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SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
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1. If contracted form of BE + NOT is with I in present tense, we use ARE'NT I
in interrogative sentences. You cannot say AMN'T I; e.g.
Aren't I clever? This form is used only in questions; therefore you can't say I
aren't.
If I were a bird, I would fly. (but I am not)
Sita talks to me as if she were the P.M. of India. (but she is not)
He behaves with us as though he were a king. (but he is not)
I wish I were a millionaire. (but I am not)
I wish that she were a queen. (but she is not)
fo
ru
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
m
2. To express UNFULFILLED DESIRE/WISH/CONDITION in present tense
we use WERE when the verb BE is there after the subject of any number and
person, used after IF/AS IF/AS THOUGH/IF ONLY/SUPPOSE/I WISH/WE
WISH/HE WISHES; e.g.
If you are ready, you can go.
If she comes here, ask her to wait for me.
You look as if you know each other.
She looks as though she has been dancing.
xa
1.
2.
3.
4.
m
NOTE: But to express REAL SITUATION in present tense we use present
tense form of the verb even after IF/AS IF/AS THOUGH; e.g.
ce
3. Two or more singular nouns or pronouns joined by ‘AND’ require a
plural verb: e.g.
He and I are playing.
ss
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NOTE-I: If the nouns suggest one idea to the mind or refer to the same
person or thing, the verb is singular. Examples:
1. Time and tide waits for none. (TIME AND TIME suggest one idea)
2. The novelist and poet is dead. (NOVELIST AND POET suggest one single person)
3. Bread and butter is his only food. (BREAD AND BUTTER suggest one idea)
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4. Truth and honesty is the best policy.
5. Slow and steady wins the race.
6. A horse and carriage was seen there.
7. The hammer and sickle was flying from a tall flagpole.
8. The crown and glory of life is character.
9. Ham and eggs is a tasty dish.
10. The long and short of the story is well known.
11. The tumult and the shouting dies.
12. All coming and going was forbidden.
13. Screaming and shouting was heard from the hall.
14. Age and experience brings wisdom to man.
15. There is eggs and bacon for breakfast.
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ru
NOTE-II: If two singular nouns are joined by AND, and they are referring to
one single person, take singular verb. In such a case the second noun is
without an article or possessive adjective; e.g.
m
1. The chief Minister and Finance Minister is going to Delhi today.
2. My uncle and guardian wants me to live at home.
3. My friend and colleague has advised me to study medicine.
xa
NOTE-III: If two singular nouns are joined by AND, and each of them is
preceded by an article or possessive adjective, take plural verb; e.g.
ce
1. The Chief Minister and the Finance Minister are going to Delhi today.
2. My uncle and my guardian want me to live at home.
3. My friend and my colleague have advised me to study.
ss
NOTE-IV: If two uncountable nouns are joined by AND, and referring to the
whole class, take plural verb even if they are not preceded by an article or
possessive adjective; e.g.
1. Butter and butter are made from wheat and milk respectively.
2. Paper and pencil are not sufficient for a person to become a writer.
3. Fear and horror were see on her face.
NOTE-V: If two singular nouns are joined by AND, and one or both of them
are preceded by EACH or EVERY or NO take singular verb; e.g.
EACH BOY and EACH GIRL is guilty of theft.
EVERY BOY and EVERY GIRL was given a packet of sweets.
NO BOY and NO GIRL was present there.
EVERY TOM, DICK and HARRY wears suit these days.
EVERY BENCH and DESK has been sold.
EACH PEN and PENCIL is black.
NO PEN and PENCIL is black.
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2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
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4. IF antecedent, means the noun preceding EACH is plural, we use plural
verb; e.g.
fo
ru
1. The members each have appreciated her performance.
2. The people each have their own problem.
3. The children each have a special task allotted to them.
NOTE-I: When the antecedent consists of two or more singular nouns, and
any of them precedes EACH the verb is plural; e.g.
My wife and I each subscribe Rs 5,000 a year.
m
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NOTE-II: When a pronoun precedes EACH, the verb is plural; e.g.
We each have a map.
ce
5. EITHER, NEITHER, EACH, EACH OF, EVERY; EVERYONE, SOMEONE,
NO ONE, ANYONE, EVERYTHING, NOTHING, EVERYBODY, SOMEBODY,
NOBODY, ANYBODY take singular verb: e.g.
i) Either of those two boys has stolen my camera.
Either of you was absent from the class.
There are two proposals, and either is acceptable.
There are two cars, but neither is in order.
NEITHER of them IS expert in the subject.
Each has own limitations.
EACH of these books IS mine.
ss
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. Every rule is important.
