Subject Verb Agreement Rules are a crucial aspect of English grammar that ensures grammatical correctness in sentences. Subject Verb Agreement Rules refer to the grammatical rule in English that requires the subject and verb in a sentence to agree in number, i.e., singular subjects must take singular verbs, and plural subjects must take plural verbs. This rule applies to all tenses.
What are Subject Verb Agreement Rules in English Grammar?
Subject Verb Agreement Rules are the rules that deal with sentence construction and the grammatical agreement of other words in a sentence for correct usage. Understanding these rules can help to avoid common mistakes and improve writing skills.
Importance of Subject Verb Agreement Rules in English
- For clear and concise writing.
- Avoid Grammatical Mistakes.
- To improve writing skills.
- Communicating effectively in the English language.
Subject Verb Agreement Rules with Examples
Subject Verb Agreement Rules have been discussed in the following followed by examples, answers, and exercises. Understanding and Applying these rules correctly is crucial for avoiding grammatical mistakes, improving writing skills, and communicating effectively in the English language.
Subject Verb Agreement Rules 1
Two singular subjects joined by ‘and’ take plural verbs and pronouns.
Read the following sentences.
- Air and water are necessary for survival.
- Sumita and I were going to visit the Taj.
- John and Harris were absent from yesterday in school as they were ill.
When the subject consists of two or more nouns or pronouns joined by 'and', the verb and pronoun will be in the plural number as shown in the examples above.
Verbs and Pronouns should be in Singular for subjects indicating the same person or thing
Read the following sentences.
- The headmaster and secretary has decided to hold a meeting in his room.
- Author and publisher, Mr. Desai, is in town to inaugurate the Book Fair.
[Two nouns refer to one person]
- The author and the publisher were not present at the meeting.
- The headmaster and the secretary have decided to hold a meeting in their room
[Two nouns refer to two different people]
Normally, if the nouns or pronouns refer to the same person or thing a singular verb is used. If the article is used before the first noun or pronoun joined by 'and', it refers to the same person or thing and in that case, the singular verb is used. If the article is used before each noun or pronoun then they refer to a different person or thing and then a plural verb is used.
Verbs and Pronouns are Singular for Subjects expressing a single idea or the same meaning
Read the following.
- Slow and steady wins the race.
- Bread and butter is his only food.
- Her hard work and dedication has paid off.
- The comfort and luxury provided by machines has made people lazy.
In the above examples, two nouns either can be the same meaning or express one single idea. Therefore in such sentences, we use a singular verb
Subject Verb Agreement Rules 2
‘Each’, ‘Every’, ‘No’, ‘Many a’, ‘Either’, and ‘Neither‘ ‘Everyone’, ‘no one’, ‘Nobody’, and ‘One’, ‘More than one’ take Singular Verb and Pronoun.
Read the following sentences.
- Each girl and each boy was given a mango.
- No man and no woman has been found there.
- Every planet and every star revolves around its orbit.
- Each man, woman, and child was wounded.
- Many a man does not know his own ability.
- Many a man has not seen the scenic beauty of the Himalayas.
- Neither statement is true.
- Either of the girls is intelligent.
- Neither of them is honest.
- Each of the eggs is broken.
- Everyone in the class is going for a picnic.
- Either is fine with me.
- One of the eggs is broken.
- More than one boy has been fined.
- More than one book has been bought.
When 'Each', 'Every' or 'No' is placed before the subject (noun) joined by 'and', the pronoun and the verb should be Singular. Even when 'each', 'every', or 'no' is not put before each noun, the verb is singular. 'Many a', 'Either', and 'Neither' is also followed by Singular Verbs. 'More than one' , though plural in sense takes a singular noun and singular verb after it.
Subject Verb Agreement Rules 3
‘No’ or ‘Not’ agree with the same number as the noun or pronoun preceding ‘and’.
Read the sentences given below
- Two leaves only, and no branch are required.
- A stick, and not a string, is needed.
If ‘no’ or ‘not’ is placed after the conjunction, ‘and’ in a sentence, the verb and the pronoun agree with the same number as the noun or pronoun preceding ‘and’.
Subject Verb Agreement Rules 4
‘As well as’, ‘together with’, ‘with’, along with’, agree with the first noun/nouns
Read the sentences.
- The captain as well as his crew members was polite.
- The captain along with his teammates has played well.
