The document discusses verbs and subject-verb agreement. It provides several rules to help identify verbs and check for subject-verb disagreement: 1. Verbs convey action or state of being and require a subject and object. Every verb must agree in number with its subject. 2. Words like "each" and "either" are singular subjects that require a singular verb. Phrases separated by conjunctions like "and" are plural subjects. 3. Subjects connected by "or" or "nor" determine the verb based on the subject closest to the verb. 4. Inverted sentences have the verb before the subject, so the subject must be identified to check agreement. 5

1. VERB
A verb is what conveys the essential meaning of a EXAMPLE
clause; The essence of a sentence which shows
action or state of being.
The sentence The fish swim in the
pond says that something swims
somewhere, so the verb is swim.
Identifying a verb is an important step The sentence The fish love to swim says
in understanding the meaning of a that something loves something, so the
sentence. verb is love.

2. VERB
Every verb requires a SUBJECT, that is, what DOES the verb.
A verb also requires an OBJECT, that is, what RECEIVES the verb.
When James approached third IDENTIFY THE CLAUSE
base, the coach waved him home. IN THIS SENTENCE:
CLAUSE 1: SUBJECT : James
This sentence
When James OBJECT : Third base
contains two
clauses. approached third
base VERB : Approached
CLAUSE 2: The coach SUBJECT : The coach VERB: Waved
waved him home OBJECT : Him

3. SUBJECT VERB DISAGREEMENT
Subject Verb Agreement is where
the subject and verb in a sentence The best way to check for
agree in number. RULE I subject-verb disagreement is
to find the subject & verb
RULES that will help you check whether a verb agrees (ignoring all the intervening
in number with its subject: words) and say them
together.
EXAMPLE The phones in my clinic is
ringing continuously today.
INTERVENING PHRASE: in my clinic; CORRECT SENTENCE: The phones are ringing
VERB: IS RINGING (action); continuously today. (in my clinic – ignore
SUBJECT : PHONES. intervening phrase)
Phones is Plural, & hence needs a plural Verb.

4. SUBJECT VERB DISAGREEMENT
RULE 2 These words are singular & need a Sometimes it’s unclear if the
singular verb: Either, neither, everyone, subject is singular or plural.
anyone, anybody, someone, none, each, Remember a singular subject
another, everything, little & much. needs a singular verb.
EXAMPLES
Each day is a new day. Someone is knocking the door. Everyone is here.
To check for disagreement, replace the above words with IT.
These words are plural: Adjectives when used as subjects are either in
media, phenomena, data, criteria. singular or in plural form. Example - some, few, many, all.
To check for disagreement, replace All of the following can either be SINGULAR or PLURAL, basis the noun that
these words with THEY. follows the of: none (of), any (of), some (of), most (of), more (of), and all
(of).

5. SUBJECT VERB DISAGREEMENT
RULE 3
Phrases like Shaun and Barry are PLURAL, but phrases like Shaun, in addition to Barry,
are SINGULAR. Phrases that start as well as…, together with…, along with…, or in
addition to…are INTERRUPTERS which are not part of the main subject. Interrupters
break the continuity of a sentence.
When a sentence has either/or, OR neither/nor in it, then the verb will agree with the
subject which is next to nor/or.
EXAMPLE: Neither Sarah nor her Mother likes to drink.
EXAMPLE: Neither Harry’s friends nor Harry is taking a class today.
EXAMPLE: Ice cream or pastries are an excellent choice for dessert.

