Subject-Verb Agreement — Complete Grammar Guide
What is Subject-Verb Agreement?
Subject-Verb Agreement means that the verb in a sentence must agree with its subject in number. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.
Examples: She goes to school. (singular subject + singular verb) They go to school. (plural subject + plural verb)
Why is Subject-Verb Agreement Important?
Correct subject-verb agreement makes sentences grammatically correct and clear. In the SEE examination, this topic is tested through fill-in-the-blank questions, error correction and choosing the correct form of the verb. Many students lose marks because of simple agreement mistakes. Mastering the rules is essential for accuracy in writing and grammar sections.
- It makes sentences grammatically correct.
- It is frequently tested in SEE English.
- It improves the quality of writing and speaking.
- Even advanced students make mistakes in this area.
Basic Rule
| Subject | Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Singular (he, she, it, singular noun) | Singular verb (V1 + s/es or is/was/has) | She writes. The boy is playing. He has finished. |
| Plural (I, we, you, they, plural noun) | Plural verb (V1 or are/were/have) | They write. The boys are playing. We have finished. |
Important Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement
1. Subjects joined by “and”
When two or more subjects are joined by “and”, the verb is usually plural.
- Ram and Sita are good friends.
- My father and mother work in the same office.
- He and I are classmates.
Exception: If the two subjects refer to the same person or thing, the verb is singular.
- My teacher and guide is very kind. (same person)
- Bread and butter is my favourite breakfast. (one dish)
2. Subjects joined by “or”, “nor”, “either...or”, “neither...nor”
The verb agrees with the subject nearest to it.
- Either Ram or his friends are coming.
- Either his friends or Ram is coming.
- Neither the teacher nor the students were present.
- Neither the students nor the teacher was present.
3. Each, Every, Everyone, Someone, Anybody, Nobody, Nothing, etc.
These words are singular and take a singular verb.
- Each of the students has a book.
- Everyone is ready.
- Somebody has taken my pen.
- Nobody knows the answer.
- Nothing is impossible.
- Every boy and every girl is present.
4. Collective Nouns
Collective nouns (team, family, committee, class, government, audience, jury, etc.) usually take a singular verb when the group is considered as one unit. They take a plural verb when the members are considered individually.
- The team is playing well. (as one unit)
- The team are arguing among themselves. (members as individuals)
- My family is large.
- The committee has decided.
5. There is / There are
The verb agrees with the noun that follows.
- There is a book on the table.
- There are many books on the table.
- There was a problem.
- There were several problems.
6. Uncountable Nouns
Uncountable nouns (water, milk, information, advice, furniture, news, luggage, etc.) take a singular verb.
- The news is good.
- Water is necessary for life.
- Furniture is expensive.
- His advice was useful.
7. Titles of Books, Films, Countries, etc.
Titles are treated as singular even if they look plural.
- “The Arabian Nights” is an interesting book.
- The United States is a powerful country.
- Mathematics is my favourite subject.
8. Expressions of Time, Money, Distance and Weight
These usually take a singular verb when considered as a single amount or unit.
- Ten years is a long time.
- Five hundred rupees is enough.
- Ten kilometres is not a long distance.
- Two kilos of rice is required.
9. One of + Plural Noun
“One of” is followed by a plural noun but the verb is singular because the subject is “one”.
- One of my friends is a doctor.
- One of the students has broken the window.
- One of the books is missing.
10. A number of vs The number of
| Expression | Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A number of + plural noun | Plural verb | A number of students are absent. |
| The number of + plural noun | Singular verb | The number of students is increasing. |
11. With “as well as”, “along with”, “together with”, “in addition to”, “accompanied by”
The verb agrees with the first subject.
- The teacher, as well as the students, is present.
- The students, as well as the teacher, are present.
- Ram, along with his friends, is coming.
- The manager, together with his assistants, has arrived.
12. Relative Pronouns (who, which, that)
The verb agrees with the noun that the relative pronoun refers to.
- It is I who am responsible.
- She is one of the girls who are selected.
- He is the only one of the boys who has scored distinction.
13. All, Some, Most, None, Half
These words can take singular or plural verbs depending on the noun that follows.
- All of the water is clean. (uncountable → singular)
- All of the students are present. (countable → plural)
- Some of the money has been stolen.
- Some of the books have been stolen.
- None of the information is correct.
- None of the students were late.
14. Sentences Beginning with “Here” or “There”
The verb agrees with the real subject that follows.
- Here is your book.
- Here are your books.
- There comes the bus.
- There go the children.
Important Rules Summary
- 1Singular subject → singular verb; Plural subject → plural verb.
- 2Subjects joined by “and” usually take a plural verb.
- 3With “or / nor / either...or / neither...nor”, the verb agrees with the nearest subject.
- 4Each, every, everyone, someone, anybody, nobody → singular verb.
- 5Collective nouns are usually singular when the group acts as one unit.
- 6Uncountable nouns take singular verbs.
- 7One of + plural noun → singular verb.
- 8A number of → plural; The number of → singular.
- 9With “as well as / along with / together with”, the verb agrees with the first subject.
- 10Expressions of time, money and distance are usually singular.
Common Mistakes
- 1Wrong: The news are good. Correct: The news is good. Reason: “News” is uncountable and singular.
- 2Wrong: One of my friends are a doctor. Correct: One of my friends is a doctor. Reason: The subject is “one”.
- 3Wrong: Either Ram or his brothers is coming. Correct: Either Ram or his brothers are coming. Reason: Verb agrees with the nearest subject.
- 4Wrong: The team are playing well. Correct: The team is playing well. (when considered as one unit)
- 5Wrong: A number of students is absent. Correct: A number of students are absent. Reason: “A number of” takes plural verb.
- 6Wrong: The number of students are increasing. Correct: The number of students is increasing. Reason: “The number of” takes singular verb.
- 7Wrong: The teacher, as well as the students, are present. Correct: The teacher, as well as the students, is present. Reason: Verb agrees with the first subject.
- 8Wrong: Everybody are ready. Correct: Everybody is ready. Reason: “Everybody” is singular.
Remember (Memory Tricks)
- Singular subject → singular verb (he/she/it + s/es)
- and → usually plural
- or / nor → nearest subject
- each / every / everyone / someone / nobody → singular
- one of + plural → singular verb
- a number of → plural; the number of → singular
- as well as / along with → first subject decides the verb
- news / furniture / information / advice → singular
SEE Exam Tips
- 1First identify the real subject of the sentence.
- 2Ignore phrases that come between the subject and the verb (as well as, along with, together with, etc.).
- 3With “either...or / neither...nor”, look at the subject closest to the verb.
- 4Remember that “one of”, “each”, “every”, “everyone” take singular verbs.
- 5Check whether the noun is countable or uncountable.
- 6In error correction questions, the agreement error is one of the most common types.
- 7Practise the special cases (collective nouns, a number of, the number of) carefully.
How Subject-Verb Agreement Appears in SEE
- Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb
- Choose the correct alternative
- Correct the errors in the following sentences
- Rewrite the sentences with the correct verb form
Quick Revision
- Singular subject → singular verb; Plural subject → plural verb
- and → plural (usually)
- or / nor / either...or / neither...nor → nearest subject
- each / every / everyone / someone / nobody / nothing → singular
- one of + plural noun → singular
- a number of → plural; the number of → singular
- as well as / along with / together with → first subject
- Collective nouns → usually singular
- Uncountable nouns → singular
- Time / money / distance → usually singular