Important Subject-Verb Agreement Rules
1. A singular subject takes the verb in singular and a plural subject takes the verb in plural.
There is a man.
There are four men.
He is happy.
They are happy.
If the story were true, what would it matter?
An uncountable noun, though plural in sense takes a singular verb:
Her hair is grey.
The grass is getting long.
1. (B) We can use the + Adjective with a plural verb to refer to some group of people in society :
The old are generally respected.
The poor are not always dishonest.
2. Two or more singular subjects connected by 'and' usually take a verb in the Plural.
When and is followed by a negative word as no, not, the verb agrees with the word preceding not.
Ram and Shyam are two brothers.
He and his friend have arrived here.
I, and not my brother, have done this.
Only boys and no girl are guilty.
3. If two singular nouns refer to the same person or thing, or subjects together express one idea, the verb must be singular.
The Headmaster and President of the school coming.
The Headmaster and the President of the school are coming.
Bread and butter is his favourite food.
Slow but steady wins the race.
Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
Titles and names of plural form also take a singular verb when they refer to one thing:
Star Wars was a very successful film
A phrase of measurement though plural in form takes a singular verb:
Two hours is a long time to walt.
Five miles is too far to walk.
4. We use a singular verb after a subject with every, each, everyone, someone, anything and nothing.
Every pupil has a book.
Each boy was wicked.
Someone is waiting at the door.
Nothing happens in this place.
Note: When each follows a plural subject, the verb is plural.
"The pupils each have to take a test." -Oxford guide to Eng. Grammar by John Eastwood.
5. If two or more singular subjects preceded by each or every are connected by and the verb is usually Singular.
Each boy and each girl was dressed with a new dress.
Every man, woman and child was charmed.
Every man and woman in the village was present at the festival.
Every hour and minute brings its call for duty.
6. Two or more singular subjects connected by or, nor, either....or, neither..... nor take a verb in the singular:
The boy or the girl is fond of sweets.
Either Amal or Bimal has eaten the mango.
Neither you nor I was there.
7. When the subjects joined by 'or', 'nor'. 'either..or', 'neither...nor' are of different numbers, the Plural subject comes the last and the verb must be Plural.
Nikhil or his friends have done the work.
Neither Akbar nor his brothers were hurt.
9. When the subjects joined by 'or', 'nor', 'either...or', 'neither..nor' are of different persons, the verb agrees in Person with the one nearest to it.
Neither you nor he is to blame.
Either you or he or I shall go to market.
*Note : In case of guilty -
I, he and you have done the mischief. (132)
Either I or you are to blame.
9. When subjects differing in number or person, or both are connected by 'and', the verb must always be in the Plural though the placing of Persons would be according to the above note.
You, he and I are friends.
You and he are birds of the same feather. You and I (not, I and you) would enjoy the T.V.
10. A collective noun takes a Singular verb when it is thought of as whole and takes a Plural verb when the individuals are separately thought of.
The army was defeated.
Fifty rupees is enough for me.
There is a large audience.
But -
The audience are requested to take their seats. (separately)
The jury has ordered to hang the man.
The jury are divided in their opinions.(separately, Noun of Multitude)
The committee has agreed to take unanimous decision.
The committee are divided in respect of details. (separately, Noun of Multitude)
A lott of/A group of/A number of:
There is a lot of boys on the ground.
A lot of boys are playing in the field.
Here is a group of boys.
A group of boys are enjoying a picnic.
There is a large number of boys in his class. A number of boys were caught copying.
Special Note from Oxford Guide To English Grammar — John Eastwood
"When a plural noun follow number of, majority of, or a lot of, we normally use a plural verb.
A large number of letters were received. The Majority of pe have complained.
A lot of people have complained.
Here a number of etc. expresses quantity.
(a) But when number means figure, it agrees the with the verb.
The member of letters we receives increasing.
(b) The word amount agrees with the verb.
A large amount of money was collected.
Large amounts of money were collected."
11. Some nouns which are singular in form but plural in meaning take a plural verb.
The police are questioning a man.
But, the policeman is watching outside the house.
People have to obey the rules.
Two dozen (not dozens) make twenty four.
One dozen of eggs cost eighteen rupees.
12. Some nouns which are plural in form but singular in meaning take a Singular verb.
The news is true.
The wages of sin is death.
Physics is a branch of science.
Politics is the business of his life.
A chemical works (factory) causes a lot of pollution.
But, Chemical works (factories) cause a lot of pollution
*Note: But some nouns are always plural and take a plural verb.
The goods were found to be defective.
My belongings have been destroyed.
13. When a plural noun is placed with a real singular subject such as one, each, etc. with the help of 'of', the verb must be singular, not plural.
In such cases plural verb is often wrongly used. (one of, each of, either of, neither of, etc. take a singular verb.)
