Subject – Verb – Agreement

Rule – 1

Singular subjects take singular verbs.

Example

1. The earth moves round the sun.
2. He was absent yesterday.
3. The school has a beautiful garden.

Plural subjects take plural verbs.

Example

1. Cows eat grass.
2. At this time yesterday they were watching TV.
3. We are human.

Rule – 2

Uncountable nouns take a singular verb.

Example

1. Education is the key to success.
2. Diabetes affects many people around the world.
3. The furniture in my living room is old.

Rule – 3

Abstract nouns are considered as singular subjects so use singular verb..

Examples

1. Honesty is the best policy.
2. Love makes people do crazy things.
3. Good friendship keeps your mind and body healthy.
4. The fragrance of this perfume is so overpowering.

Rule – 4

If two or more Singular Subjects are joined with and, they take plural
verb.

Example

1. Ram and Mohan come here every day.
2. The father and son work together.
3. Lightning and thunder come together.
4. Shyam, Mohan and Ashok have come.

Rule – 5

when the two nouns connected by “and” together represent the same person, same thing or same idea the verb used will be singular.

Example

1. The principal and science teacher has not come to school today.
2. The chief Engineer and Manager of the factory has agreed.

Rule – 6

If two different singular nouns express one idea, the verb should be in the singular form. Or if the two singular nouns/uncountable nouns are used in pairs then the verb used will be singular.

Example

1. The law and order situation in the state is under control.
2. Profit and loss is a part of the business.
3. Bread and butter makes a good breakfast.
4. Slow and steady wins the race.

Rule – 7

If two or more Subjects have each or every before them, they take the verb in the Singular Number. Remember that each and every are used before Singular Nouns only.

Each, Every, Everyone, Someone, Somebody, Nobody, None, One, Any, Many a, More than. We use a singular verb, singular pronoun and singular noun with them.

Example

1. Each boy and girl has to go.
2. Every man, woman and child was glad.
3. Each day and each hour is important.
4. Every boat and every sailor was lost in the storm.

Rule – 8

Two or more subjects joined by ‘as well as’, ‘with’, ‘together with’, ‘along with’, accompanied by’, ‘including’, ‘in addition’, ‘no less than’, etc. take verb according to the former subject.

Such other words and phrases are – like, and not, rather than, more than, unlike, besides, including, excluding.

Example

1. Silver as well as gold is a precious metal.
2. The father as well as his sons is industrious
3. The shop, with its articles, was burnt down.
4. I, together with my assistants, am busy in works.

Rule – 9

When two or more subjects are connected by or, nor, either … or, neither … nor, not only ……. but also, the verb is according to the subject close to it.

Example

1. You or Ram is responsible for it.
2. Either you or I am correct.
3. Neither he nor you are to blame.
4. Either she or you have to do it.
5. Either James or John is to be promoted.
6. Not only the coach but also the boys want a day off.

Rule – 10

If the subject of a sentence begins with ‘either of / neither of / each of / one of / everyone of + plural nouns, it must be followed by singular verb.

Example

1. Either of the women is beautiful.
2. Neither of these two boys is good at English.
3. Each of these books is written by foreign writers.
4. One of the girls is so brilliant in this class.
5. Every one of the students entertains my class.

Rule – 11

With collective Nouns verbs can be used either in the Singular or the Plural Number according to sense. If a Collective Noun represents a whole group or a body, it takes a Singular Verb. But if the Collective Noun represents a part or parts or division of a body, it takes a Plural Verb.

Examples of collective nouns: family, group, committee, class, organization, team, army, club, crowd, government, jury, minority, public, mob etc.

Example

1. The committee has agreed on this issue.
2. The committee are divided on this issue.
3. The family was happy at the news.
4. The crew is well trained.

Rule – 12

Some Nouns appear to be Plural in form, but actually singular in meaning. These nouns take the verb in the singular number.

The important Nouns of this type are News, Wages, Physics, Politics, Mathematics, Economics.

Some nouns ending in – s are plural in form, but singular in meaning like Diseases and Injuries: mumps, rabies, AIDS, measles, tuberculosis, paralysis, crisis, diabetes, rickets, etc.

Example

1. Politics is not an easy game.
2. Mathematics is a difficult subject.
3. The wages of sin is death.
4. The news is correct.

Rule – 13

If the Subject of a verb is a Relative Pronoun (who, whom, whose, which, that), the verb is used according to the Number and Person of the Noun or Pronoun used before it.

Example

1. I, who am your friend, should help you.
2. You, who are my friend, should help me.
3. He, who is your friend, should help you.
4. The pen, which is in your hand, is mine.
5. The book, that is on the table, is very interesting.
6. He is one of those boys who work very hard.

Rule – 14

Nouns indicating a specific time, money, and measurements (weight, distance and height) used as a whole are singular and take a singular verb.

Example

1. Twenty-five thousand rupees is not such a big amount for him.
2. Four quintals is a heavy load for a camel.
3. Two miles is too much for this man to run.

Rule – 15

Some nouns like staff, cattle, livestock, people, poultry, sheep, deer, fish, police, outskirts, stairs, arms, swine and gentry take plural verb.