6. SUBJECT VERB DISAGREEMENT
RULE 4 Normally, the subject comes before the verb, but there may be times, when
the subject will be after the verb.
These sentences are called INVERTED sentences.
EXAMPLE: There are many sheep on the hill. (INVERTED)
Verb Subject
Some important steps here would be: IDENTIFY THE VERB,
ASK A QUESTION “Who or What?”
To check for subject verb disagreement in
these sentences, first uninvert them. Many sheep are on the hill. (UNINVERTED)

7. SUBJECT VERB DISAGREEMENT
RULE 5 When two or more subjects are joined by
a conjunction, it is known as a COMPOUND
subject.
EXAMPLES:
The car and bike An orange and a (Inverted) Available in the school library
belong to banana are his daily is The World History reference book and
Joshua’s brother. breakfast The Literature reference book.
Verb: IS Subject: the World History reference book Subject: the Literature reference book
A compound subject usually carries two articles (in this case – THE) or two possessive
pronouns (e.g., my, your, his) and is joined by a conjunction. In such cases, the verb is
always plural & requires a verb that does not end in ‘s’.

8. EXAMPLES

9. Choose the correct form of verb for each sentence
Either the teachers in this school or the principal __ going to make a decision.
IS/ARE
When subjects are connected by or, the subject closer to the
verb (which is, in this case, singular) determines the number of
the verb.

10. She seems to forget that there ___things to be done before she can travel.
ARE/ IS

11. Amy Grant, together with her teammates, ______ a formidable opponent on the
volleyball court. PRESENTS/ PRESENT

12. Choose the present form of verb for each sentence!
1. French__ proven to be Susan’s easiest subject this term. She
brings Ms. June, her class teacher, lunch, and, as her reward,
she finishes her essays.
a) Have
a) Has
a) Will have
a) Had

13. 1. Either the Salsa or the Jive __ Serena’s favorite dance form.
a) Is
a) Are
a) Was
a) Were

14. 1. Not only the audience but also the organizers ___ entranced
with the performance .
a) Was
a) Were

15. Identify the subject in each sentence, & choose the correct verb
1. Mathematics and Science ___my favorite subjects. IS/ ARE
1. Amid the sunflowers & daisies ____ one solitary primrose. WERE/WAS
1. There ____ at least a thousand people in the hall. WERE/ WAS
1. None of the cookies ____ eaten. WAS/ WERE
1. There ____ hardly a speck of dirt left on the counter. IS/ ARE
1. There ____ a pen and a pencil lying on the table. IS/ ARE
1. Much of what I hear in those lectures ____ in one ear and out the other. GO/ GOES
1. Either Sheila or her friends ____ in charge of bringing the cakes. IS/ ARE
1. Jason, along with Harry and Smith, ____ in charge of bringing the cakes. IS/ ARE
1. Never before, ____ there been such language heard in a public forum. HAVE/ HAS

16. Identify the subject & replace the correct form in the blank.
1. The earnings from the sale of every auctioned item goes to an NGO. ________ GO
1. The company’s sponsorship of child education & welfare programs have garnered
many acclamations from charitable groups. ________ HAS
1. Every player on both the Mascarenhas and the Brians were at the charity meet after
the game. ________ WAS
1. There is more than 5 years remaining on his contract. ________ ARE
1. The technology behind refrigerators, microwaves, and deep freezers have
transformed nearly every aspect of the consumer durables industry. ________HAS
1. There has been an auditorium and a toy store in the shopping mall ever since it
opened. ________ HAVE

17. 1. The treatment can resume as planned because neither of the girls are sensitive to
Sulphur. ________ IS
1. How important is your gym training and your dietary habits to your daily regime?
________ ARE

18. PRACTICE - I
The following sentences contain either a single error or no error at all. Select
the error (underlined) that must be changed to make the correct sentence.

