This PPT is useful for students as well as teachers.

1. Prepared by- Rajni Jain
J.N.V Sirohi (Raj)

2. Subject Verb
 The main person, animal,
object or thing in a
sentence.
 The action or state of being
in a sentence.
 Like subject, some verbs are
singular and some are plural.
- Interesting Fact-
How to know whether the verb is singular or
plural.

3. Lets identify the singular and the plural verbs
Singular verbs Plural verbs
 Helping verbs like does, is,
has, was ( SINGULAR VERBS)
 Main verb – For e.g.
 likes ( V1 + s /es )
 All the above mentioned
helping verbs and main verb
ends with the letter ‘S’.
 To keep this concept in mind
assume ‘s’ as singular that can
be used with singular subjects
only.
 Helping verbs like do, are,
have, were (Plural verbs)
 Main verb - Like
 All the above mentioned
helping verbs and the main
verb don’t end with letter ‘S’
therefore, can be used with
plural subjects only.

4. Definition
Subject verb concord or agreement means that the verb
must agree with the subject.
For e.g.
He is a good speaker.
I am fine.
They are hungry.
John has come
Boys were laughing.
It is an interesting
story.
Subject
Verb

5. Subject doesn’t always come before the verb .
 For e.g.  Do you play cricket ?
 Does she live here?
 Have we done it.
 Where are my books?
 Here are the papers you
asked for.

6. Exception
In case of ‘I’ we can not use it with-
• goes
• is
• does
• Has
Though it is a singular subject yet used in a
different way-
• I am
• I have
• I was
• I do

7. BASIC RULE
(Singular subjects must have
singular verbs).
 My brother does not tell a lie.
 Jasmine is taking a test.
 He has learnt his lesson.
 Sam likes milk but his sister
doesn’t.
(Plural subjects take plural verbs).
 You are not driving properly.
 Suzan and her friends have also been
invited.
 They do not finish their work in time.
 Women were enjoying themselves.
 Note- ‘You’ always takes a plural verb
and counted as plural subject in both
the – situations whether singular or
plural.

8. Singular subjects joined by AND require a plural verb, except
when they refer to same person or thing.
When singular subjects are
joined together- use plural
verb.
 Larry and Mercy are reading
novels.
 Shelly and Rose are sisters.
 You, he and I play together.

 Two and two make four.
When two subjects refer to
same person, thing or idea -
use singular verb
e.g. The poet and philosopher is
dead. (article is not repeated)
 My friend and colleague has
come.
 Slow and steady wins the race.
(express one idea)
 Rice and curry is my favourite
dish.

9. When two subjects are joined by as well as the verb
agrees with the first subject.
 I as well as you am not right.
 His parents as well as he are illiterate.

10. If two subjects, one single and one plural, are
connected by EITHER/OR or NEITHER/NOR,
the verb agrees with the nearest subject.
 Neither the players nor the coach is joining.
 Either the conductor or the singers are attending the concert.
 Neither she nor her friend is guilty.
 Either you or he has stolen the pen

11. Two singular subjects joined by EITHER….OR or
NEITHER….NOR , OR , NOT ONLY….. BUT ALSO take a singular
verb.
 Either Mommy or Daddy is coming with me at the outbound.
 Neither Fredie nor Dolly is waiting for you.
 She or her sister is present here.
 Not only John but also Mary wants to come.
 Not only John but also his parents want to come.
 Singular subject Plural subject

12. When any of the following indefinite pronouns is the
subject, the verb is singular: EVERYBODY, EACH, EVERY, NO ONE,
, ANYBODY, NOBODY, NOTHING, EVERYTHING, ANYONE, EITHER,
NEITHER, EVERYONE, SOMEBODY, SOMEONE.
[Pronouns ending in -one, -body, or -thing are singular.*]
 Everybody was present in the meeting.
 Each of them is honest.
 No one knows this secret.
 Neither of these two roads leads to the hospital.
 Every Scout honours the scout law

13. Expressions of time, money, weight, and
distance are singular even if the form is plural.
 Two years is a long time to wait.
 One million dollars was given back to the owner.
 Twenty kilometers is a long distance.
 Four weeks is a long holiday.

14. If a sentence begins with THERE or HERE, the verb
agrees with the subject which follows it.
There
 There is a huge gap between
the rich and the poor.
 There were many players
present in the ground.
 There is no leaf on the tree.
Here
 Here are the ways on how to
preserve meat.
 Here is the man running
towards us.