8. Everyone was interested in the project.
9. Nobody knows when death will knock at his door.
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A NUMBER OF refugees HAVE BEEN TURNED back at the border.
A GREAT NUMBER OF cattle ARE grazing in the field. (CATTLE is a plural
noun)
LARGE NUMBER OF books ARE available here.
m
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6. A) A MAJORITY OF, THE MAJORITY OF, A MINORITY OF, THE
MINORITY OF, A NUMBER OF, A LARGE NUMBER OF, A GREAT NUMBER
OF, LARGE NUMBERS OF, A LOT OF,A HANDFUL OF, HALF OF, PLENTY
OF, ALL, ALL OF, SOME, SOME OF + PLURAL NOUN take a plural verb.
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NOTE: THE MAJORITY (without OF) can be used with a singular verb or a
plural verb; means it's optional; e.g.
The majority is against you. OR The majority are against you.
B) With THE NUMBER OF + PLURAL NOUN we use a singular verb.
m
1. THE NUMBER OF books in the library HAS RISEN to over 5 million.
2. THE NUMBER OF visitors IS increasing day by day.
xa
7. THE AMOUNT OF, A LARGE AMOUNT OF, A GREAT DEAL OF, A GOOD
DEAL OF take uncountable nouns and singular verbs; e.g.
1. A LARGE AMOUNT OF smuggled diamond WAS seized.
2. A GREAT DEAL OF courage IS needed to execute this plan.
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3. A GOOD DEAL OF money is needed for this work.
4. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY collected by them IS below expectation.
ss
8. MANY, A GREAT MANY, A GOOD MANY take plural verbs, All of them
can be used as pronouns as well as adjectives, if adjectives they take plural
nouns; e.g.
1. MANY WERE invited to dinner. (as pronoun)
2. There are one hundred boys in the class and A GOOD MANY ARE very
intelligent. (as pronoun)
3. MANY criminals HAVE BEEN ARRESTED. (as adjective)
4. A GREAT MANY singers ARE COMING. (as adjective)
5. A GOOD MANY writers WERE HONOURED. (as adjective)
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9. MANY OF, A GREAT MANY OF, A GOOD MANY OF take plural verbs.
They can be followed by both plural nouns and plural pronouns; e.g.
1. MANY OF THE TERRORISTS WERE killed by the police.
2. A GREAT MANY OF YOU HAVE got good marks.
3. A GOOD MANY OF US VALUE moral.
10. MANY A/AN is followed by a singular countable noun and takes singular
verb; e.g.
m
MANY A CAR HAS been sold today.
MANY AN INKPOT has been stolen.
MANY A man HAS succumbed to his temptation.
MANY A student HAS joined the national serve Scheme to serve the local
community.
fo
ru
1.
2.
3.
4.
11. NO can follow uncountable noun or singular countable noun or plural
countable noun; the verb after is according to the number of that noun; e.g.
m
1. NO PROBLEM IS insoluble.
2. NO PROBLEMS ARE insoluble.
3. NO WORK HAS been done today.
All is well. (ALL here means things)
All is ready. (ALL here means things)
All are well. (ALL here means persons)
All are ready. (ALL here means persons)
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1.
2.
3.
4.
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12. A) ALL can be used for both things and persons; when for things it takes
singular verb, when for persons it takes plural verb; e.g.
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B) ALL, ALL OF, NOT ALL OF when followed by uncountable nouns take
singular verbs but when followed by countable nouns take plural verbs; e.g.
1. All the money has been spent.
2. All of the milk was drunk by the cat.
3. Not all of the sugar was sent there.
4. All the boys are sitting there under the tree.
5. All of the singers were late.
6. Not all of the horses are for sale.
1.
2.
3.
4.
None has arrived yet.
None is willing to help you.
I wanted some sugar but there was none in the pot.
None of this money is mine.
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13. A) NONE takes singular verb; e.g.
None of those boys is trustworthy. OR None of those boys are trustworthy.
None of them is my friend. OR None of them are my friends.
None of my lost books was found. OR None of my lost books were found.
None of the books was read.
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2.
3.
4.
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B) Verb after NONE OF is optional, means it's our wish we use singular or
plural; e.g.
NOTE: Though in informal English use of plural verb in this context is also
seen, in exam only formal English matters.
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14. We use plural verbs if MOST, MOST OF, SOME, SOME OF, HALF, HALF
OF, ENOUGH, ENOUGH OF, NOT ENOUGH OF, PLENTY OF, A LOT OF,
LOTS OF are followed by a plural nun; e.g.
ce
1. Some people dislike sad songs.
2. Some of the people dislike sad songs.
3. Half of the voters have not turned up.
15. A) We use singular verbs if ONE THIRD OF, TWO THIRD OF, THREE
FOURTHS OF, THE REST OF, A QUARTER OF, PART OF are followed by
singular countable nouns or uncountable nouns; e.g.
