Class IX Subject Verb Concord (Agreement) 2022-23

The handout is for reference and self-study.

The subject-verb agreement rule means that when making a sentence, the subject and verb must "agree" (= be the
same):
Singular subject => singular verb
Plural subject => plural verb
 A singular noun is a noun that refers to one person or thing (such as kid, chair, bus, etc.).
 A singular verb is a verb that describes the action or state of one person or thing (such as is, has, talks, etc.).
 A plural noun is a noun that refers to more than one person or thing. It usually ends with an S (such
as kids, chairs, buses, etc.).
 A plural verb is a verb that describes the action or state of more than one person or thing. It usually doesn't end
with an S (such as are, have, talk, etc.).

So, how do we make sure that the subject and the verb agree?
1. Identify the subject.
2. Determine whether it is singular (one) or plural (more than one).
3. Make sure the verb agrees (is the same).
Here is an example:
The bird _________ (be) on the tree.

The subject = The bird => singular (one bird)

Therefore, the correct sentence is: The bird is are on the tree.
The list of students _________ (be) very long.
The subject = The list => singular (one list)
Therefore, the correct sentence is: The list of students is are very long.

Some more rules of subject-verb agreement:

 Singular subject + and + singular subject => plural verb
Correct: A girl and a boy are planting a tree.
Incorrect: A girl and a boy is planting a tree.
 Singular subject + or / nor + singular subject => singular verb
Correct: Neither Alex nor Peter is blond.
Incorrect: Neither Alex nor Peter are blond.
 Singular subject + or / nor + I => am
Correct: Either Joe or I am going to stay here.
Incorrect: Either Joe or I are going to stay here.
Incorrect: Either I or Joe is going to stay here.
 Singular subject + or / nor + plural subject => plural verb
Correct: The dog or cats sleep here.
Incorrect: The cats or dog sleep here.
Incorrect: The dog or cats sleeps here.

 Singular subject + comments => singular verb

Correct: Bob, not his wife, is doing the dishes.
Incorrect: Bob, not his wife, are doing the dishes.
Correct: Justin, as well as a shark, swims in the water.
Incorrect: Justin, as well as a shark, swim in the water.
 Every, each, everyone, everybody, anyone, anybody, someone, somebody => singular verb
Correct: Each of the apples is so delicious.
Incorrect: Each of the apples are so delicious
 All / some / none + singular noun => singular verb
 All / some / none + plural noun => plural verb
Correct: Some of the cake is pink.
Incorrect: Some of the cake are pink.
Correct: Some of the cakes are pink.
Incorrect: Some of the cakes is pink.
 Percent / fraction / part + singular noun => singular verb
 Percent / fraction / part + plural noun => plural verb
Correct: Most of the group is from around here.
Incorrect: Most of the group are from around here.
Correct: Eighty percent of the people have a job.
Incorrect: Eighty percent of the people has a job.
 Either of / Neither of => singular verb
Correct: Neither of them contains sugar.
Incorrect: Neither of them contain sugar.
 Money / time => singular verb
Correct: Ten thousand dollars is the highest amount we can give you.
Incorrect: Ten thousand dollars are the highest amount we can give you.
Correct: Five years is a reasonable amount of time to pay them back.
Incorrect: Five years are a reasonable amount of time to pay them back.

You can learn more about subject-verb agreement at the following links:
https://www.really-learn-english.com/subject-verb-agreement.html
https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/subject-verb-agreement.html

Attempt the following questions in the rough copy:

1) Annie and her brothers…………… (is, are) at school.
2) Either my mother or my father………….. (is, are) coming to the meeting.
3) The dog or the cats…………. (is, are) outside.
4) Either my shoes or your coat…………… (is, are) always on the floor.
5) George and Tamara………….. (doesn't, don't) want to watch that movie.
6) Benito …………(doesn't, don't) know the answer.
7) One of my sisters…………… (is, are) going on a trip to France.
8) The movie, including all the previews, ………….. (take, takes) about two hours to watch.
9) The players, as well as the captain, ……………….. (want, wants) to win.
10) Either answer ……………….. (is, are) acceptable.
11) Every one of those books …………. (is, are) fiction.
12) Nobody ………………. (know, knows) the trouble I've seen.
13) (Is, Are) ……………. the news on at five or six?
14) Mathematics …………………..(is, are) John's favorite subject, while Civics (is, are) Andrea's favorite subject.
15) Eight dollars …………………… (is, are) the price of a movie these days.
16) Your pants ………………… (is, are) at the cleaner's.
17) There ……………. (was, were) fifteen candies in that bag. Now there ………… (is, are) only one left!
18) The committee ………………..(debates, debate) these questions carefully.
19) The Prime Minister, together with his wife, …………….. (greets, greet) the press cordially.
20) All of the CDs, even the scratched one, ……….. (is, are) in this case.