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Delhi Public School: Subject-Verb Agreement

This document discusses rules for subject-verb agreement in English grammar. It states that a verb must agree with its subject in number and person. For example, a singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb. However, there are some exceptions. When two or more singular subjects are joined by "and", the verb is plural. But if the subjects are joined by "or", "nor", or "either...or", the verb is singular. The document also discusses how collective nouns can take a singular or plural verb depending on whether the group or individuals are intended. It provides examples and exercises to illustrate these rules.

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2K views4 pages

Delhi Public School: Subject-Verb Agreement

This document discusses rules for subject-verb agreement in English grammar. It states that a verb must agree with its subject in number and person. For example, a singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb. However, there are some exceptions. When two or more singular subjects are joined by "and", the verb is plural. But if the subjects are joined by "or", "nor", or "either...or", the verb is singular. The document also discusses how collective nouns can take a singular or plural verb depending on whether the group or individuals are intended. It provides examples and exercises to illustrate these rules.

Uploaded by

Gujnlsksks
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

 A Verb must agree with its Subject in Number and Person,


i.e., the Verb should be of the ‘same Number and Person as the Subject.’
 Mohan likes to eat fruit.
 Lions and tigers are wild beasts.

 Two or more Singular Subjects joined by and take a Plural Verb; as,
 He and his brother were absent.
 He and I are great friends

NOTE:
1) When two Subjects are regarded as representing one idea, then the verb is Singular; as,
 Slow and steady wins the race.
 Bread and butter is his favourite food

2) If two Singulars Nouns refer to the same person or things, the verb must be Singular; as,
 The poet and philosopher is dead. [Here ‘poet’ and ‘philosopher’ refer to the same
person.]
 The orator and statesman has arrived.

3) If the Article is used only once, then the two Nouns refer to the same person, and the
Verb used is Singular. But if the Article is mentioned twice, then two distinct persons are
intended, and the Verb following must be in the Plural Number; as,
 The poet and the philosopher are dead.
 The orator and the statesman have arrived.

 If two Singular Nouns joined by and are preceded by each or every, the Verb is Singular;
as,
 Each day and each hour brings us a fresh anxiety.
 Every man and every woman in the village was terrified.
 Two or more Singular Subjects connected by or, nor, either ... or, neither ... nor, take a
Singular Verb; as
 Either Ashok or Ranjit is in the wrong.
 Neither Raman nor his brother was present there.
 Neither iron nor coal is to be found in that country.
 Neither he nor I was mistaken.

NOTE:
4) When one of the Nouns or Pronouns joined by or, nor is in the Singular and the other on
the Plural, the Verb should be Plural and the Plural Subject should be placed near the Verb;
as,
 John or his brothers are to blame.
 Neither Ashok nor his friends were present there.

 If two Subjects joined by or, nor are of different person the verb agrees in person with the
Subject nearest to it; as,
 Either you or he is telling a lie.
 Neither my brother nor I am happy.

 If two Nouns are joined by with or as well as, the Verb agrees, with the first Noun, i.e. if
the first Noun is Singular, the Verb must be Singular, even if the second Noun is Plural; as,
 Raman as well as his friend has won the prize.
 Iron as well as gold is found in India.
 The King, with all his ministers, was killed.
 A Collective Noun takes a Singular or Plural Verb according to the sense. If the idea of
oneness is expressed, the Verb must be Singular; if the individuals of the collection
are thought of, the Verb must be Plural.
 Jury [= men of the jury] were divided in their opinions.
 Jury [= one body] has elected its President.
 The Council meets today in the Town Hall.

 Either, neither, each, every one, many a must be followed by a Verb in the Singular; as,
 Either of the two applicants is suitable.
 Neither of the two applicants is suitable.
 Each of these boys has done his best.
 Each of these substances is found in India
 When a Plural Noun denotes some specific quantity or amount considered as a
whole, the verb is generally Singular; as,
 Two thirds of the city is in ruins.
 A thousand rupees is a good sum.
 Four weeks is a good holiday.
 Similarly, with titles of books and name of sciences:
 The Arabian Nights is an interesting book.
 The United States has a big army.
 Physics is an interesting Science.

Exercise: 1 Fill in the blanks keeping in mind the rules of Subject-verb Agreement:
1. Your friend talks too much. (talk/talks)
2. The man with the roses looks like your brother. (look/looks)
3. The women in the pool swim well.(swim/swims)
4. Tom drives a cab.(drive/drives)
5. The football players run five kilometers every day. (run/runs)
6. The red-haired lady lives across the street.(live/lives)
7. Ram as well as Mohan deserves the sweets.(deserve/deserves)
8. Two hundred rupees is too much for this bag.(is/are)
9. The cartel of oil- supplying countries has submitted its report. (has/have)

Exercise: 2 In the following sentences, the verbs do not agree with their subjects.
Write the correct forms of the verbs:
1. Dr Jones and her mother teaches music.
Answer: Dr Jones and her mother teach music.
2. Each of the shops have a good stock of eatables.
Answer: Each of the shops has a good stock of eatables.
3. Let you and me goes together.
Answer: Let you and me go together.
4. Either you or your sister have to take the notes on the lecture today.
Answer: Either you or your sister has to take the notes on the lecture today.
5. Here are the list of supplies which you ordered.
Answer: Here is the list of supplies which you ordered.
6. Tom and Jerry are a funny series.
Answer: Tom and Jerry is a funny series.

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