A grammar rule that says that a verb must agree to the subject of the sentence is called 'subject-verb agreement’. According to this rule- a singular subject must have a singular verb while a plural subject must have a plural verb.
Examples-
- He is going to market. (Subject-he, and verb ‘is’, are singular.)
- We are playing. (Subject- ‘we’, and the verb ‘are’, are plural)
- Your friend plays cricket very well. (Subject-Your friend, and the verb ‘plays’, are singular.)
- They visit Delhi every month. (Subject- ‘They’, and the verb ‘visit’, are plural)
- My teacher has given us some good storybooks. (Subject-'My teacher', and verb ‘has’, are singular.)
Now understand the rules to answer the following exercises-
BASIC RULE
The verb must agree with its subject in number and person.
☞ RULE-1: When two subjects are joined by ‘and’, the verb must be plural.
My friend and his father are in India.
Sheela and Roshini are good friends
☞ RULE-2: When two singular nouns joined by ‘and’ refer to the same person or thing, the verb must be singular. In such cases ‘The’ is used only before the first subject.
The secretary and treasurer has been arrested.
The teacher and mentor is on leave today.
☞ RULE-3: If the two nouns refer to different persons or things, the article ‘The’ is used before each noun. In such cases, the verb will be in the plural form.
The judge and the District Magistrate have been given a warm welcome.
The Principal and the Inspector are in the meeting.
☞ RULE-4: If two different singular subjects express one idea, the verb must be singular.
The Bread and jam is not a complete breakfast.
My bread and butter has become difficult, due to bad weather.
Rice and curry is my favorite dish.
☞ RULE-5: When two singular subjects are practically synonymous, the verb should be in the singular form.
The law and order situation in the state is under control.
Peace and Prosperity is the need of the day.
☞ RULE-6: If two singular subjects combined by ‘and’ are preceded by each or every, the verb must be in the singular.
Every boy and each girl was present in the class, yesterday.
Every man and every woman has the right to express his or her views.
☞ RULE-7: When the subjects are joined by (Either-or), and (Neither-nor), the verb must agree in person and number with the subject nearest to it. Also, the plural subject must be placed nearest to the verb.
Either Radha or her cousins have done this mischief.
Neither Mohini nor Ragini is beautiful
Neither he nor you are to take up this task.
☞ RULE-8: If two subjects are joined with connectives like ‘with’, ‘together with’, ‘as well as,’ ‘accompanied by’, etc. are used to combine two subjects, the verb agrees with the first subject.
The inspector, along with her manager and some friends, is attending the function.
All the members, with the final report, are sitting in the lobby.
Mr. Mehta, accompanied by his wife and children is arriving tonight by train.
☞ RULE-9: When (Not only----but also) is used to combine two subjects, the verb agrees with the subject close to it.
Not only Hari but also his brothers were arrested.
Not only students but their science teacher is also very excited.
☞ RULE-10: Use of ‘None/No’.
‘None’ can take either a singular or a plural verb depending on the noun which follows it.
Structure [None + of the + (uncountable noun/singular noun) + singular verb]
None of the counterfeit money has been found.
Structure: [None + of the + (plural countable noun) + may take singular/plural verb]
None of the students have finished the exam yet.
None of the books is worth reading.
‘No’ can take either a singular or plural verb depending on the noun which follows it.
Structure: [No + Singular Noun + Singular Verb ]
No employee has received the salary.
Structure: [No + plural Noun + plural Verb]
No examples are relevant to this case.
☞ RULE-11: Many words indicating several people or animals, are singular nouns these may take singular/plural verb. The following nouns are usually singular-[Congress, Family, Group, Committee, Class, Organisation, Team, Army, Club, Crowd, Government, Jury, Minority, Public]
(If the individual members are acting separately, they are plural and take a plural verb.)
The family was happy at the news.
The family were fighting over inheritance. (individual family member)
The committee has decided to stay back.
The committee have arrived by different trains. (individual committee member)
The crowd was wild with excitement.
☞ RULE-12: 'Majority' can be singular or plural. If it is alone, it is usually singular, if it is followed by a plural noun, it is plural.
Important note: Majority by itself is singular but when majority refers to a set of people it is plural.
A majority is always right.
A majority of students are right.
☞ RULE-13: The number/A number
'The number' is singular:
The number of players is increasing slowly.”
The number of people has gone from here.
'A number' is plural:
A number of students are standing outside the office.
A number of the players are still injured from the last game.”
☞ RULE-14: Collective nouns indicating time, money, and measurements are Singular and singular verb is used.
1. Twenty-five rupees is not such a big amount for him.
2. Two miles is too much for this man to run.
☞ RULE-15: When 'a lot of', 'a great deal of', 'plenty of', 'most of', and 'some of' takes plural subject, and plural verb-
1. A lot of people were present in the party.
2. Some of the students were absent.
But, if these take uncountable nouns then the verb must be singular.
A lot of work has to be completed before we go.
A great deal of work has been finished.
☞ RULE-16: When the percentage or a part of something is mentioned with a plural noun, then plural verb is used.
30 % of Indian women are literate.
99% of germs were killed.
☞ RULE-17: Barracks, Headquarters, Whereabouts, Alms, Species, Sheep, News, Deer, Premises, Shambles, etc. are singular as well as plural form.
The company’s headquarters is based in New York.
They tried to disrupt communications between the two headquarters.
☞ RULE-18: In sports, while referring to the players, the name of the country is followed by a plural verb.
England have won the World Cup.
☞ RULE-19: When 'enemy' means ‘Armed forces’ of a nation, a plural verb is used.
· The enemy were forced to Retreat.
☞ RULE-20: Abstract nouns usually take singular verbs.
The truth eventually prevails.
Hatred has no limit.
The fragrance of this perfume is so overpowering.
☞ RULE-21: When sentences start with “there” or “here,” the subject will always be placed after the verb, so care needs to be taken to identify it correctly.
There are four hurdles to jump.
Here are the keys.
There is a problem with the balance sheet.
Here are the papers you requested.
☞ RULE 22. Titles of books, movies, novels, etc. are treated as singular and take a singular verb.
The Burbs is a movie starring Tom Hanks.
☞ RULE 23. When gerunds are used as the subject of a sentence, they take the singular verb form but, when they are linked by ‘and’ they take the plural form.
Standing in the water was a bad idea.
Swimming in the ocean and playing drums are my hobbies.
☞ RULE 24. If two infinitives are separated by ‘and’ they take the plural form of the verb.
To walk and to chew gum require great skill.
☞ RULE 25. Don’t get confused by the words that come between the subject and verb; they do not affect the agreement rule.
The dog that is chasing the squirrels belongs to Bridget.
☞ RULE 26. Inverted Sentences
Usually, in a sentence, the subject always precedes the verb, but sometimes they can reverse this order so that the verb comes before the subject.
Through the Golden Eagle Bridge pass thousands of vehicles every day.
☞ RULE 27. Remember, only the subject affects the verb!