19. • Because Ryan thought that either accepting or A accepting
rejecting the offer were going to upset some B were
political party, he decided to delay the vote C political party
until after his re-election. No error.
D after his re-election
If the subject of a verb is an either, the verb must agree with E No error
the noun, which is in this case, rejecting.
Since this was a singular noun, the verb should be was.
• The local dry-cleaning company is one of the A one of the most
most professional in the state, so it is professional
B
surprising that the delivery of our clothes over
the last few days have been late. No error. C so
D have been late
The subject is ‘delivery’, which is singular, so the verb should
be ‘has been’. E No error

20. • Since 2010, the company has spent more on A has spent
employee benefit programs than they did in the B more
previous 7 years combined. No error. C they did
No error. The subject is ‘company’ and it is singular. D combined
E No error
• Surprisingly absent from the meeting were the A Surprisingly
CEO’s arrogance that he typically displays in
B were
such meets. No error.
C that
The subject is ‘arrogance’ which is singular, the verb should be D in such
was and not were.
E No error

21. • To become a lead ballet dancer, Shasha hopes A will help
that her training will help her to become faster B to become faster
and more graceful than both of her main
C both
competitors, each of whom receive more
practice time with the ballet team. No error. D receive
E No error
The subject ‘each’ is singular so the verb should be ‘receives’.
• Workers with less personal challenges is A less
likely to be more industrious. No error.
B is
The subject is ‘workers’ which is plural and the verb ‘is’ is C likely
singular. The verb should be ‘are’ D more
E No error

22. • Some parents believe that taking vitamins on a A believe that
daily basis help reduce a child’s vulnerability B on a daily basis
to infection. No error.
C help
The subject of the verb ‘help’ is ‘taking’, which is singular so D to infection
the verb should be ‘helps’.
E No error
• Despite the fact that they had lived in Spain A Despite
until they were 11 years old, neither of the B they had
girls are able to speak Spanish nor
C until they were
understand it very well. No error.
D are
The subject is ‘neither’ which is singular so the verb should be
E No error
‘is’.

23. • Not until the recent scandal has the newspapers A has
printed anything even vaguely negative about
B anything
the theater group or its actors. No error.
C negative
The sentence is inverted, as the subject follows the verb. The
D its actors
proper form of the verb is ‘have’.
E No error
• Each one of the lions in the circus require a A Each
special kind of diet. No error.
B require
The verb ‘require’ should agree with the subject ‘each one’, so C special
it should be ‘requires’. D kind of
E No error

24. • Contrary to what had previously been A Contrary
reported, the conditions governing the governing
B
ceasefire between India and Pakistan
arranged by America has not yet been C arranged by
revealed. No error. D has
The verb ‘has’ should agree with the subject ‘conditions’, so it
should be ‘have’. E No error
• Neither the experienced nor the fresher, are A nor
finding it easy to begin a career in medical
B are finding
administration because of a shortage of job
openings. No error. C to begin
D because of
The verb should be ‘is’.
E No error

25. • Nelly Smith, who is one of America’s most A who
distinguished architects, have designed many B most distinguished
famous buildings, among them the Bank of
C have designed
America. No error.
D among them
The subject is Nelly Smith (singular) so the verb should be ‘has
designed’. E No error
• Both major high school soccer teams – each A each
eager to dominate this year’s National Soccer to dominate
B
Competition – intend to review carefully the
videos of last year’s tournament. No error. C intend
D carefully
No error. Both teams ‘intend’ to review the videos.
E No error

26. • The number of phone calls received by the A received by
police department after the recent lottery B emphasize
scam emphasize the growing concerns of the
C growing concerns
government, who fear major frauds . No
error. D who fear
The verb ‘emphasize’ is plural but the subject ‘number’ is No error
E
singular. It should instead be ‘emphasizes’.

27. PRACTICE - II
For each question select the best answer from the choices given & fill the
corresponding circle on the right side.

28. • Gulliver’s Travels, like other children’s stories A B C D E
have elements that can only be fully appreciated
by adults.
b) like other children’s stories have Gulliver’s Travels is a
c) like other children’s stories, has singular subject & the verb
d) a children’s story, like others, has ‘have’ is plural. So the verb
e) is like other stories for children in that they have should be ‘has’.
f) like that of other children’s stories, has also

29. • Claims about the negative effects of the genetic A B C D E
alteration of fruits is more rumor than documented
fact.
The verb must agree with the
b) is more rumor than documented fact.
subject ‘claims’, which is
c) are more with rumor than of a documented fact.
plural. Option E is correct.
d) is more of rumor than documented fact.
e) is more of a rumor than a documented fact.
f) are a matter of more rumor than documented fact.

