3. What is Subject Verb
Agreement?
Subject is the person, place, thing or idea about which we
are talking about in the sentence. A verb is used to
describe an action, state or occurrence. Every sentence
has subject and suitable verb. Subjects and verbs
must agree with one another in number (singular or plural).
This is called subject verb agreement.
Now, Read the following two sentences:-
1. Dia are washing the dishes in the kitchen.
2. The girls likes ice cream.
Do you find any problem in above two sentences?
Yes of course. The above 2 sentences have subject-verb
agreement problems.
4. Basic Rule:
If the subject is plural, a plural verb is required
and if the subject is singular, a singular verb is
required.
Let’s fix the above two sentences as per the
basic rule.
1. Dia is washing the dishes in the kitchen.
Here subject (Dia) is singular. So we will use
singular form of verb (is).
2. The girls like ice cream.
7. Rule 1 -
When two singular subjects are connected by
the words “or”, “either/or”,
“neither/nor” requires singular verb.
Example:
1. Neither Ria nor Tia is coming today.
2. Either Priya or Shreya is helping today in
role play preparation.
3. Tim or Tom is to blame for the project delay.
8. Rule 2 -
When one subject is singular and other is plural are connected by the
words “or”, “either/or”, “neither/nor”, “not only/but also” then
look at the closest subject to the verb. If the subject closest to the
verb is singular, use a singular verb and if the subject is plural, use a
plural verb. Neither and either sometimes take a plural form of verb
when these pronouns are followed by a prepositional phrase
beginning with of.
Example:
1. Neither my sisters nor my father is going to the party today.
2. Either my father or my sisters are going to the party today.
3. Are either my friends or my brother responsible?
4. Is either my brother or my friends responsible?
5. Not only Ayush but also Arya wants to visit Taj Mahal.
9. Rule 3 -
When two or more subjects are joined
by “and” require plural form of verb. But this
rule does not apply in case of compound
noun.
Example:
1. The dog and the cat are jumping over the
fence.
10. Rule 4 -
In case of nouns such scissors, trousers,
tweezers, pliers, binoculars, glasses, jeans,
pants, shorts etc. (thing made of two parts)
require plural verbs unless they're preceded by
the phrase pair of.
Example:
1. These glasses are very expensive.
2. A pair of plain trousers is in the almirah.
11. Rule 5 -
Collective nouns are considered singular and
hence requires singular verb.
Example:
1. Our team is doing well in this match.
2. Her family is very helpful.
3. The committee is discussing the
problem.
12. Rule 6 -
In case of indefinite pronoun such as anyone, everyone,
anybody, everybody, someone, somebody, no one, nobody are
singular and require singular form of verbs.
Example:
1. Somebody is here.
2. Everyone has finished his or her project.
3. Everybody knows about Mrs. X.
4. Everybody is ready to help her.
5. Anyone who wants to pursue higher education has to
clear entrance tests.
13. Rule 7 -
In case of pronoun such as few, both,
many, several and some almost always
requires plural form of verbs.
Example:
1. Some people in my neighbor are
very helpful.
2. Few things were left to be done.
14. Rule 8 -
In case of pronoun such as all and some
refer to singular or plural depending on what
they are pointing to.
Example:
1. Some marbles are missing.
2. Some of the liquid is used.
15. Rule 9 -
In case of word that end in –s but are singular
require singular verbs and in case of word that
end in –s but are plural require plural verbs.
Example:
1. The news is so embarrassing.
2. Our sincere thanks go to our principal.
3. The media have exposed the facts.
16. Rule 10 -
In case of relative pronouns such as who,
whom, which, that etc. are considered either
singular or plural depending upon the words
they are pointing to.
Example:
1. The marketing manager is a good
researcher who spends enough time to study
the market.
2. The marketing managers are good
researchers who spend enough time to study
17. Rule 11 -
In case of words is joined to a singular
subject by ‘as well as’ or ‘with’ we use
singular form of helping verb.
Example:
1. The purse, with all my all cards, is
lost.
2. The CEO, as well as his team
18. Let’s Learn a Fun Fact
about Subject – Verb
Agreement
19. Fun Fact
In English grammar, subject-verb
agreement is the correspondence
of a verb with its subject in person
(first, second, or third) and number
(singular or plural). It is also known
as subject-verb concord .