Three fourths of the money has been spent.
Two thirds of the gold was used in this ring.
One third of the wall is yet to be painted.
Three fifths of this book has been read.
ss
1.
2.
3.
4.
B) We use plural verbs if ONE THIRD OF, TWO THIRD OF, THREE
FOURTHS OF, THE REST OF, A QUARTER OF, PART OF are followed by
plural countable nouns; e.g.
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1. One third of the students have passed.
2. Three fourths of the desks are ready.
3. The rest of the books were published.
16. A) ONE/FOUR/ELEVEN/TEN/TWENTY PERCENT (%) referring to
UNCOUNTABLE/SINGULAR NOUN we use singular verb; and after
ONE/FOUR/ELEVEN/TEN/TWENTY PERCENT (%) + PLURAL NOUN we
use plural verb; e.g.
m
fo
ru
m
1. Fifteen percent of the chalk was useless.
2. An inflation rate of only 2 percent MAKES a big difference to exports. (here 2% is
referring to INFLATION RATE that is uncountable)
3. Around 10% of the forest IS destroyed each year. (here 10% is referring to THE
FOREST that is singular.)
4. I would say that about 50% of the hoses NEED major repairs. (here 50% is
referring to THE HOUSES that is plural)
5. Of those interviewed, only 20% ADMIT to smoking. (the verb here is plural
because 20% is referring to people interviewed that is plural.)
Some 80% of the electorate IS expected to vote. OR Some 80% of the electorate
ARE expected to vote.
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NOTE: But where we use a singular noun that can be thought of either as A
WHOLE UNIT or A COLLECTION OF INDIVIDUALS, it's optional whether
we use a singular verb or plural verb; e.g.
B) The word PERCENTAGE always take a singular verb; e.g.
ss
1. The percentage of success is very high.
2. The percentage of efficient workers is very small.
17. A) MORE THAN ONE if followed by a singular noun takes singular verb;
e.g.
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MORE THAN ONE PERSON IS GOING.
B) But when MORE THAN ONE is followed by OF and a plural noun, it takes
a plural verb; e.g.
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MORE THAN ONE OF THE PEOPLE ARE GOING.
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C) When MORE THAN ONE stands alone, it can be either singular or plural,
depending on whether you want to emphasize the oneness or the morethan-oneness; such as,
If someone asks you how many people are going, for example, you could reply
“More than one is going.” or “More than one are going.”, depending on the
number of persons in business in actual.
m
D) MORE + PLURAL NOUN + THAN ONE takes a plural verb; e.g.
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ru
1. More proposals than one have been accepted.
2. More cameras than one are new.
18. A) THERE as introductory subject takes singular verb if it's following a
singular or uncountable noun, takes plural verb if that noun is plural; e.g.
There is a book on the table.
There are two books on the table.
There is a lot of milk in the jar.
There is nothing for you to do here.
m
1.
2.
3.
4.
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B) But the verb after THERE will be plural if it's following a plural
noun/pronoun referring to a fix amount or unit; e.g.
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1. There is five rupees to pay.
2. There is only another twenty kilometers to go.
C) If the subject THERE follows combination of two or more nouns giving
one single idea/thought it takes singular verb; e.g.
ss
1. There is much coming and going.
2. There is bread and butter for breakfast.
3. There is duck and green peas for dinner.
19. IT as introductory subject always takes singular verb; e.g.
1. It is I who helped him.
2. It is we who are working for Hari.
3. It was they who committed a crime.
1. The rich are not always happy.
2. The dishonest deserve punishment.
3. The French are hard workers.
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20. Nouns like THE RICH, THE HONEST, THE VIRTUOUS, THE WICKED,
THE WOUNDED, THE GUILTY, THE CHINESE, THE FRENCH take plural
verb; e.g.
21. If two infinitives or gerunds are joined by AND take plural verb; e.g.
m
To sing and to weep are two contrary activities.
To walk and to swim are good exercises.
Walking and swimming are good exercises.
Remembering and forgetting always go together.
fo
ru
1.
2.
3.
4.