30. • Exhausted from a day of climbing up steep, rain A B C D E
soaked rocks, the group of trekkers were relieved
upon the final reaching of the bus.
b) group of trekkers were relieved upon the final Word ‘group’ is singular, so
reaching of the bus. the verb should be ‘was’.
c) trekking group became relieved after they got to
the bus.
d) group of trekkers was relieved to finally reach the
bus.
e) trekkers were relieved after the bus was finally
reached.
f) group was relieved after the trekkers finally
reached the bus.

31. • The recent increase in the number of applications to A B C D E
management schools have encouraged multinational
companies, many of whom had bemoaned the lack of
potential executives and managers, to recruit more
people. The subject ‘increase’
b) have encouraged multinational companies, many of whom is singular, so the
had bemoaned verb should be ‘has
c) have encouraged multinational companies, whom many encouraged’.
had bemoaned of
d) has encouraged multinational companies, many of them
had bemoaned
e) have encouraged multinational companies, many of whom
bemoaning
f) has encouraged multinational companies, many of whom
had bemoaned

32. • Neither of the boxers was aware of the massive A B C D E
injuries they had suffered because each was so
intently focused on defeating the other.
b) Neither of the boxers was aware of the massive
No error. Subject ‘neither’ is
injuries they had suffered
singular so the verb ‘were’
c) Neither of the boxers were aware of the massive
should be ‘was’
injuries they had suffered
d) The injuries suffered by the boxers who were not
aware
e) Having suffered massive injuries, neither of the
boxers was aware
f) Despite the injuries suffered, neither of the
warriors was aware

33. • By the time the play had finished, neither Keith nor his sons was able to stay awake
because of the boredom caused by the play’s inferior story.
b) neither Keith nor his sons was able to stay awake because of the boredom caused by
the play’s inferior story.
c) staying awake was an impossibility for Keith and his sons because of the boredom
caused by the inferiority of the story.
d) neither Keith nor his sons were able to stay awake because of the boredom caused by
the play’s inferior story.
e) Keith & his sons was unable to stay awake because of the boredom caused by the
play’s inferior story.
f) the play’s inferior plot had made it impossible for neither Keith nor his sons to stay
awake.
When using ‘neither, nor’ the verb should match in number the subject
A B C D E that follows ‘nor’. ‘daughters’ is plural, so ‘was should be ‘were’.

34. • The queen, together with the members of her A B C D E
entourage, are scheduled to attend the opening
ceremonies.
b) together with the members of her entourage, are
The subject, ‘queen’ is
scheduled
singular. The verb should
c) together with the members of her entourage, were
agree in number with the
scheduled
subject. Hence the verb
d) along with the members of her entourage, are
should be ‘is’.
scheduled
e) together with the members of her entourage, is
scheduled
f) being together with the members of her entourage,
is scheduled

35. • The Harmony Club host dinnertime shows on A B C D E
compositions ranging from classics to world music.
b) The Harmony Club host dinnertime shows on
compositions Club is a collective noun and
c) The Harmony Club host dinnertime shows on takes a singular verb, so
compositions, ‘host’ should be ‘hosts’.
d) The Harmony Club hosts dinnertime shows on
compositions
e) Dinnertime shows on compositions being hosted by
the Harmony Club,
f) Dinnertime shows on compositions hosted by the
Harmony Club,

36. • The positive effects of workouts, including fit A B C D E
muscles and regulating body weight, has been
broadly established.
The subject ‘effects’ is plural,
b) has been broadly established
so the verb should be plural
c) is being broadly established
too.
d) have been broadly established
e) has been broadly established far and wide
f) have been established broadly