Subject verb agreement, ENGLISH LANGUAGE, ENGISH GRAMMAR, SPOKEN ENGLISH, COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH, VERB, SUBJECT, OBJECT

1. AJIT SINGH
ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAINER
ajit.ceo@gmail.com

2. Subject – Verb Agreement relates to number
agreement (singular or plural) between the subject
and the verb that follows it……
e.g. The girl plays all day. (singular subject + singular
verb)
The girls play all day. (plural subject + plural verb)
Subject Verb Agreement

3. Singular subjects need singular verbs
Rule 1. Either – or
Either he or his friend has done this.
Either Radha or Suman was absent yesterday.
Rule 2. Neither – nor
Neither Ram nor Shyam has broken this glass.
Neither the boss nor his staff is busy in the meeting.
Rules of Subject Verb Agreement

4. Rule 3. As well as
He as well as his family has moved to Delhi.
My friend as well as I likes chess.
Rule 4. Along with
The Prime Minister along with his assistant was welcomed.
The teacher along with his students was busy in the class.
Rule 5. Abstract and Material nouns
Honesty is the best policy.
Love is blind.
Gold is a precious metal.
Water is life.
Rules of Subject Verb Agreement

5. Rule 6. Each, Every
Each pen and each pencil is costly.
Every boy loves playing cricket.
Rule 7. The
The first chapter and the chapter is easy.
The sixteenth and the seventeenth century’s literature is
very important.
Rule 8. Everyone, someone, no one, anyone
Everyone should his work himself.
Everyone of the girls should do her work herself.
Rules of Subject Verb Agreement

6. Rule 9. When two nouns together express one idea.
Bread and butter is his breakfast.
The horse and carriage is at the door.
Rule 10. When a plural amount is treated as a
whole.
Five hundred is a big sum.
Twenty kilometer is a long distance.
Rule 11. When a collective noun is treated as a
whole.
The jury has given its decision.
The team is trying its best.
Rules of Subject Verb Agreement

7. Rule 12. When two singular nouns refer to the same
person.
My brother and friend has come.
The poet and critic was honoured.
Rule 13. Nor, Not
You not he is guilty.
They not their child is responsible for this.
Rule 14. The number of + Plural noun
The number of boys was forty.
The number of cars is increasing every day.
Rules of Subject Verb Agreement

8. Rule 15. A lot of + Sing. Count. Noun
A lot of sugar is consumed in India.
A lot of courage is required to join the army.
Rule 16. A pair of + Plural noun
A pair of shoes was gifted to the needy people.
A pair of scissors was blunt.
Rules of Subject Verb Agreement

9. Plural subjects need Plural verbs
Rule 1. And
Ram and Shyam are best friends.
He and I are playing cricket.
Rule 2. A number of
A number of boys are going on a trip.
A number of students are raising slogans.
Rule 3. A lot of + Count. Noun
A lot of ideas were given.
A lot of candidates are applying for this post.
Rules of Subject Verb Agreement

10. Rule 4. Either – or
Either he or you are guilty.
Either Ram or his friends are participating in sports.
Rule 5. Neither – nor
Neither she nor I am to blame.
Neither Radha nor her sisters are interested in make-up.
Rule 6. Each, Every
Each pen and pencil are costly.
We each have our own problems.
Rules of Subject Verb Agreement

11. Rule 7. The
The first and the second chapter is easy.
The sixteenth and the seventeenth century plays vital
role in the history.
Rule 8. When a plural amount is treated in a plural
manner.
Ten thousand rupees have been spent.
Five kilometers have been covered.
Rule 9. When a collective noun is treated
individually.
The jury are divided in their opinions.
The parliament were divided on the bill.
Rules of Subject Verb Agreement

12. Rule 10. When two persons are preceded by article
or pronoun they are treated in a plural manner.
My brother and my friend have come.
The poet and the critic were honoured.
Rule 11. As well as
The students as well as their teacher are working
hard,
The followers as well as their leader were meditating.
Rule 12. Along with
The employees along with their leader were
protesting.
The children along with their parents are enjoying
themselves in the park.
Rules of Subject Verb Agreement

13. Additional Rules
Rule 1. The following expressions are not followed by
“To”:
Would rather, would sooner, would better, rather than, had
better, But, Except.
I would rather die than to beg. (Omit To here)
There was no alternative but to help him. (Omit To here)
Rule 2. Following verbs are followed by To Infinitive (To
+ V1)
Agree, fail, forget, manage, remember, decide etc.
He agreed to help us.
She remembered to wish me.
I forgot to inform them.
Rules of Subject Verb Agreement

14. Rule 3. Following expressions are followed
by V1+ing :
Look forward to
Accustomed to
With a view to
Is / am / are to
I am accustomed to teaching students.
He is not used to lying.
He has joined our group with a view to improving his
English.
We look forward to seeing you.
Rules of Subject Verb Agreement

15. Rule 4. Following verbs are not followed by To
Infinitive (To + V1) :
Let, bid, see, watch, need, dare, make etc.
He made me to do this. (Omit To here)
How dare you to say this? (Omit To here)
He need not to revise this lesson. (Omit To here)
He heard me to sing a song. (Omit To here)
Rules of Subject Verb Agreement

16. 1. One of the students in our class ............. a car. has / have
2. Either Shobha or I .......... to blame. Is / am
3. The quality of the mangoes ............ not good. was / were
4. Each of these minerals ............. found in India. is / are
5. He is one of the greatest leaders that .......... ever lived. has /
have
6. A black and red cow ............... grazing in the field. is / are
7. The orator and the statesman .............. arrived. has / have
8. The council ........... chosen its president. has / have
9. Most of the students ................ their time. waste / wastes
10. All the students in our college ............... English. speak /
speaks
Fill in the blanks with suitable verbs choosing from
the brackets:

17. 1. The rich is not honest. (Are)
2. We each has a problem. (have)
3. Either of these boys are eligible for selection. (is)
4. The behaviour of the students were not proper. (was)
5. The poet and critic have been honoured. (has)
6. He does whatever his father want him to do. (wants)
7. Does books for children use shorter sentences than those
for adults. (Do)
8. All his relatives except his daughter has gone on vacation.
(have)
9. You must pay respect to those who has respect for you.
(have)
10. What one needs are a pair of blankets rather than a box
full of warm clothes. (is)
Correct the following sentences: