As subject-verb agreement is one of the most vital topics of English grammar , hence I am very much pleased to start my post with this one.Here , I shall discuss and explain step by step, rule by rule with lot of examples and exercises to enhance your English grammatical ability, which will be very helpful for your writing and speaking ability in English grammar.
The primary or the basic rule regarding subject-verb agreement is that a singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb, But to implement this easy rule in a sentence we need to understand and identify the actual subject of that sentence . Sometimes you may be confused between two nouns or subjects used in a sentence. A prepositional phrase between subject and verb also may confuse you.
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Rule 1> two or more singular nouns or pronouns joined by 'and' require a plural verb. As--
i) Gold and silver are used to make jewelry
ii) John and Ronny are intimate friends.
iii) Time and tide wait for none.
Note ; If the nouns ( joined by 'and' ) suggest one idea to the mind or refer to the same person or thing , the verb must be singular : as--
i) Bread and butter is my favorite breakfast.( as 'bread and butter' is considered a single dish of food)
ii) The famous poet and lyricist has arrived.( here, 'the poet and lyricist' refers the same person )
REMEMBER > if the article used only once, then the two nouns refer two the same person and the verb is used singular . But if the article is mentioned twice , then two distinct persons are intended, so the verb following must be in the plural number; as--
The poet and the lyricist have arrived.
Rule 2> If two nouns are joined by 'with', along with' or 'as well as' the verb agrees with the first noun or subject. if the first noun is singular , then the verb must be singular even if the second noun is plural. As--
i) John, as well as his friends, has scored good marks.
ii) The mayor, with his Councillors , is present in the ceremony.
iii) The chief minister, along with four other ministers, is expected shortly.
Rule 3> two or more singular subjects connected by 'or', 'nor', either...'or', 'neither....nor' require a singular verb . As---
i) Either John or Rony is accountable for this mistake.
ii) Neither the class teacher nor the class monitor was present there.
III) Our achievement or our failure is largely due to our own actions.
But REMEMBER > when one of the subjects joined by 'or' 'nor' 'either...or' 'neither...nor' etc. is plural(or the subjects are of different persons), then the verb must agree with the nearest subject; As-
i) Neither the chairperson nor the directors are present.
ii) Either he or I am going to the party.
Rule 4> 'Either', 'Neither', 'Each', 'Everyone', 'Many a' must be followed by a singular verb; As--
i) The director asked me whether either of the applicants was suitable.
ii) Neither of the two students is intelligent.
iii) Each of these chemical substances is found in Srilanka.
iv) Everyone of the girls likes to eat chocolate.
v) Many a man does not know his own good deeds.
Rule 5> Two nouns qualified by 'each' or 'every' even though connected by 'and' require a singular verb; As-- i) Every boy and every girl was given a packet of sweets and snacks.
Rule 6> Some nouns which are plural in form but singular in meaning , always take a singular verb ; and same rule is also applied when a plural noun denotes some specific quantity or an amount considered as whole. as-- i) Mathematics is my favorite subject.
ii) Two weeks is enough time to complete the project.
iii) Is the news true?
iv) Extra fifteen minutes is given to read the question paper carefully.
v) Fifty thousand rupees is enough for starting a new business.
Here, though the words 'mathematics' and 'news' are plural in form but these words actually express singular meaning.
And 'two weeks', 'fifteen minutes', and 'fifty thousand rupees' are also plural in form but here , these words or group of words are actually denoting a specific quantity or an amount considered as whole.
Rule 7> When a collective noun denotes the idea of oneness, the verb must be singular. But if the individuals of the collection is thought of, the verb must be plural. as --
i) The jury( idea of oneness) has given the final verdict.
ii) The jury (individuals of the jury ) are on one minor point.
Rule 8> Sometimes prepositional phrase between subject and verb may create confusion for you. the prepositional phrase must not be considered as the proper subject of the sentence. Therefore, the verb must agree with the actual subject of the sentence,which is generally placed in beginning of the sentence. AS--
i) The quality of the products is excellent. ( the actual subject of this sentence is 'the quality' , not the word 'products'. So the prepositional phrase 'of the products' must be avoided to make the right agreement. more examples--
ii) The colours of the rainbow are wonderful.
iii) The behaviour of the students was good.
