keep this important rule in mind. It

will help you avoid making subject – Verb Agreement

mistakes.

To makes a quick and correct choice of the subject-

Verb combination. Remember this easy point.

2. When two singular nouns talk about the sense

person or thing and possess only one article or other

qualifying word before them the verb is singular.

The king and philanthropist is here.

When he was born, his father and predecessor was

famous.

3. When two nouns express the same idea and one is

added to the other for the sake of emphasis the verb is

Singular.

Their success and fame is notable.

Etiquette and manners is the mark of a gentleman.

4. When two singular nouns are not similar but

express together a single idea, the verb is singular.

Bread and butter is our staple food.

Slow and steady wins the race.

5. When a collective noun is used as a common noun

(but shows some division) the verb is plural.

The jury are divided in their verdict.

The Ministry are divided in their opinion.

6. But when a collective noun is thought of as a unit

the verb is singular.

The team gathers together.

The mob moves forward.

7. When the plural noun is a proper name for a

collective unit or single object, the verb is singular.

The U.S.A. has failed in its attempt to curb terrorism.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a wonderful

sight.

8. At times the subject is joined by the conjunction

‘and’ but refers to one and the same person then the

singular verb is used.

The king and benefactor has (singular verb) arrived.

The king and the benefactor have (Plural verb)

arrived.

The first sentence refers to one person as king and

benefactor. Thus, singular verb is used. Whereas, the

second sentence treats the king and the benefactor as

separate entities. Therefore, Plural verb is used.

9. In case there is a problem in identifying a

singular or plural subject. Look out for the Articles ‘a’,

‘an’, ‘the’ to recognize Plural Forms. Also, keep an eye

for possessives like his, her, our, your, its etc.

Mr. Smith, her uncle has (singular verb) arrived.

Mr. Smith and her uncle have (Plural verb) arrived.

Note—Here ‘and’ join two subjects and does not

refer to the same person. Unlike 7.

So, when two subjects are joined by a connector (in

this case ‘and’) look out for the article or possessive to

identify plural forms.

10. When two objects give the idea of being one unit

then, the singular verb is used.

 Curry and Chawal is a good dish.

(Curry and Chawal, which means a ‘dish’ containing

curry and chawal)

Similarly,

Slow and steady wins the race.

Winning and losing is part of the game.

However, there are exceptions to the rule.

As,

Tears and laugher go (Plural verb) hand in hand.

Time and Tide wait (Plural verb) for no man.

11. Adjectives when followed, as it mostly does, by a

noun and describes a single noun takes the singular verb.

The white and blue check shirt is (Singular verb)

mine.

The black and blue mark on you face shows (Singular

verb) you have been beaten.

The tall fat man is (Singular verb) insane.

12. Each / Every / Neither / Either

Words such as each, every, neither, either one; take

singular verbs.

Each of us is going to protest.

Every one of the protesters was arrested.

Either of the two is lying.

Neither of the two brothers is guilty.

One of them is at fault.

13. But, when the there is a singular subject and a

plural subject the subject closest to the verb agrees with

the verb.

Tom or his friends are guilty.

Either she or the girls are lying.

As,

You or he is guilty.

Either he or I am guilty.

Neither they nor he is guilty.

14. After ‘or’ and ‘nor’ the verb agrees with the

subject that follows. (Nearest to the verb)

That boy or the girls are (Plural verb) wrong.

Neither the teacher nor the students are (Plural verb)

present.

He or I am (Singular verb) strong.

Neither you nor he is (Singular verb) capable.

15. In case, two or more are joined by ‘and’ the

plural verb is utilized.

You, he and I are (Plural verb) fit.

You and he are (Plural verb) going to Delhi.

She and I are (Plural verb) winning.

16. When a subject express distance, time, mass,

weight, amount as a single unit. It takes the singular verb.

Twenty kilometers is not a short walk.

Fifty quintals is enough.

Twenty years is a long time.

Five hundred dollars is a good reward.

17. But, when taken as separate units. It is followed

by a plural verb.

Ten thousand dollars were (plural verb) expended.

Twenty miles are (plural verb) to be trekked.

18. Subjects that precede words like–besides, as

well as, except alongwith, with together with, not, in

addition to etc are followed by verbs which agree with it,

according to its number Singular or Plural.

