Topic 6: Subject-Verb Agreement

 

Topic - 6

SUBJECT - VERB AGREEMENT

 

INTRODUCTION

Subject-Verb Agreement is an essential rule in English grammar that ensures the subject and verb in a sentence match in number and person. A singular subject takes a singular verb while a plural subject takes a plural verb. For example, “The boy runs fast" (singular subject + singular verb) and "The boys run fast" (plural subject + plural verb). The rule also applied in more complex cases, such as with collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, or compound subjects. Correct subject-verb agreement makes writing grammatically accurate, clear, and effective, avoiding confusion in communication.

 

Subject-Verb Agreement Rules

 

Rule 1: Singular subject → Singular verb / Plural subject → Plural verb

• The boy plays cricket every day.

• The boys play cricket every day.

 

Rule 2: Subjects joined by "and" usually take a plural verb

• Ravi and Ramesh are classmates.

• English and Mathematics are important subjects.

Exception: When the two nouns refer to a single idea, use singular.

• Bread and butter is his favorite breakfast.

• Time and tide waits for none.

 

Rule 3: Subjects joined by "or / nor" - verb agrees with the nearest subject

• Either the teacher or the students are in the hall.

• Neither the players nor the coach is present.

 

Rule 4: Indefinite pronouns are singular

(anyone, everyone, someone, each, nobody, etc.)

• Everyone is happy today.

• Each student has completed the assignment.

 

Rule 5: Collective nouns may be singular or plural

• The team is winning the match. (team as one unit)

• The team are wearing different uniforms. (members individually)

 

Rule 6: Distances, time, money, and measurements take singular verbs

• Five kilometers is a long walk.

• Ten rupees is not enough.

 

Rule 7: Titles of books, movies, and organizations take singular verbs

• The United Nations is meeting today.

• The God of Small Things is a famous novel.

 

Rule 8: With "there is there are" - verb agrees with the noun after it

• There is a book on the table.

• There are many books on the shelf.

 

Rule 9: "A number of" vs. "The number of"

• A number of students are absent. (plural)

• The number of students is increasing. (singular).

 

Rule 10: Subjects with "with, as well as, in addition to" - verb agrees with the main subject

• The teacher, along with the students, is going on a trip.

• The students, as well as the teacher, are excited.

 

 

Practice Exercises

 

Type 1: Choose the Correct Verb

 

1. My brother (play/plays) cricket every evening.

2. The dogs (bark/barks) loudly at night.

3. Each student (was/were) present in the class.

4. The teacher, along with her assistants, (is/are) guiding the project.

5. Neither the pen nor the pencils (is/are) on the desk.

6. Mathematics (is/are) an interesting subject.

7. The children (run/runs) around the park.

8. The news (was/were) surprising.

9. The train (arrive/arrives) at 6:00 p.m.

10. All the money (is/are) missing.

11. Everyone (know/knows) the answer.

12. The players (was/were) exhausted after the match.

13. Either my father or my brothers (was/were) at home.

14. A bouquet of roses (was/were) placed on the table.

15. The team (win/wins) every match.

16. Few students (is/are) late to class.

17. The cat (sleep/sleeps) under the chair.

18. The furniture (was/were) damaged.

19. Many of the books (is/are) useful.

20. Neither she nor I (was/were) invited.

21. The audience (clap/claps) after the performance.

22. My father (drive/drives) to work daily.

23. The crowd (was/were) shouting in anger.

24. Some of the water (was/were) wasted.

25. The teacher and the students (was/were) in the seminar.

26. Nobody (know/knows) the truth.

27. One of my friends (is/are) going abroad.

28. The stars (shine/shines) brightly.

29. Either the manager or the employees (was/were) late.

30. The bag of oranges (was/were) heavy.

31. She (speak/speaks) politely.

32. The police (has/have) arrested the thief.

33. A number of students (was/were) absent.

34. The horse (run/runs) fast.

35. The pair of shoes (is/are) new.

36. Neither the teacher nor the students (was/were) ready.

37. Ten rupees (is/are) too little for this item.

38. My cousins (live/lives) in Chennai.

39. Each of the questions (was/were) difficult.

40. These clothes (is/are) very expensive.

41. The dog or the cat (was/were) outside.

42. This book (belong/belongs) to me.

43. The committee (decide/decides) the rules.

44. Many a student (has/have) failed the test.

45. They (play/plays) football every Sunday.

46. The box of chocolates (was/were) empty.

47. There (is/are) many reasons for his success.

48. My uncle and aunt (was/were) present at the party.

49. The scissors (is/are) sharp.

50. The man with his children (was/were) waiting outside.

 

Type 2: Each sentence has an error in subject-verb agreement. Rewrite it correctly.