Rule 9> If a relative pronoun is used in a sentence , the verb must agree with the antecedent of the relative pronoun. As--
i) He is one of those men who seek only own interest. ( here, the antecedent of the relative pronoun is 'men',so the verb must be ;seek; not ;seeks'.)
Rule 10> 'None', though singular in form but generally takes plural verb. As--
i) none are so dull as those who can not understand anything.
i) Bread and butter is my favorite breakfast.( as 'bread and butter' is considered a single dish of food)
ii) The famous poet and lyricist has arrived.( here, 'the poet and lyricist' refers the same person )
REMEMBER > if the article used only once, then the two nouns refer two the same person and the verb is used singular . But if the article is mentioned twice , then two distinct persons are intended, so the verb following must be in the plural number; as--
The poet and the lyricist have arrived.
Rule 2> If two nouns are joined by 'with', along with' or 'as well as' the verb agrees with the first noun or subject. if the first noun is singular , then the verb must be singular even if the second noun is plural. As--
i) John, as well as his friends, has scored good marks.
ii) The mayor, with his Councillors , is present in the ceremony.
iii) The chief minister, along with four other ministers, is expected shortly.
Rule 3> two or more singular subjects connected by 'or', 'nor', either...'or', 'neither....nor' require a singular verb . As---
i) Either John or Rony is accountable for this mistake.
ii) Neither the class teacher nor the class monitor was present there.
III) Our achievement or our failure is largely due to our own actions.
But REMEMBER > when one of the subjects joined by 'or' 'nor' 'either...or' 'neither...nor' etc. is plural(or the subjects are of different persons), then the verb must agree with the nearest subject; As-
i) Neither the chairperson nor the directors are present.
ii) Either he or I am going to the party.
Rule 4> 'Either', 'Neither', 'Each', 'Everyone', 'Many a' must be followed by a singular verb; As--
i) The director asked me whether either of the applicants was suitable.
ii) Neither of the two students is intelligent.
iii) Each of these chemical substances is found in Srilanka.
iv) Everyone of the girls likes to eat chocolate.
v) Many a man does not know his own good deeds.
Rule 5> Two nouns qualified by 'each' or 'every' even though connected by 'and' require a singular verb; As-- i) Every boy and every girl was given a packet of sweets and snacks.
Rule 6> Some nouns which are plural in form but singular in meaning , always take a singular verb ; and same rule is also applied when a plural noun denotes some specific quantity or an amount considered as whole. as-- i) Mathematics is my favorite subject.
ii) Two weeks is enough time to complete the project.
iii) Is the news true?
iv) Extra fifteen minutes is given to read the question paper carefully.
v) Fifty thousand rupees is enough for starting a new business.
Here, though the words 'mathematics' and 'news' are plural in form but these words actually express singular meaning.
And 'two weeks', 'fifteen minutes', and 'fifty thousand rupees' are also plural in form but here , these words or group of words are actually denoting a specific quantity or an amount considered as whole.
Rule 7> When a collective noun denotes the idea of oneness, the verb must be singular. But if the individuals of the collection is thought of, the verb must be plural. as --
i) The jury( idea of oneness) has given the final verdict.
ii) The jury (individuals of the jury ) are on one minor point.
Rule 8> Sometimes prepositional phrase between subject and verb may create confusion for you. the prepositional phrase must not be considered as the proper subject of the sentence. Therefore, the verb must agree with the actual subject of the sentence,which is generally placed in beginning of the sentence. AS--
i) The quality of the products is excellent. ( the actual subject of this sentence is 'the quality' , not the word 'products'. So the prepositional phrase 'of the products' must be avoided to make the right agreement. more examples--
ii) The colours of the rainbow are wonderful.
iii) The behaviour of the students was good.
Rule 9> If a relative pronoun is used in a sentence , the verb must agree with the antecedent of the relative pronoun. As--
i) He is one of those men who seek only own interest. ( here, the antecedent of the relative pronoun is 'men',so the verb must be ;seek; not ;seeks'.)
Rule 10> 'None', though singular in form but generally takes plural verb. As--
i) none are so dull as those who can not understand anything.
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