22. A) A clause if is the subject takes singular verb; e.g.
m
1. That he is a liar is well known.
2. What they say is true.
3. How they managed everything is a secret.
B) But when two clauses if joined by AND take plural verb; e.g.
xa
1. What he says and what he does are not in agreement.
2. Why he weeps and why he laughs are clear to me.
ss
ce
23. Words joined to a singular subject by WITH, TOGETHER WITH, AS
WELL AS, ACCOMPANIED BY, HEADED BY, GUIDED BY, GOVERNED BY,
CONTROLLED BY, LED BY, DOMINATED BY, RUN BY, IN ADDITION TO,
LIKE, UNLIKE, AND NOT, RATHER THAN, etc. are considered
parenthetical (providing additional information). The verb should be
therefore, in the singular: e.g.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The house, WITH its contents, was insured.
Justice, AS WELL AS mercy allows it.
The mayor, WITH his counselors, is to be present.
The minister, with all his bodyguards, is sitting in that car.
Sita, unlike her sister, is beautiful.
6. He, and not his friends, is accused of murder.
7. He, rather than us, has misled these people.
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24. Two or more singular subjects connected by OR or NOR require a
singular verb: e.g.
No nook or corner was left unexplored.
NOTE: When one of the subjects is plural the verb is plural and the plural
subject is to be placed near to the verb: e.g.
•
The captain or his teammates are responsible for the defeat.
fo
ru
1. Either he or I am mistaken.
2. Neither you nor he is mistaken.
3. Neither my friend nor I am to blame.
m
25. When the subjects joined by OR or NOR are of different persons, the
verb agrees with the nearer subject: e.g.
26. When two nouns or pronouns are joined by NOT ONLY---BUT ALSO, the
verb agrees with the second noun or pronoun: e.g.
m
1. Not only the officer but also SIX SOLDIERS were killed.
2. Not only the team mates but also THE CAPTAIN was blamed for the defeat.
xa
27. If the same noun repeats after SINGULAR NOUN + PREPOSITION we
use singular verb; e.g.
ce
1. Day after day has passed.
2. Man after man has come to see you.
3. Ship after ship is sailing.
ss
28. NOTHING BUT and EVERYTHING BUT always take singular verb
whether they are following a singular noun or a plural noun; e.g.
1. Nothing but sand is there.
2. Nothing but cars is sold here.
3. Everything but air is sold here.
4. Everything but chairs was available there.
29. A) ONE OF is always followed by a plural noun/pronoun and takes verb
in singular; e.g.
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1. One of the officers was charged with theft.
2. One of us has done wrong.
B) But, if ONE OF + NOUN is followed by a relative pronoun who, which or
that, the verb after the relative pronoun is plural. In other words we can say
that when a relative pronoun is the subject of a verb, that verb agrees in
number and person with the antecedent of the relative pronoun; e.g.
m
1. One of the officers who WERE on special duty was charged with theft. (here the
antecedent of the relative pronoun WHO is NOVELS, not ONE)
2. Rahul is one of those players who are going to England.
3. This is one of the rooms that were damaged in the fire.
4. He is one of those persons who always think they are right.
fo
ru
C) And if the word ONLY is preceding ONE OF + NOUN i.e. it's ONLY ONE
OF + NOUN, the antecedent of the relative pronoun becomes ONE, not the
NOUN itself, hence the verb here is singular; e.g.
This is only one of his poems that IS worth reading.
xa
Ten kilometers is a long walk.
Three parts of the cake is left for us.
Fifty rupees is too much for this work.
Six miles is a long way to walk.
Ten grams of gold costs about five thousand rupees.
ce
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
m
30. A) A Plural noun in the form of some specific quantity or amount
considered as a whole takes singular verb; e.g.
B) But, if a Plural noun in the form of some specific quantity or amount
refers to separate units it takes a plural verb; e.g.
ss
1. Fifty rupees were spent.
2. Ten thousand rupees are to be distributed among them.
3. Five years have passed since she came here.
31. When the subject is a proposition in arithmetic, we can use either a
singular or a plural verb; means it's optional; e.g.
[But singular verb is more common. So no fix rule.]
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1. Two and two is four. Or Two and two are four.
2. Two times three is six. OR Two times three are six.
3. Five from ten is five. OR Five from ten are five.
32. A) PAINS and MEANS take either the singular or the plural verb
according to the usage: e.g.
m
1. Great PAINS have been taken. (Here the word GREAT is telling the number or
quantity, hence plural verb is used.)
2. Much PAINS has been taken. (Here the word MUCH is showing an amount. Even
if PAINS is much or less, amount is always single, hence singular verb.)
3. This means of travelling is not safe these days. (THIS is singular)
4. Several means of travelling are available here. (SEVERAL is plural)
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B) MEANS in the sense of income/monetary resources always takes a plural
verb; e.g.