Example

1. The staff in this school are very helpful.
2. Cattle were first domesticated in Neolithic times.
3. The Sheep are grazing in the field.
4. Most male deer have antlers.
5. How many stairs are there up to the second floor?
6. The police are unable to investigate the case.

Rule – 16

a sheep/a deer/a fish/a policeman takes singular verb.

Example

1. He bought a sheep yesterday.
2. A deer is coming to the village.
3. This fish tastes funny.
4. A policeman is running on the road.

Rule – 17

Some nouns like scissors/ shorts/ pants/ jeans/ trousers/ binoculars/ tongs/ pliers take a plural verb

But a pair of trousers/a pair of shorts/a pair of pliers/ a pair of pants/a pair of jeans/a pair of binoculars/a pair of tongs/a pair of pliers take a singular verb

Example

1. Your trousers are dirty.
2. A pair of trousers is ready for you.
3. The pliers are on the table.
4. A pair of scissors is on the table.

Rule – 18

The subject of a sentence beginning with some of / most of / all of / a few of / a lot of + plural nouns take a plural verb

But some of / most of/ all of + uncountable nouns take a singular verb.

Example

1. Most of the students are good at mathematics.
2. A few girls have participated in the competition.
3. Most of the rice looks stale.

Rule – 19

Always Singular: anyone, everyone, someone, no one, everybody, anybody, nobody, somebody, everything, nothing, anything, something, each, every, either, neither, much, little, one, another, enough, other

Always Plural: both, few, many, several, others

Either singular or Plural: more, most, none, any, all, some

Example

1. Someone is knocking at the door.
2. Nothing was wrong.
3. Nobody knows him.
4. Neither of them is a hard worker.
5. Either of them comes to me tonight.

Rule – 20

There are certain Adjectives which, when joined with the Article the, become Plural Nouns. They take the verb in the Plural Number.

(The more common of these adjectives are Poor, rich, humble, blind, honest, dumb, etc.)

Example

1. The poor are honest.
   
   (“The poor” means “poor men”)
2. The rich are not used to physical labour.
   
   (“The rich” means “rich men”.)

Rule – 21

When Adjectives of Quantity (much, more, little, less) are used as subjects, they take a Singular Verb.

Example

1. Much has already been done.
2. Little has been done so far.
3. Much more is still needed.
4. Much less was expected.

Rule – 22

A number of + Noun always takes the verb in the Plural Number

The number of + Noun always takes the verb in the Singular Number

Example

1. A number of boys have come.
2. A number of books have been purchased.
3. A number of children are playing.
4. A number of students are absent.
5. The number of students is going down.
6. The number of graduates is increasing.
7. The number of employees is fixed.
8. The number of guests varies.

Rule – 23

Many a/an + Singular Noun, More than one
Many a boy, Many an opportunity, More than one chance.

They are all correct expressions. They are Singular in form, but Plural in meaning. Therefore according to their form, they take a Singular Verb.

Example

1. Many a boy is absent today.
2. Many a ship is lost in the ocean.
3. Many an opportunity is missed by negligence.
4. More than one chance was given to him.

Rule – 24

Singular Collective Noun + of + Plural Noun
a group of boys, a team of players, a band of singers.

In these expressions the Subjects are group, team, band, and not boys, players, singers. All these will take Singular Verb.

Example

1. A team of players is staying here.
2. A batch of students is studying here.
3. A bunch of grapes has fallen from the creeper.

Rule – 25

There is/There are

In sentences beginning with There, the verb is or are is used according to the Number of the Noun coming after the verb.

Example

1. There is a book on the table.
2. There are some books on the table.
3. There are many chairs.
4. There is a chair in the room.

Rule – 26

Structure: none + of the + uncountable noun + singular verb

Structure: none + of the + plural count noun + plural verb

Example

1. None of the counterfeit money has been found.
2. None of the students have finished the exam yet.

Rule – 27

The word “were” replaces “was” in sentences that express a wish.

Example

1. If the teacher were here, you’d have to answer the question.
2. I wish it were Friday.
3. If I were you, I would do it.

Rule – 28

“All” can be treated as both singular and plural.

Example

1. All are waiting for the principal to arrive.
2. All is well at home.

Rule – 29

Furniture, advice, work, evidence, equipment, news, information, luggage, baggage, percentage, poetry, knowledge, dirt, dust, traffic, electricity, music, breakage, stationery, scenery, confectionery, pottery, bakery, crockery, behaviour are uncountable nouns.

So we use a singular verb with them.

Example

1. The scenery of Himachal was very beautiful.
2. I passed but the percentage of marks was not good.

Rule – 30

One-third of / three-fourths of / The rest of / A quarter of / Part of / Ten percent of / Twenty Percent of + U. N. + Singular Verb

One-third of / three-fourths of/ Part of / Ten percent of / Twenty percent of + P. C. N + Plural Verb

Example

1. One-third of the work has been finished.
2. One-third of the students have passed.
3. Fifty percent of the work is done.
4. Fifty percent of the workers are done their work.