One of the boys was ill. (not were)
Each of the girls is clever. (not are)
Each of the students was given prize. (not were)
Either of the books is stolen.
Neither of the books was interesting.
The quality of the oranges is not good. (not were)
Note: After 'None of' and 'None but' we can use either a singular or a plural verb.
None of the pupils has/have failed the test.
None is a shortened form of not one ; it is commonly used with plural verbs." - Wren &. Martin
None of them has (have) come back yet. ---A.L.D. Hornby.
"None but the brave deserves the fair." -- Shakespeare
"None but fools (has) have ever believed it."- COD. [Also, Wren & Martin]
More than one takes a singular verb; but 'More than two/three or more' takes a plural verb.
More than one boy is guilty.
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Some Notes from Modern English Usage by Fowler and "Current English Usage'' by F.T. wood.
(a) 'More than one' is treated as compound of one and agrees with a singular noun and a singular verb.
But, 'More than two' is treated as a compound of two and agrees with a plural noun and a plural verb.
More than one man was present there.
More than two men were present there.
(b) Half, heaps, lots, two-thirds, three-fourths, etc. take singular verbs when they are followed by singular nouns with 'of' but plural verbs when followed by plural nouns with 'of' :
Half of the work is done.
Half of the apples are bad.
There is lots of work to do.
Lots of people think so.
(c) After one and a half we use plural nouns and singular verbs:
One and a half lemons was enough.
(d) The greater / greatest part is singular when it refers to amount or quantity, plural when it refers to number.
The greater part of the land is uncultivated. The greater part of the apples are bad.
— F.T. Wood.
None — "It is a mistake to suppose that the pronoun (None) is singular only and must at all costs be followed by singular verbs, etc: the Oxford Dictionary explicitly states that plural construction is commoner."— MEU
None of the letters have been opened yet. (Plural, because, none has the meaning 'not any'.— F. T. Wood.)
14. When words are joined by 'with', 'together with' or 'as well as' etc, the verb agrees with the first subject.
The Prime Minister with all the members of his cabinet has arrived.
They with their father were punished.
Bibha as well as Nibha deserves praise.
He, and not you, (used parenthetically), has won the prize.
Some of his friends is buying some books.
15. After Not only .... but also, the verb agrees with the nearest phrase.
Not only George but also his friends are buying books
16. When the subject of the verb is a Relative Pronoun, care be taken to see that the verb agrees in number and person with the antecedent of the Relative Pronoun.
I who am your friend should stand by you. He who is my friend should stand by me.
You who are my friend should stand by me. This is the boy who is my friend.
These are the boys who are friends.
I am the man who has lost his pen.
Those are the men who has lost their belongings.
17. In referring to anybody, everybody, anyone, everyome, each etc. the pronoun of the masculine or the feminine gender is used according to the context.
I shall help each of the girls in her studies
Each of the boys will do his duty.
But when the sex is not determined, we use the pronoun of the masculine gender.
Each must do his best.
Anyone can do this If he likes.
Everyone likes to have his way.
If anybody knows the truth.
Let him tell it.
18. The Indefinite pronoun one should be used throughout.
One should be careful of one's (not his/her) duties.
One cannot be too careful about what one (not he) says.
19. The case of a pronoun following than or as is determined by the sense of the context and that can be done by mentally supplying the verb In the given context.
Ram's house is better than Jadu's (house). Ram's house is better than that of Jadu.
He is taller than I (am).
I like you better than he (likes you).
I like you better than (I like) him.
They gave him as much as I (gave him).
They gave him as much as (they gave) me.
"However, He is taller than me" is now accepted. - Wren & Martin
20. Many a/Many an before a noun is singular in form and the verb is usually singular.
Many a rose is born to blush unseen.
Many an admirer praised him.
Note: But when "A great many"/"A good many"/"Too many" is instead of ''Many a''/''Many an'' it is plural in form and the verb is also plural.
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
A great many / A good many boys were absent in the class.
21. Pair Noun:
A Pair Noun is plural in form and takes a plural verb.
Thee trousers need cleaning.
Your new glasses are very nice.
Here are the scissors.
We can not use "a or numbers" before the Pair Nouns.
"Not a trouser and Not two trousers."
We can use "pair (s) of" such Pair Noun with a singular or a plural verb.
This pair of trousers needs cleaning. How have three pairs of scissors managed to disappear ? - John Eastwood
22. A single Auxiliary may serve two Principal verbs if the construction allowes it.
I have lost the pen but (have) got the book.
[common Auxiliary for the same subject and same tense]
But when the subjects and tenses are purpose.
You have retired, but your brother has resigned.
I have resigned and a new man has been appointed.
23. A clause or a phrase as a subject takes a singular verb.
To err is human
That he is honest is known to me.