1. My MEANS are meager, I cannot afford this luxury.
2. His means are insufficient to keep him.
A rise in rents and wages has been found to go together is incorrect. (here the
phrase ‘A RISE IN’ is qualifying two subjects RENTS & WAGES)
xa
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33. A) If two different subjects are qualified by the same word, verb is
singular:
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B) When the phrase ‘A RISE IN’ or some other similar word/phrase is
repeated before each subject , verb is plural.
•
A RISE IN rents and A RISE IN wages have been found to go together
ss
34. 'A PAIR OF' takes plural verb.
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A pair of birds were seen flying high in the sky over the city at night.
35. WAGES takes plural verb; e.g.
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His wages are very high.
36. A collective noun (crew, committee, government, public, audience,
army, staff, team, class, congregation, mob, crowd, herd, jury,
administration, personnel, etc) takes singular verb when the group is
thought of a single unit. But when individual members of the group are
thought of the verb is plural; e.g.
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ru
m
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1. The crew has not come yet.
2. The crew were arrested on a charge of smuggling.
3. A committee was appointed to look into the matter.
4. The committee are considering your proposal.
5. The government has passed an ordinance.
6. The government were at a logger heads on that issue.
7. The public consists of you and me.
8. The public were fighting among themselves.
9. An unruly mob was gathering outside.
10. The mob were scattered in all directions. (means members constituting the mob)
NOTE: Many of the above nouns have plural forms also (Committees,
audiences, congregations, armies, etc), they take plural verbs and pronouns
of course.
m
37. When name of a country refers to a team of any sport, takes plural verb;
e.g.
xa
1. India have won the match.
2. The West Indies have not won any match this year.
3. France have improved their chances of winning the cup.
ce
38. A thing having two parts (scissors, trousers, binoculars, spectacles,
glasses, scales, tongs, pincers, pants, pajamas, etc) take plural verbs; e.g.
ss
1. Your scissors do not work well.
2. The binoculars that you have bought are very powerful.
3. The spectacles that you bear are not sold here.
39. Arms (astra-Shastra), damages, greens (saag-subzi), vegetables (saagsubzi), riches (dhan, vaibhav), savings, surroundings, valuables, etc are
treated to be plural and therefore take plural verbs; e.g.
1. The arms have been recovered from the militants.
2. Riches grow in hell.
3. Vegetables are grown here in abundance.
4. The greens that you have bought are not fresh.
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40. A) Certain collective nouns (poultry, cattle, vermin, people, gentry,
peasantry, clergy, youth, cavalry, etc) though singular in form, are always
used as plurals; e.g.
fo
ru
m
1. These poultry are mine.
2. Whose are these cattle?
3. Vermin destroy our property and carry disease.
4. Who are those people?
5. There are few gentry in this town.
6. Most people discard moral values to earn money.
7. The gentry lead a luxurious life.
8. The peasantry of India live from hand to mouth.
9. The clergy are opposed to the plan.
10. The youth of India are not satisfied with the progress of the country.
B) YOUTH can be used as an uncountable noun also. When an uncountable
noun YOUTH = the state or time of being young, takes a singular verb; e.g.
My youth was full of troubles and pains.
m
•
xa
C) YOUTH can also be used as a countable noun. When a countable noun
YOUTH = young man. It's plural then is YOUTHS. The verb then is used
according to the usage; e.g.
ce
1. A youth is looking for you.
2. Two youths are looking for you.
41. A) When WHAT starts a noun clause that is the subject of a sentence, we
use singular verb; e.g.
What I want is better tools.
What we need most is this book.
What I need is five new flats.
What she wants to buy is a car.
ss
1.
2.
3.
4.
B) When WHAT = that which, it is singular and takes a singular verb. When
WHAT = those which, it is plural and takes a plural verb; e.g.
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1. We shall not need any more bread; what we have is quite sufficient.
2. You need not get any more stamps; what we have are quite sufficient.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
He was an honest man, as was his father.
She is a dancer, as are her sisters.
Rohan wants to help you, so do I.
They like singing, so does their daughter.
You do not like her, neither do I.
I do not help them, nor does my wife.
fo
ru
[neither and nor are replaceable here)
m
42. When a verb is there after AS, SO, NEITHER, NOR the verb is according
to the subject that appears after these verbs; e.g.
43. MATHEMATICS when refers to the name of subject, means as the
science of numbers and shapes such as arithmetic, algebra, geometry etc we
use singular verb; e.g.
Mathematics is not taught in arts stream in this school.
m
•
If my mathematics is/are right, the answer is 142.
ss
ce
•
xa
NOTE: When it refers to the process of calculating using numbers we can
use either singular verb or plural verb; e.g.