SUBJECT – VERB AGREEMENT

RULE – 1:- A verb must always agree with its subject.

Eg: The quality of the mangoes is not good.
The results of the fact are seen in the improvement of diet.
RULE – 2:- A subject that comes before a phrase beginning with ‘of’ is always
singular.
Eg: A bouquet of yellow roses lend colour and fragrance to the room.
One of my friends is in Delhi.
RULE – 3:- Two singular subjects connected by or / neither / nor require a
singular verb.
Eg: My aunt or my uncle is arriving by train today.
Neither Juan nor Carmen is available.
Either Kiana or Casey is helping today with stage decorations.
RULE – 4:- The verb in an or / either / or, or neither / nor, sentence agrees
with the noun or pronoun closest to it.
Eg: Neither the plates nor the serving bowl goes on that shelf.
Neither the serving bowl nor the plates go on that shelf.
RULE – 5:- Plural verb is generally used with two or more subjects joined by
‘and’.
Eg: A car and a bike are the means of transportation.
Gold and silver are precious metals.
Exceptions:- But if the nouns give one idea to mind, or refer to a single person,
the verb is singular.
Eg: Bread and butter is a wholesome food.
The novelist and poet is dead.
RULE – 6:- Subject is separated from the verb by phrases such as along with,
as well as, besides, with, not, etc., use singular verb when subject is singular.
Eg: The politician, along with the newsmen, is expected shortly.
 Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause of his poor
performance.
RULE – 7:- In sentences beginning with here or there, the true subject
follows the verb.
Eg: There are four hurdles to jump.
There is a high hurdle to jump.
Here are the keys.
RULE – 8:- Use singular verb with distances, periods of time, sums of money,
etc,. when considered as a unit.
Eg: Three miles is too far to walk.
Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
Exceptions:- Ten dollars were scattered on the floor.
RULE – 9:- With words indicating portions such as, a lot, a majority, some, all,
verb is according to the noun after ‘of’. If the noun after ‘of’ is singular, use
singular verb.
Eg: A lot of pie has disappeared.
A lot pies have disappeared.
A third of the city is unemployed.
A third of people are unemployed.
RULE – 10:- With collective nouns such as jury, family, audience, police, the
verb might be singular or plural depending on the writer’s intent.
Eg: All of my family has arrived.
The audience were enthralled by the performance.
Exceptions:- The committee has issued its report.
The committee are divided on one minor point.
RULE – 11:- Nouns like scissors, pants, trousers are always plural.
Eg: These scissors are very sharp.
My pants are dark.
RULE – 12:- Each, and every must be followed by a singular verb.
Eg: Each of these substances is found in India.
Every boy and girl was given a packet of sweets.
RULE – 13:- Some nouns are plural in form, but singular in meaning.
Eg: The news is true.
Politics is not taught in schools.
RULE – 14:- When plural noun is a proper name for a single object or some
collective unit, it must be followed by a singular verb.
Eg: The Arabian Nights is still a great favourite.
The United States has a big navy.
RULE – 15:- Two subjects joined by and, with articles on both the sides take
plural subject.
Eg: The Principal and the Chairman are in the meeting.
The director and the actor are present at the meeting.

EXERCISE :-
1) Gold and silver ________ precious metals. (is/are)
2) The mangoes on the tree ________ ripe. (is/are)
3) _________ your father and mother at home? (is/are)
4) The novelist and poet _______ dead. (is/are)
5) A number of soldiers ________ been killed in the war. (has/have)
6) The news _______ true. (is/are)
7) ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ ________ written by Swift. (is/are)
8) Mathematics _______ a branch of study in every school. (is/are)
9) Ten kilometres ______ a long distance. (is/are)
10)Either he or I _____ mistaken. (is/am)
11)Neither food nor water _____ to be found there. (is/are)
12)Every one of the boys _______ how to ride. (know/knows)
13)The ship, with its crew, ______ lost. (is/are)
14)The quality of the mangoes ________ not good. (is/are)
15)The secretary and the correspondent ______ in the office. (is/are)
16)The owner of these factories _______ rich. (is/are)
17)These scissors _______ to me. (belong/belongs)
18)Much of our labour ____ gone waste. (has/have)
19)Plenty of milk _______ required in summer. (is/are)
20)Plenty of eggs _______ required next week. (is/are)
21)A lot of books _______ lying about. (is/are)
22)Lots of food ______ been wasted. (has/have)
23)The jury ________ found him guilty. (has/have)
24)Not only her books but her watch also _______ (was/were) stolen.
25)Every one of the girls ______ (are/is) tall.