- I as well as Sushama am going for a picnic.
- Samir together with his friends is playing.
- He with his brothers is to go.
- The members, as well as the president of the club, have come to the meeting.
- The crew members as well as the captain were polite.
When the subject of a sentence consists of two nouns or pronouns that are joined by 'As well as', 'together with', 'with', along with', the verb agrees with the first Noun/Pronoun.
Subject Verb Agreement Rules 5
For ‘Either … or’, ‘Neither … nor’, and ‘Or’ ‘not only …. but also’, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it/with the later subject.
Read the following sentences.
- Either Preeti or Sausamya is at home.
- Either Preeti or the children are at home.
- Neither the manager nor his assistant is present at the meeting.
- Neither he nor his friends were going to the party.
- Either you or Seema is going to clean the room.
- Neither Sove nor you are going out tonight.
- Either my friends or I am going to buy this book.
- Not only Ravi but his friends also are coming to the party.
- Not only his friends but also he has been asked to do the work.
When two subjects of a sentence are joined by 'Either … or', 'Neither … nor', and 'or' 'not only …. but also', the verb agrees with the subject closest to it/with the latter subject.
Subject Verb Agreement Rules 6
For words like – ‘a number of’, ‘a group of’, ‘a lot of ‘, ‘the majority of ‘, ‘ a great deal of ‘, ‘most of’, ‘a variety of’, ‘None of the’, ‘Plenty of’, can take singular verb for amount/quantity and plural verb for number.
Read the sentences
- None of the work has been completed. [work – amount; was – singular verb]
- None of the strategies have worked.[strategies – number; have – plural verb]
- A lot of energy is ruined on finding treasure.
- A lot of books have been written on home remedies.
- A variety of music is available.
- A variety of music albums are available.
- Plenty of help has been offered to the poor family.
- Plenty of trees were uprooted in the stoem last night.
- A group of girls are playing in the field.
- A group of us have decided to go for a picnic on Sunday next.
- A number of books are on the table.
- A group of men are doing their works.
- A lot of trouble is caused by communalism.
- A lot of problems are caused by unemployment.
- The majority of the damage is easy to repair.
- The majority of criminals have fle way.
- Three-fourths of the work is done.[work – amount; is – singular verb]
- Three-fourths of the men are dead.[men – a number; are – plural verb]
- Half of our work has been done.
- Half of the apples were bad.
- There are heaps of corpses.
- There are lots of chocolates on the table.
- Lots of people think so.
- The greater part of the land is uncultivated.
- The greater part of the pineapples are rotten.
Some words like - 'a number of', 'a group of', 'a lot of ', 'the majority of ', ' a great deal of ', 'most of', 'a variety of', 'None of the', 'Plenty of', 'half of', 'heaps of', 'lots of', 'two-thirds of', 'three-fourths of', 'the greater part of', 'the greatest part of', can refer to amount/quantity as well as number. When these words refer to amount/quantity, they take a singular verb. When these words refer to number, they take a plural verb. Fractions like two-thirds and three-fourths are treated at singular when they denote amount/quantity and treated as plural when they denote number.
Subject Verb Agreement Rules 7
‘Several’, ‘Many’, and ‘All’ agree with plural verbs
Read the sentences.
- All my friends are coming to the party.
- Many of the eggs are broken.
- All are present in the meeting.
- All is lost in the fire.
Subject Verb Agreement Rules 8
A verb agrees with its proper subject instead of a noun near it.
Read the following sentences
- The cost of luxury goods has gone up.
- The quality of the mangoes is not good.
- The presence of so many men is encouraging.
- The result of his HS Exam is not up to the mark.
- The people of our country are still fighting against the deadly virus.
A verb must agree with its Subject in Number and Person. Sometimes, the verb is made to agree in number with a noun near it instead of with its proper subject. This is called an Error of Proximity. This should be avoided.
Subject Verb Agreement Rules 9
A Collective noun takes a singular verb if taken as a whole and a plural verb when taken separately.
- The swarm of bees is buzzing around the garden.
- A herd of elephants is roaring around freely.
- The class is large.
- The crowd looks quite pleased with the magician’s performance.
- A bunch of keys has been stolen.
[Collective Noun as a whole takes singular verb]
- The audience are requested to take their seats.
- The Board has agreed to grant a bonus to its (not, their) employees.