 

1. The list of items are on the desk.

2. Every student have completed the assignment.

3. The teacher, along with the students, are in the classroom.

4. The news are very interesting.

5. Either of the answers are correct.

6. The committee are meeting tomorrow.

7. My friends is waiting outside.

8. Neither he nor his brother are guilty.

9. Each of the players have a new jersey.

10. The pair of shoes are missing.

11. Ten kilometers are a long distance to walk.

12. The team are winning the match.

13. There is many books on the table.

14. A bouquet of roses were kept in the vase.

15. The police is searching for the thief.

16. Few student is absent today.

17. All of the information are correct.

18. Mathematics are my favorite subject.

19. The jury were unanimous in its decision.

20. One of my brothers are an engineer.

21. Everyone know the answer.

22. The crowd were cheering loudly.

23. Either my father or my brothers is at home.

24. The children plays in the park.

25. My uncle and aunt is coming tomorrow.

26. The stars shines brightly at night.

27. Many of the books is useful.

28. Neither the pen nor the pencils is on the desk.

29. The furniture were expensive.

30. The horse run fast.

31. Nobody know the truth.

32. A number of students was absent today.

33. The police has arrived at the scene.

34. The scissors is blunt.

35. These clothes is beautiful.

36. The teacher and the principal was present.

37. Ten rupees are too much for this item.

38. Each of the questions were very easy.

39. The Avengers is popular among children.

40. The man with his sons were waiting outside.

41. Either the cat or the dogs is making noise.

42. Few people was in the room.

43. One of the girls are singing.

44. The audience was clapping loudly.

45. The news were shocking.

46. The committee have decided on its plan.

47. My brother, along with his friends, are going out.

48. The crowd were moving in different directions.

49. The police is investigating the case.

50. Neither she nor I were responsible.

 

Type 3: Transformation Exercise: Change the verb form to make the sentence correct.

 

1. The bouquet of flowers were lying on the table.

2. Either of the solutions are acceptable.

3. The committee have announced its decision.

4. My brother, along with his friends, are playing cricket.

5. Each of the students have submitted the homework.

6. Ten kilometers are too far to walk.

7. The news were broadcast yesterday.

8. A pair of shoes were missing from the cupboard.

9. Mathematics are an interesting subject.

10. The crowd were clapping loudly.

11. The quality of these apples vary greatly.

12. Neither of the statements are true.

13. The teacher, with all the students, are in the lab.

14. The furniture were polished yesterday.

15. The scissors is on the desk.

16. The team were practicing hard.

17. Everyone know the correct answer.

18. The man with his two children were waiting outside.

19. All of the information are useful.

20. My uncle and aunt is visiting tomorrow.

21. A number of students was present.

22. Few people was absent in the class.

23. One of my cousins are a doctor.

24. The police has arrested the thief.

25. The stars shines brightly.

26. Neither he nor his brothers is ready.

27. The Avengers is famous all over the world.

28. The list of items are complete.

29. The audience was shouting loudly.

30. Each of the boys were given a gift.

31. The horse run fast.

32. The clothes is hanging outside.

33. There is many chairs in the room.

34. Politics are a dirty game.

35. My father and mother is at home.

36. The committee were divided in its opinion.

37. The pair of spectacles are broken.

38. All the students knows the answer.

39. The children plays football every evening.

40. Nobody know what happened.

41. These trousers is new.

42. Neither my father nor my brothers is working.

43. The teacher and the principal was present.

44. The police is looking for the suspect.

45. One of the girls are dancing on the stage.

47. The jury was divided in their opinions.

48. The number of students have increased.

49. The price of mangoes vary each season.

50. Neither of the pens are working.

 

Type 4: Fill in the Blanks

 

1. She _______ (run/runs) very fast in the morning.

2. The teacher _______(explain/explains) the lesson clearly.

3. My friends _______ (is/are) waiting at the bus stop.

4. The sun _______(rise/rises) in the east.

5. The dog _______ (bark/barks) loudly every night.

6. Ten rupees _______ (is/are) a small amount.

7. The players _______ (train/trains) hard for the match.

8. Every student _______ (has/have) completed the homework.

9. Neither of them _______ (was/were) present in the meeting.

10. The news _______  (was/were) shocking.

11. Mathematics _______ (is/are) my favorite subject.

12. The stars _______ (shine/shines) brightly in the sky.

13. My father _______ (like/likes) to drink tea.

14. The children _______ (play/plays) football in the ground.

15. Either answer _______ (is/are) acceptable.

16. The bouquet of roses _______(was/were) very beautiful.

17. A pair of shoes _______ (is/are) missing from the shelf.

18. My brother, along with his friends, _______ (is/are) going to the park.

19. The committee _______ (has/have) taken a decision.

20. The furniture _______ (was/were) very expensive.

21. Each of the books _______ (is/are) useful.

22. The police _______ (has/have) caught the thief.

23. Neither my mother nor my sisters _______ (is/are) at home.

24. The train _______ (leave/leaves) at 6 p.m. sharp..

25. The quality of these apples _______ (vary/varies) a lot.

26. Everyone _______ (know/knows) the answer.

27. All the water _______ (was/were) spilled.

28. One of my friends ______ (live/lives) in Canada.

29. The jury _______(was/were) divided in their opinion.

30. These trousers _______ (is/are) too tight.

31. There _______ (is/are) many birds in the tree.

32. The team _______ (was/were) celebrating its victory.

33. All the students _______(has/have) submitted their projects.

34. My uncle and aunt _______ (live/lives) in Mumbai.

35. Neither of the statements _______ (is/are) correct.

36. Politics _______ (is/are) a complicated subject.

37. The horse _______ (run/runs) very fast.

38. The audience _______ (was/were) clapping continuously.

39. Few people _______ (was/were) absent yesterday.

40. The price of mangoes _______ (vary/varies) every year.

41. The boy with his two sisters _______ (was/were) playing.

42. The scissors _______ (is/are) lying on the table.

43. All the evidence _______ (is/are) against him.

44. Neither of the pens _______ (is/are) working.

45. My favorite novels _______ (is/are) on that shelf.

46. There _______ (is/are) two options available.

47. Some of the milk ______ (was/were) wasted.

48. A number of students _______ (was/were) present.

49. The police _______ (is/are) investigating the case.

50. The pair of trousers _______ (was/were) torn.