SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT:
Basic Rule
- If Subject is singular then its verb will also be singular also if Subject is plural then its verb will also be plural and go accordingly.
Example:
- Ram eats in restaurant. (singular subject – singular verb)
- They eat in restaurant. (plural subject – plural verb)
First thing to learn is to identify the subject’s criteria either it is singular or plural.
Example:
- Each of these chocolates is/are good.
If you are aware that each is the subject, then you will definitely choose is for the verb.
The subject verb agreement rule is not followed for the verb in Past Indefinite Tense i.e. simple past tense which having no helping verb.
Example:
- Horse ate grass.
- Horses ate grass.
Important rules for Subject Verb Agreement:
1. When a phrase starts with ‘of’, then the word before ‘of’ must be a subject.
We always do mistakes in this type of sentence. If you have this rule in mind then you will never make any mistake again in this phrase sentence starting with ‘of’.
Example:
- The colors of rose are beautiful.
- A basket of red roses fill color and fragrance to the room.
2. When there is “and” connecting two or more subjects then we must use plural verb.
Example:
- Alia and Raghav are in the same class.
- Aditya and Pranuka are best friends.
Exceptions:
- Breaking and entering is against the law.
- The bed and breakfast was charming.
*In above sentences, breaking and entering and bed and breakfast are compound nouns.
3. When there is use of “Either-or” or “neither-nor” between two singular subject in a sentence then verb will be singular.
Examples:
- Either Ram or shyam is going to play cricket.
- Neither Radha nor Rekha is coming today at café.
4. When there is use of “or”, “either-or”, or “neither-nor”then verb in sentence agrees with the noun or pronoun closest to it.
Examples:
- The teacher or students are going to see exhibition.
- The students or teacher is going to see the exhibition.
- The students, staff or teacher is going to see the exhibition.
- Neither the books nor the pen is on the table.
- Neither the pen nor the books are on the table.
- This rule has a little difficulty. For example, if “I” is one of two (or more) subjects, then it goes according:
- Neither Alia, my friends, nor I am going to the party.
If it is possible rewrite such sentences grammatically correct then write it like:
Its better to write:
- Neither Alia, I, nor my friends are going to the party.
OR - She, my friends, and I are not going to the party.
5. If there is only one subject and more than one verb in the sentence then all the verbs in sentence will go (agree) with that single subject:
Example:
- Exams are one way to know about students and allow students to prepare rest.
- Driving is a skill that takes a good deal of practice and is a requirement of most peoples.
6. In a sentence when a phrase comes between the subject and the verb, keep in mind that the verb still agrees with the subject:
- The boys, who may jump the wall are few.
- The students, as well as teachers are coming in annual function.
- Player, having playing kit is very happy.
- The prime minister, who is very kind is expected to arrive shortly.
- The cat, having black eyes is feary.
7. When sentences start with “there” or “here,” Real subject always follows the verb.
Example:
- There are four ditches to jump.
- There is a high hurdle to cover up.
- Here are the toys.
Remember: In modern formal language There’s is used in place of There is. But by mistake many says There’s in place of There are too but it’s absolutely wrong so care it.
8. When there is mention of distance, sum of money, periods of time etc. as a single unit, Always use a singular verb.
Example:
- 80 miles is too far to travel.
- One lacs rupee is high amount to pay.
- 5 years is maximum to complete college degree.
Exception:
The word “dollars” is a special case. When reffering about an amount of money, it requires a singular verb, but when referring to the dollars themselves, it requires a plural verb.
Example:
- 10 dollars is a lot of money.
- 15 Dollars were scattered on the floor.
9. In Uncountable nouns we always use singular verb.
Example:
- Much time is wasted on unusual travelling.
- News is seen everyday on television.
- Cricket is favorite sport of India.
The information obtained from specs is important for future results.
10. When words show portions such as a lot of, a majority of, some of, all of, half of etc. then we have to focus on the noun after of i.e. If the noun after of is singular we should use a singular verb, If it is plural then we should use a plural verb.
Example:
- A lot of labour has gone to site.
- A lot of labours have gone to site.
- A majority of people knows the prime minister well.
- A majority of peoples know the prime minister well.
- Some of student has left the tuition.
- Some of students have left the tuition.
- All of bucket is broken.
- All of buckets are broken.
It’s funny to say that recently a new testing service SAT considered none as solo Singular. However, according to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of English Usage: It is mentioned that “none has been both singular and plural since Old English and still is”. The thought that it is singular only is a myth which has no origin and it rose in the 19th century. Beyond several criticism it exists that for singular presence according to you use a singular verb, if it seems like a plural then you should use a plural verb.
11. Nouns such as scissors, jeans, shorts, and tweezers, we should use plural verbs.
Example:
- The scissors are found at tailors shop.
- Zara jeans are light weighted.
- His shorts are on winger.
12. If a sentence starting with ‘there is’, ‘there are’/ ‘here is’, ‘here are’ We see that there is no subject which verb should follow. So verb follows with this one as subject.
Example:
- There is a shop.
- There are many shops.
13. When there is use of collective noun such as family, group, jury, audience, population, team, committee, class etc. which represents more than one person but considerd as singular takes singular verb. And also the verb may be singular or plural depending upon the writers intent.
Example:
- The group meets every Sunday to discuss.
- The committee agrees for the tender which passed.
- Few examples of deciding on basis of intent of writer:
- All of my family has left for Mumbai OR have left for Mumbai.
- Most of the jury is present OR are present.
- A third of the population was not in favour OR were not in favour of the reservation laws.
Remember
In new trends we started using singular and plural verbs in collective nouns caselessly without knowing whatever the sentence is. It is a great cause for struck in some sentences.
As
- Family is thinking how they want to travel.
Be careful in speaking or writing these type of sentence as when you are focusing on family members you used is there is also a word they attached to it.
- Family are thinking how they want to travel. This sentence goes into the flow.
For deleting these confusions always use the suffix to subject as,
- “Family members are thinking how they want to travel”.
It will be perfectly suited.
14. A clause beginning with who, that, or which and coming between the subject and verb can have some agreement problems.
who / that / which clause never contains the subject, but the prepositional phrase have subjects.
Example:
- A person who donates to charity deserves praise. {Singular subject with singular verb}
- Persons who eat heathy foods live longer. {Plural subject with plural verb}
- Anyone who arrives anytime is welcome. {Singular subject with singular verb}
- The hotel menu which contains 8 items allow us to choose. {Singular subject with singular verb}
To avoid mistakes in these type of sentence always try to follow the given two rules:
Rule1.
First locate the clause [who, which, that] and part associated with it.
- Anyone who sees the celebrity on road runs to greet them.
Rule2.
Find the true subject of the sentence and put the verb followed by it.
- Anyone who sees the celebrity on road runs to greet them. {Singular subject with singular verb}
15. The words each, each one, either, neither, anybody, nobody, everyone, everybody, anyone, somebody, someone, and no one are singular and require a singular verb.
Example:
- Each of these items is good.
- Everybody sometimes sees movie.
- Nobody is perfect.
- Either this reason is correct.