In English grammar, Subject-verb agreement is concerned with the relationship between the Subject and the Verb. The relationship is also based on the Subject in person (First-person, Second Person, Third-person) with its Verb inaccurate number (Singular or Plural). The relationship is also known as ‘Subject-Verb concord’. Subject-verb agreement in English grammar is a type of inversion (Grammatical order of any language structure), where the subject and verb switch their order of appearance so that the subject follows the verb.

Subject and Verb must agree with each other in a sentence for the logically and grammatically correct order. Singular subjects follow a singular verb. Plural subjects follow plural verbs.

General Rules of English Grammar Subject Verb Agreement

Rule #1: General Rule for Singular Subject and Singular Verb

Singular subjects attach to singular verbs. The singular verb attaches ‘s/es’ in the last of V1 (A base form of the verb).

Singular subject + singular verb (V1+ s/es) + Object (He, she, it) + (eat + s/es = eats) + every day.

Example: The girl studies in the school.

The specific singular subject ‘girl’ follows the singular verb ‘study + es = studies’. Even the singular pronouns (He, She, And It) follow the same case.

Rule #2: General Rule for Plural Subject and Plural Verb

Plural subject attached to the plural verb. The plural verb does not attach ‘es’ in the last of V1 (A base form of the verb).

Singular subject + singular verb (V+ Object (We, they) + eat + every day.

Example: Girls study in school.

The plural subject ‘Girls’ follows the plural verb ‘study’. Even the plural pronouns follow the same cases.

Exception: ‘I’ and ‘You’, being singular personal pronouns, do not attach singular verbs with them.

Example: I/You plays football. .—WRONG I/You play football.—CORRECT

Memory Tip:

The subject is who performs the action. The verb is an action that is performed by the subject.

Exceptions to General Rules

Despite the General Rules, there are some exceptions, which are important for the candidates to keep in mind. Here’s a list of them.

1. Agreement indicating quantity and amount

Expressions indicating quantity or amount to be considered as a unit require a singular verb. This expression often refers to amounts of money, units of time, or measurements.

Example:

1. Five dollars is the price for that yellow shirt.
2. Two hundred yards is away from here.

2. Agreement with the Compound Noun joined by ‘AND’

Compound Noun joined by ‘and’ take ‘singular verb’ with them.

Example:

1. Bacon and eggs is the staple food of America.
2. Bread and butter is easily digestive.
3. Bread and butter is all a poor person has.
4. Homework is an assignment to be done at home.
5. The creator and champion of the sport is injured.

Compound subjects are the subjects that are formed by combining two or more than two subjects. Compound subjects are considered to be one. Such as Home + Work= Homework.

3. Agreement with the Coordinated Noun phrases

If the subjects in a sentence are joined with correlated conjunction, the verb is decided based on the subject nearest to the verb.

Example:

1. Either he or she is smart.
2. Either he or they are smart.
3. Either they or she is smart.
4. Either they or he is smart.
5. Either they or we are smart.

4. Agreement with Collective Nouns and Indefinite pronouns

Collective nouns/subjects will take a singular verb. An idea is a group of many. Such as Majority, Team, Government, Family, Choir

Example:

1. The family decides to stay together.
2. This group is against the government.
3. The minority is always less in number.
4. Team India wins the match when it plays well.

Cases of English Grammar Subject Verb Agreement

When the Verb Agrees with the first subject

Whenever in a sentence two subjects are joined by as well as, like, unlike, in addition to, along with, with, together with Then the helping verb is always used in accordance with the first subject. The first subject is the main subject as the action is done by him/her which is followed by the other subject.

Example: Parag along with Somya was invited to dinner at Adhiraj Gardens.

Parag (1st subject ) and Somya (2nd subject ) = two subjects was = singular helping verb.

As you can see these two subjects are joined by “along with”. So the helping verb used is singular.

When the Verb follows the second subject

Whenever in a sentence two subjects are joined by either….or, neither….nor, not only …….but also, none …..but Then the helping verb is always used according to the nearest subject (can be singular or plural).

Example:

1. Each one of the team members has participated in the cultural event held at Testbook.
2. Either Shipra or Tanya is working on SSC CGL live course

Shipra or Tanya = 2 subjects Helping verb = singular as it is used according to the nearest subject which is (Tanya) Either means one out of two so first we consider the first subject then the second subject because the first one is not working then it comes to the second one. Always remember that, when either and neither are used as pronouns, they are treated as singular and always take the singular verb.

