Our Own High School, Al Warqa’a, Dubai

Subject – Verb Agreement

I. The Verb agrees with the subject in number and person.

A. Number:

(i) The bird flies. (ii) The birds fly.

In sentence (i), the subject bird is in the singular, so the verb flies is also in the singular.
In sentence (ii), the subject birds are in the plural, so the verb fly is also in the plural.

B. Person:
(i) I am happy. (ii) He is happy. (iii) They are happy.
In sentence (i), the verb am agrees with the subject I.

In sentence (ii), the verb is agrees with the subject He.

In sentence (iii), the verb are agrees with the subject They.

II. Two or more singular subjects joined by ‘and’ take a verb in the plural.
Eg: a) Cotton and jute grow in India.
b) John and his friend have arrived.

III. If two singular nouns/adjectives refer to the same person or thing, the verb must be in the
singular.
Eg: a) My friend and guide is here.
b) Slow and steady wins the race.

IV. When a singular noun or Pronoun is joined to a second noun by with or as well
as, the verb is in the singular.
Eg: a) The captain, with all his men, was honoured.
b) The master as well as his servant is guilty.

V. When two or more subjects in the singular are joined by or, nor, either …or, neither…nor,
the verb is put in the singular.
Eg: a) Tom or Peter is to blame.

b) Neither Peter nor Harry was present.

c) Either Mark or Peter has passed.

VI. If two subjects, connected by or, nor, either….or, neither….nor are of different numbers or
persons, the verb agrees with the subject nearest to it.

Eg: a) Neither John nor his parents have come.

b) Neither he nor I am guilty.

VII. Either, neither, each, every, everyone, much, a little, many a, with must be followed by a
verb in the singular.

Eg: a) Either of the two boys has passed.

b) Neither of the two boys works hard.

c) Each of those boys is intelligent.

d) Every man, woman, and child was happy.

e) Every one of them is wrong.

f) Too much of everything is bad.

g) There is a little milk in the pot.

h) Many a boy has failed to do his duty.

VIII. A few, several, both, many, all are always followed by a verb in the plural.

Eg: a) There were only a few people present at the concert.

b) Several of my friends were not able to do the sum

c) Both the boys are fond of playing cricket.

d) Many students were playing tennis.

IX. Collective Nouns: when the subject of a sentence is a collective noun, a singular verb is
used.

Eg: a) The class of boys and girls is very large. (Singular verb because subject is class – a
collective noun, which is singular)

a) The army is marching forward smartly.

b) The flock of sheep is grazing in the field.
 C) IN A NUTSHELL
Sl. No. Subject Verb

1. Singular subjects joined by ‘and’ Plural

2. Two singular nouns refer to the same person or thing Singular

3. Singular subjects joined by ‘with’ or ‘as well as’ Singular

Singular subjects joined by or, nor, either …or,

4. Singular
neither…nor

Agrees with the

or, nor, either….or, neither….nor (subjects are of
5. subject nearest
different number or person)
to it.

Either, neither, each, every, everyone, much, a little,

6. Singular
many a

7. A few, several, both, many Plural

Collective nouns (class, furniture considered as

8. Singular
singular subject)