SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT
RULES AND PRACTICE QUESTIONS
I Basic rule :-
Singular subject takes the singular verb and plural subject takes the plural verb
Fill in the blanks
1) The cat _______ the mouse . ( chase )
2) He ___________ faster than I do . ( run)
3) Bob _________ to the hospital every week for a check up . (go)
4) The nearby museum ___________ exquisite paintings . ( display)
5) The students _________ their best . (do)
6) The children __________ happier with their loved ones . ( become)
II. The verb changes with the number and person of the subject .
FILL IN THE BLANKS
1. I ________ learning how to play guitar.
2. You _______ an amazing actor.
3. They __________ friends .
4. He ________ a dancer.
III. Error of proximity (verb should agree with the actual subject and not the one placed before it )
1. The anecdotes that he narrated about his travels in Spain ___________ very interesting.
(is/are )
2. The quality of the apples ____________ good. ( is /are)
3. The cost of all the food articles _________ risen . (has /have)
4. One of his speeches ____________ been circulated . ( has/have)
5. The quality of the pens __________ not good. (was/were)
IV. Normally the verb is placed after the subject .However the sentences beginning with there , the
real subject is placed after the verb .
1. There ________ no student in the library . (is/are)
2. There _________ many obstacles to overcome. (is/are)
3. There _____________ three bonfires burning in the field. (is/are)
4. There ________ to be a crack . ( seem/ seems)
5. Here __________ a map. (is/are)
V . If two or more singular nouns or pronouns joined by ‘and’ then it takes a plural verb .
1. The boy and the girl ___________ classmates .
2. The cat and the dog ________ fighting .
3. The poet and painter ________ no more .
4. The poet and the painter _________ amazing.
5. Tina and Tarini _________ sisters .
VI. If the noun refers to the same person then the verb will be singular .
1. The poet and novelist ______ no more. (is/are)
2. My best friend and pet ________ the same . (is/are)
3. By the death of Asha , she __________ lost a great friend and benefactor. (has/have)
4. The painter and the poet ________ awarded.
VII. When the nouns take a single idea , they take a singular verb .
1. Bread and jam _____________ a tasty breakfast.
2. Toast and eggs ________ still my favourite breakfast.
VIII. with , as well as , along with , not only …but also , either …or , neither nor
1. When the subject consists of two nouns or pronouns joined with – with , as well as , along
with , the verb agrees to the first one .
a) The captain with his team _____ arrived . (has /have)
b) They as well as I _____________ leaving for the summer camp . (is/are)
c) The general along with his soldiers _________ very happy . ( seem/seems)
2. When two subjects are connected with not only … but also , either or / neither nor …. the
verb agrees with the latter subject
a) Not only Neha but also her siblings ____________ to visit their hometown . ( want /wants)
b) Not only Rohan but also Sohan _______a good dancer . (is/are)
c) Neither the dogs nor the cat ________ going outside . (is/are)
d) Either the council members or the mayor ________ the celebration. ( attend/ attends)
e) Neither Kavitha nor they ____________ correct . (is/are)
IX . Either , neither , each , everyone , one of the , none takes a singular verb
a) Either of the these two candidates ________ fit for the job . (is/are)
b) Neither of the girls ___________ trained . ( was /were)
c) Each of the girls ____________ a balcony . ( has / have)
d) Everyone of these workers ____________ a trained electrician. ( is /are)
e) Each detective and each police officer________ given a medal. (was/were)
f) None of these books _________ the information that I need. (has/have)
X. Much/more /many a /many an
a) Much of their pride ______ brought their downfall.
b) More than half a month _____ passed since we last met.
C) Many a man _________ died for a noble cause.
XI . A lot of , a great deal of , plenty of , most of , some of
All these takes singular verb when they refer to amount or quantity ( uncountable nouns); takes
plural verb when they refer to number (countable ones)
a) A lot of salt ______ been added to the soup. (is/are)
b) A lot of boys _______ playing badminton in the park .(is/are)
c) Plenty of information __________ given to me by the receptionist. (is/are)
d) Plenty of books _____ available . (is/are)
XII. The majority of takes a plural verb (if the number is known ) ; the majority takes a singular verb if
the number is uncountable
The majority of these boys ____________ adventure novels . (like/likes)
The majority __________ no strong views. ( hold/holds)
XII. Number , variety
If these two words are used as subjects , then take the singular verb .
a) The number of volunteers ________ very encouraging . (is/are)
b) Variety _______ the spice of life. (is/are )
c) A variety of ( takes the plural verb)
XIII. Nouns plural in form but singular in meaning . ( various branches of learning and diseases)
a) Mathematics _____ a difficult subject to learn . (is/are)
b) Economics _____ an interesting subject. (is/are)
c) If my mathematics __________ correct , then you owe me a treat. (is/are)
d) The economics of the situation _______ been discussed in great detail . (has /have)
XIV.
1) When plural noun is the name of the book /country it takes a singular verb .
a) The Arabian Nights __________ still very popular. (is/are)
b) The United states _________ signed the trade agreement with India. ( has/have)
2) When a plural noun denotes some specific quantify or amount considered as a whole , it takes a
singular verb
a) Twenty kilometers _______ a long distance to walk.
b) Five hundred years ______ a long long time.
3) Fractions takes a plural verb if the ref is to the number but they take a singular verb if the ref is
to the quantity or amount.
a) Two – thirds of the clothes in the closet ______ mine. (is/are)
b) Two –fifth of his free time _______ spent in doing social work. (is /are)
XV. Nouns singular in form but plural in meaning …
1) Nouns which are singular in form but plural in meaning takes a plural verb
a) People ______ getting tired because of the queue.(is /are)
b) The police ___________ nabbed the culprit.(has/have)
c) Cattle _________ lashed mercilessly . (was/were)
2) Class nouns – food , clothing , furniture , crockery , cutlery , stationery are singular and takes a
singular verb …
a) The furniture of this house ________ bought from a nearby shop . (is/are)
b) The stationery sold here ____ made up of recycled paper. (is/are)
3) ‘a pair’ takes a singular verb and if we remove a pair then we can go for the plural verb.
a) A pair of cotton trousers _______ in the cupboard. (is/are)
b) These cotton trousers ________ very fashionable. (is/are)
4) Collective nouns
(crowd, group , army , committee, jury, assembly , herd etc) takes a singular verb but when it
is counted different in action then it takes a plural verb
The jury _________ agreed to our proposal . ( has/ have )
The jury ___________ divided in their opinion. ( is /are)
Collective noun + possessive = plural verb
In terms of games and sports , the state or country is termed as one , so it will take plural
verb