Example:

1. Either of the books is fine for MAT preparation.
2. Neither of the employees finds the work laborious.

In these sentences either and neither are used as a pronoun and they always take the singular verb.

Whenever the sentence starts with each /every / each one /everyone

Whenever the sentence starts with each /every / each one /everyone Then the helping verb is always singular.

Example: Usage of “A number of”

When a Countable noun is given, A + number of (noun plural) + helping verb (plural)

Example: A number of aspirants have enrolled themselves for the SBI PO crash course on the Testbook website. aspirants (countable noun) Hence, have (plural helping verb)

When an uncountable noun is given, A + number of (noun singular) + helping verb (plural)

Example: A number of hindrances have occurred while launching missile hindrances (uncountable noun) A number of means indefinite no. so we will use plural helping verbs, as indefinite means much in number.

Usage of ‘The number of’

The number of + noun (plural) + helping verb (singular) Example: The number of aspirants enrolled for SBI PO LC is 1500 on the Testbook app.

• The number of aspirants is definite, that is 1500. Whenever something is definite it will take a singular helping verb.
• The is a definite article. Definite means something is certain, which is singular.

Usage of ‘and’

Rule #1: When two subjects are joined by ‘and’, the verb is plural.

Example: My friend and his mother are in town.

Rule #2: When two singular nouns joined by ‘and’ refer to the same person or thing, the verb is singular.

Example: The captain and coach of the team have been sacked.

The coach and the captain are the same person, so, an article is used only with the first subject therefore the verb will be singular here.

Common Mistake

In the above-mentioned example, in case these were two different individuals, two articles need to be used Example: The captain and the coach of the team have been sacked.

Usage of Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns (everyone, each one, after, each, someone, somebody, no one, nobody, anyone, anybody, etc.) are always singular.

Example: Everyone is selfish. We do not use ‘are’ in this sentence.

Exception: This rule for indefinite pronouns does not apply to few, many, several, both, all, and some. When the above-mentioned are used with Countable Noun, the verb is plural.

Example:

1. Some men are needed for the battle.
2. Several students were late for the class

When the above-mentioned are used with Uncountable Noun, the verb is singular.

Example: Some data was stolen. Here data is an uncountable noun thus the verb is singular.

Practice Questions

Q. Identify the segment in the sentence which contains the grammatical error.

You are not expect to do the work alone.

Ans: The given sentence has an error in the verb form of ‘expect’. The auxiliary verb ‘are’ is not in agreement with the verb form ‘expect’. We need to use a verb form that is in agreement with the particular verb. So, we will use the past participle form of the verb i.e. expected. The correct phrase would be ‘not expected’.

Q. Identify the segment in the sentence which contains the grammatical error.

The mother as well as her children were brought to the police station for interrogation.

Ans: The subject must be in agreement with the verb in the sentence. Here, ‘the mother, as well as her children’ will be treated as one because they are joined by ‘as well as’. We will use the verb which is in agreement with the singular subject. The given verb ‘were’ is used with plural nouns. Thus, the correct phrase would be- her children was brought.

Q. In the following question, the sentence is given with blanks to be filled in with an appropriate word. Select the correct alternative out of the four and indicate it by selecting the appropriate option. Japan as well as the Philippines ________ hit by an earthquake.

1. Were
2. Was
3. Had
4. Have

Ans: The verb here should be associated with the first subject. Since it is singular the correct verb is ‘was’. When ‘as well as’ is used the verb used must agree with the first subject. Hence, the correct sentence will be: Japan as well as the Philippines was hit by an earthquake.

Q. In the following question, the sentence is given with a blank to be filled in with an appropriate word. Select the correct alternative out of the four and indicate it by selecting the appropriate option.

Anita _________ a collection of every nations’ currency.

Ans:  Has is used alongside the Pronouns He / She / It and Who and Singular nouns. Thus, Option Has is the correct answer. Hence, the correct sentence will be: Anita has a collection of every nations’ currency.

Hope this helped you to understand the important concept of the Subject-Verb Agreement. Do practice it now on the Testbook App through the free mock tests.