- The mob do (not, does) not know their mind.
[Collective Noun used separately takes plural verb]
When a Collective number is meant, the noun, though plural in form, has a singular verb.
- Fifty rupees is enough for me.
- Twenty shillings makes one pound.
- Three miles is a long distance.
- Eight annas was the price of the thing.
But Twice two is four” and “Twice two are four” are equally correct.
Subject Verb Agreement Rules 10
Two mathematical figures are joined by ‘and’, the verb is singular.
- One and one makes two.
- Two and two make four.
[Both are correct usage nowadays]
Subject Verb Agreement Rules 11
Nouns plural in form but singular in meaning takes singular verbs
- Physics is a very interesting subject.
- Billards is fast becoming popular among youngsters.
Some nouns are plural in form but singular in meaning. We use singular verbs with such nouns. e.g. Mathematics, Statistics, Measles, Physics, Bilards, News, etc.
Some Nouns are singular in form but plural in meaning takes Plural verbs.
- The people of the locality are protesting against frequent power cuts.
- The cattle were grazing on the farm.
Subject Verb Agreement Rules 12
Class nouns always take singular verbs.
- The stationery was available at a cheap price at the store.
- The new furniture is pretty expensive.
- The food delivered here was very delicious.
Rule 13
Nouns relating to weight, measure, amount, and time/distance take singular verbs.
- Five years is a pretty long time.
- Ten kilos of milk was consumed in just one day.
- A hundred rupees is not a big amount for him.
- Only one-fourth of the total police force was deployed in the area.
Exercise 1
In each of the following sentences supply a verb in agreement with its Subject.
1. She and her father ………………. gone to ……………… village.
2. The coach and captain ………………………. Come to the field.
3.The black and white …………… ( cow/cows) were sold.
4. No man and no women…………been found there.
5. The long and the short of the story………….. this.
6. Two pence only and no book ………… required.
7. Neither the students nor the teacher …….. coming.
8. Neither he nor his friends …………. reading now.
9. Suman with his classmates …………….. gone to watch the movie.
10. Either I or they ……….. in fault.
Exercise 2
In each of the following sentences supply a verb in agreement with its Subject.
11.It ……… I who ……. guilty.
12.Each of the boys …………….. given a chocolate.
13.Fifty rupees …………… enough for me.
14.The mob …………… (do/does) not know their mind.
15.One in ten boys …………….. done this sum.
16. Everybody thinks ….….………. are innumerable.
17. To take pay and then not to do the work ………. dishonest.
18. The cost of the luxury goods ………….. gone up.
19. The Jury …………. unanimously declared him guilty.
20.The committee …………… divided in their opinions.
Exercise 3
In each of the following sentences supply a verb in agreement with its Subject.
21. Everyone of the bus’s passengers ………………….. wounded.
22. One or the other of those fellows ……………………. played trick.
23. A good man and great politician ………………… dead.
24. The accountant and the cashier ………………… been arrested.
25. The famous juggler and conjurer………………. unwell to perform.
26. Plutarch ‘s Lives ……………………. interesting book.
27.Decency and decorum ……………….. not found here.
28. Neither of the two women ………………….. clever.
29. Either Shila or her sisters …………………… responsible.
30. Honour and glory …………………….. his reward.
Exercise 4
In each of the following sentences supply a verb in agreement with its Subject.
31. Many a woman ………………..there.
32. Every one of the cinema halls ………………… full .
33.Neither you nor your sisters ………………… to blame.
34. Fire and water …………………… not agree.
35. He and l …………………… playing.
36. The ship with its crew …………………………. lost.
37. Justice as well as human consideration ………………………. what is demanded.
38. The king as well as his ministers ………………………… angry.
39.. Each of my aunts …………………. in Kolkata.
40. Each man and each woman ………………… given a shawl.
Answer:
1. have; their 2. has. 3. cows. 4. Has. 5. is. 6. are. 7. is. 8. are. 9. has. 10. are.11. is; (was]. 12. (was/is]. 13. is. 14. do. 15. has.16. they. 17.is. 18. has . 19. is . 20. is . 21. is 22. has. 23. [was. 24. have 25. (was) 26. is. 27. is. 28. is 29. are 30. is . 31. is . 32. is. 33. are. 34. does 35 .are . 36. 9was 37. ..was 38. .was 39. …was) 40. ((was]