15. When two or more Singular subjects are connected by with , along
with, together with, and not ,besides, no less than, accompanied by,
the verb is singular.
 Jake, accompanied by his sisters, is enrolling in a degree
course.
 The president, along with his family, is expected to come.
 The suitcase with all its contents was stolen.
 He no less than you is guilty.

16. If a singular subject is followed by a phrase
containing a plural noun, the verb is singular.
[one of + plural noun + singular verb]
 One of my friends needs some help
 One of the boys is yelling so loud.
 One of the members is against the rule.

17. THE NUMBER vs. A NUMBER
The expression the number is followed by a singular verb while
the expression a number is followed by a plural verb.
 The number of students in the class is twenty-eight.
 A number of people have tried to solve the problem.

18. The indefinite pronouns SEVERAL, FEW, BOTH, MANY ,
OTHERS are always plural.
 Both were asking to be freed.
 Several are seeking justice.
 Many people like to play cricket.

19. EXPRESSIONS OF QUANTITY
The indefinite pronouns SOME, MOST, ALL, NONE are
singular or plural according to the meaning of the sentence..
 Some of the book is good.
Some of the books are good.
 A lot of the equipment is new.
A lot of my friends are here.
 All of it is mine.
All of them are here. Friends

20. The following words are always plural: PANTS, TROUSERS,
PLIERS, SCISSORS, SHEARS, TONGS. However, if the word PAIR
is used, the verb is singular.
 The pants are torn into two.
.
 The pair of scissors was placed on the table.
 Where are the scissors?

21. Certain nouns, though plural in form, are
singular in meaning and therefore take
singular verbs.
Words ending in -ics take singular verbs when they refer to a
general area of study.
Examples:
Mathematics is my favorite subject.
The latest news is alarming to the public.
Some more examples- Politics, Economics, Physics and
Statistics etc.)

22. With words that indicate portions—percent, fraction,
part, majority, some, all…use the noun in
your of phrase, we can use singular and plural verbs
according to the object of the phrase.
Examples:
One half of the cake was consumed.
One fourth of the employees were attending the seminar.
Ten percent of the pie is gone.
Eighty percent of the pies have been eaten.

23. The name of a country or province or the title of book
is always regarded as singular.
Examples:
•The United States has beautiful beaches.
•Philippines is a wondrous place.
•Great Expectations, is an interesting novel.

24. Collective nouns may be singular or plural depending
on whether the individual members are acting
individually or collectively. These
nouns are: COMPANY, GROUP, COMMITTEE, CROWD,
JURY, FLOCK, TEAM etc.
Examples:
• The committee is against the plan. (acting collectively-singular)
•The committee are of different opinion. (acting individually plural)
• The Jury has four members.
•The Jury have different opinions.

25. If a sentence begins with the expletive IT, the verb is
always singular even if the subject that follows the
verb is plural.
Examples:
•It is the schools which must assume the responsibility.
• It is us who must take care of the environment.

26. Exercise : Subject and Verb Agreement Exercise
(Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the
subject )
1. Annie and her brothers (is, are) at school.
2. Either my mother or my father (is, are) coming to the
meeting.
3. The dog or the cats (is, are) outside.
4. Either my shoes or your coat (is, are) always on the floor.
5. George and Tamara (doesn't, don't) want to see that movie.
6. Benito (doesn't, don't) know the answer.
7. One of my sisters (is, are) going on a trip to France.
8. The man with all the birds (live, lives) on my street.
9. The movie, including all the previews, (take, takes) about
two hours to watch.
10. The players, as well as the captain, (want, wants) to win.

27. 11. Either answer (is, are) acceptable.
12. Every one of those books (is, are) fiction.
13. Nobody (know, knows) the trouble I've seen.
14. (Is, Are) the news on at five or six?
15. Mathematics (is, are) John's favorite subject, while Civics (is,
are) Andrea's favorite subject.
16. Eight dollars (is, are) the price of a movie these days.
17. (Is, Are) the tweezers in this drawer?
18. Your pants (is, are) at the cleaner's.
19. There (was, were) fifteen candies in that bag. Now there (is,
are) only one left!
20. The committee (debates, debate) these questions carefully.

28. THANK YOU