Ram, besides his assistants has failed the test.

I, with my children am going to Delhi.

Roymond together with his uncles plays cricket.

I, no less than he am guilty of the crime.

Knowledge, in addition to wisdom was Solomon’s

strength.

He not you is clever.

You as well as the officer is ignored of the fact.

19. Where different numbers and persons are the

subject of words like, ‘but’ not only….. but also the verb

agrees with the second subject.

Not father but I am (second subject) the culprit.

Not only your from but also your friend (second

subject) is lying.

Not only your friend but also you (second subject)

are speaking the truth.

20. Noun words like the following are only in the

singular and have no plural form.

Furniture, Advice, Information, Equipment, Knowledge,

Work, Weather.

Diseases : Mumps, Measles etc.

Sport : Darts, Billiards, Caroms etc.

Proper Nouns : The United States, Algiers etc.

Others : Physics, Athletics, Politics, News, Innings

etc.

All the above take singular verbs.

Mumps is common among children.

Mathematics is not a difficult subject.

No news is good news.

Furniture is mostly made of wood.

Knowledge is invaluable.

The United States is a wealthy nation.

Politics is a dirty game.

21. Some, some of, enough, enough of, half, half of,

most, most of, a lot, a lot of, lots of, plenty, plenty of, not

enough of are words, phrases that are followed by plural

countable that are followed by plural and those that are

followed by uncountable nouns that are followed by

uncountable nouns take singular verbs.

Plural Verb

Some boys are clever.

Not enough of books are read by the modern

generation.

Lots of apples were sold.

Singular Verb

Some food was distributed.

Half of the land was barren.

Not enough rice was stored.

22. Collective Nouns when placed between a ……..

of, followed by countable nouns take singular verbs.

A bunch (collective noun) of flowers (Countable

noun) was (Singular verb) eaten by cow.

A gang of thieves is in the area.

A troupe of dancers is performing.

A group of boys was present.

23. Though singular in form words like–sheep,

poultry, people, cattle etc. take plural verbs always.

The poultry (chicken / ducks) are missing.

The police (members of the police force) were

informed.

The cattle (cows and buffalos) are straying.

.

24. In mathematics both the singular and plural verb

may be used.

One and one is two. (Singular verb)

One and one are two. (Plural verb)

Exercise

Fill in the appropriate words that are in subject - verb

agreement.

1. Tommy ……… (go/goes) to school daily.

2. ……… (has/have)it been working perfectly ?

3. The children ……… (be/are) playing hopscotch.

4. I ……… (will/shall) be going home in an hour.

5. Jon ……… (travel/travels) to work by bus.

6. We ……… (were/ was) in a great hurry.

7. His father and mentor ……… (was/were) present.

8. Our fame and power ……… (is/am/are) remarkable.

9. Charm and gallantry ……… (is/am/are) his forte.

10. Bread and butter ……… (am/are/is) our favorite

shack.

11. Slow and steady ……… (win/wins) the race.

12. The jury ……… (is/are) divided in their decision.

13. The ministry ……… (is/are) confused about their

posting.

14. The unruly gang ……… (move/moves) on.

15. The U.S.A ……… (have/has)failed to gain our

confidence.

16. The king and the benefactor ……… (has/have)

arrived.

17. Mr.gupta, her father ……… (has/have) spoken.

18. Winning and losing ……… (is/are) part of life.

19. Time and tide ……… (wait/waits) for no one.

20. The black and white striped shirt ……… (is/are)

yours.

21. Each of you ……… (is/are) clever.

22. Either of the two ……… (is/ are) lying.

23. His friends or I ……… (am/are) innocent.

24. Neither you nor he ……… (is/are) guilt.

25. Twenty kilometers ……… (is/are) a long walk.

26. Twenty miles ……… (is/are) to be covered.

27. Hari besides his friends ……… (has/have)failed.

28. No news ……… (is/are) good news.

29. Some food ……… (was/were) distributed.

30. A gang of thieves ……… (is/are) in our locality.

Answers

1. goes 2. has 3. are 4. shall 5. travels 6. were 7. was

8. is 9. is 10. is 11.wins 12. are 13. are 14. moves 15. has

16. have 17. has 18. is 19. waits 20. is 21. is 22. is 23.

am 24. is 25. is 26. are 27. have 28.is 29. was 30. is

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