Subject Verb Agreement Rules

Rule 1: Either / or – Singular Verb

When connecting 2 Singular subject we use S.V

e.g Either Ram or Shyam is playing piano.

Rule 2: When 2 different subject are connected using ” Either- Or / Not

Only / Neither – Nor / but Also “ then we use verb according to

closest/ second.

e.g ) Either Ram or his friends are studying for exams.

Neither the students nor the teacher is going for the trip.

Rule 3: When 2 subject (both Singular/both Plural/ S-P)are connected

using “AND” then we use Plural verb.

e.g Ram and Shyam are friends.

Ram and his brothers are my friends.

Rule 4: When 2 different part of same subject are connected using AND

then we use IS.

Eg) Bread and butter is a good breakfast

 Eg) Rise and pulse is nice lunch. (rice-pulse are part of lunch)

Rule 5: When “Either/ Neither /Each / Every ” is used w/o its pair then

We use singular verb.

e.g) Either of the boys is allowed to go out.

Each of the students is supposed to participate.

Rule 6: If we have a plural noun treated as single subject then we use

Singular verb.

e.g) Five Thousand Rupees is a huge amount. (5 k is treated as

Singular subject w.r.t “a huge amount”)

Fifty miles is a long distance.

Rule 7: With ‘Each and Every’ we use ‘is’ instead of are.

e.g) Each and every one of you is required.

Rule 8: Will (modal verb) + V1

Eg) will probably lead and not will probably leading

Rule 9: a+ singular

Eg) in such a way and not a ways

Rule 10: After “each” / “every ” we use Singular verb.

e.g) every facet and not every facets

Rule 11: After “while”we use –ing

e.g) while entering and not while entered

Rule 12: When 2 adjective are used together, the first one should be
converted to adverbs by adding –ly.

e.g) their excessive busy and fast life.

-> their excessively busy and fast life.

e.g : We can only come to a conclusion if we sit together.

e.g) We can come to a conclusion only if we sit together.

Rule 13: Never use “as” with “recruit, appoint, consider”

e.g) He appointed him as an Assistant. (Wrong)

He appointed him an Assistant. (Wrong)

Rule 14: Never use preposition with adverbial phrase.

e.g) He does work with heart and soul to qualify the test.

He does work heart and soul to qualify the test.

Rule 15: Some Adj. can be converted to Adv. By adding “–ly”.

e.g) Beautifully. (some may not e.g) Little, Enough)

Rule 16: In case of multiple adverb we follow “MPT” rule –

“Manner-Place-Time”.

e.g) He yesterday read a book at home carefully.

(3 adv : yest; at home ; carefully)

Ans) He read a book carefully at home yesterday

PREPOSITION

1) Compared To / Compared With

Compared To : Different things
Compared With : Similar Things

e.g) Ram’s batting can be Compared With Shyam’s.

His fielding can be Compared To thunderstorm.

2) Improvement On : When 2 subject ; Comparing 2 different things

and latter goes better.
Improvement In : When one single subject.
e.g) Today’s condition of patient is an improvement on
yesterday’s.
There is an improvement in his behavior.

3) Above : When something is up and is at rest.

Over : When something is up and is in motion.
e.g) The sky is above us.
The clouds are over us.
 The bird flew over the lake.

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