Rules for Subject verb agreement.

In the construction of a sentence we cannot freely decide about the verb.  We have to look at
the subject for it decides the verb that we can use. There are rules that manage the use of the
verb in relation to the subject in a sentence. The rule of agreement calls for the matching of
the subject and verb: singular subjects go with singular verbs; plural subjects go with
plural verbs.

 In the present tense, the rule of agreement states that the verb must have an added –s
or es if the subject/noun is third person singular ;( He, she, it).

 The verb does not have an –s or es if the noun is plural (They, you, we or first person
singular I).

 This means verbs have singular and plural forms only in the present tense (eat/eats,
sit/sits). In the past tense, the verb does not change with the number of the
subject/noun (He walked to school. / They walked to school.)
The verb must agree with the subject.

Basic Rule.
Singular subject and singular verb
 Basic Rule. A singular subject (she, Bill, car) takes a singular verb (is, goes, shines),
whereas a plural subject takes a plural verb.
Examples:
 The list of items is/ on the desk.
If you know that list is the subject, then you will choose is for the verb.
 My dog has brown eyes.
 She drinks a lot of milk.
 My brother is a nutritionist.

Rule. 1  Plural subject and plural verb

 They run down the road.

 The children have very loving parents.
 My sisters are mathematicians.

Rule 2.  The verb agrees with the subject and not with the noun next to it.

A subject will come before a phrase beginning with of. This is a key rule for understanding
subjects. The word “of” is the culprit in many, perhaps most, subject-verb mistakes.

Hasty writers, speakers, readers, and listeners might miss the all-too-common mistake in the
following sentence:

Incorrect: A bouquet of yellow roses lend colour and fragrance to the room.

Correct: A bouquet of yellow roses lends . . . (bouquet lends, not roses lend)
Correct: Her bouquet of flowers is a birthday present.

(The subject here is bouquet, which is part of the noun phrase bouquet of flowers. Since
bouquet is a singular item, and we are referring to it and not the flowers, a singular verb
should be used.)
 
Correct: The man with two children is heading for the airport.
Incorrect: The man with two children are heading for the airport.
 
Correct: The concept to the boys was not clear.
Incorrect: The concept to the boys were not clear.
 
Correct: The boys who stole the money have escaped.
Incorrect: The boys who stole the money has escaped.
 
Correct: One of the leaders is a female.
Incorrect: One of the leaders are a female.

Rule 3. When there is one subject and more than one verb, the verbs throughout the sentence
must agree with the subject.

Example: Interviews are one way to collect data and allow researchers to gain an in-depth
understanding of participants.
Example: An assumption is something that is generally accepted as true and is an important
consideration when conducting a doctoral study.
Rule 4. Compound subjects and the verbs

A compound subject consists of

 two or more nouns (Ali and Umer, red and blue),

 pronouns (your and I, he and she), or
 noun phrases (a basket of rotten eggs, a layer of dirt).
 Together, they form the subject of a verb in a sentence. 

If the subject has two or more nouns, it takes a plural verb

Ali ,Hashim and Bilal are triplets. He, his dog and I are best friends. 

Rule 4. When two or more nouns are joined by ‘and’ to form a subject, the verb is in
the plural form

As a general rule, use a plural verb with two or more subjects when they are connected by
and.

Example:

 A car and a bike are my means of transportation.

  Forks and spoons are dirty.

 The grandfather, the father and the son all have beard.

But note these exceptions: Sometimes two different subjects talk about one person, idea or
object. It means when they represent one thing their verb will be singular as well.

Exceptions :
Breaking and entering is against the law.
The bed and breakfast was charming.

In these sentences, breaking and entering and bed and breakfast are compound nouns, so take
singular verb because they are taken as single subject.

Slow and steady wins the race. Time and tide waits for none.

Fish and salad makes a delicious dish. Rice and curry is his favourite meal.

Making pies and cakes is his expertise.

Rule 5.  If the nouns that make up a compound subject are joined by ‘or’ and both are
singular, a singular verb is used

Two singular subjects connected by or, either/or, or neither/nor require a singular verb.
The pronouns neither and either are singular and require singular verbs even though they
seem to be referring, in a sense, to two things.

 Neither of the two traffic lights is working.

 Which shirt do you want for Christmas? Either is fine with me.

Examples:

 My aunt or my uncle is arriving by train today.

 Neither Qasim nor Zaheer is available.
 Either Ali or Zainab is helping today with stage decorations.
 His father or mother is a professor of insects.
 Chicken soup or duck soup makes no difference to me because I like all soups.

 Rule 6.
If the nouns that make up a compound subject are singular and plural, the verb agrees
with the noun nearer to it

Examples:

 Neither the plates nor the serving bowl goes on that shelf.
 Neither the serving bowl nor the plates go on that shelf.
 The clock or the watch or both are not accurate; they tell different times.
 His killers or killer is still at large.
Rule 7.

Subjects coming after the Verbs When the subject follows the verb (especially in sentences
beginning with the expletives "there is" or "there are"), special care is needed to determine
the subject and to make certain that the verb agrees with it.The subject usually comes before
the verb, but there are sentences that have the subjects coming after the verbs. The verbs
must still agree with the subjects.

In sentences beginning with here or there, the true subject follows the verb.

Examples:

 There are four hurdles to jump.

 There is a high hurdle to jump.
 Here are the keys.
 There is a fly on your forehead.
 There were three big men seated at the next table staring at me.

Rule 8.  In questions, the subjects usually come after the verbs.

 Does your father know you have got distinction in English.

 Have you heard my new ghost story yet?
 Has she written a letter.

Rule 9.
When two nouns refer to the same person or thing, the verb is in the singular form.
 My uncle and handyman is very useful. (uncle and handyman is a same person)
Not: My uncle and handyman are very useful.   
 My friend and neighbour has been a magician for many years. 
Not: My friend and neighbour have been a magician for many years.  

Rule 10.  

When two different persons are referred to, the article ‘the’ is repeated and the verb is
in the plural.

 The owner and the occupant of the house are very good friends.
 The teacher and the father of the student are talking about him.

 Rule 11.
Phrases beginning with ‘with’, ‘as well as’, ‘together with’, etc. do not mean the same
as ‘and’, and the verb is therefore in the singular.
Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by such words as along with, as well as,
besides, not, etc. These words and phrases are not part of the subject. Ignore them and use a
singular verb when the subject is singular. Do not be misled by a phrase that comes between
the subject and the verb. The verb agrees with the subject, not with a noun or pronoun in the
phrase.
 One of the boxes is open
  The people who listen to that music are few.
 The team captain, as well as his players, is anxious.
 The book, including all the chapters in the first section, is boring.
 The woman with all the dogs walks down my street.

Examples:

 The politician, along with the newsmen, is expected shortly.

Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause of her shaking.

Phrases such as together with, as well as, and along with are not the same as “and”. The
phrase introduced by as well as or along with will modify the earlier word (mayor in this
case), but it does not compound the subjects (as the word and would do).

 The mayor as well as his brothers is going to prison.

 The mayor and his brothers are going to jail.
 The woman with her daughter is selling flowers. 
Not: The woman with her daughter are selling flowers.  
 Maham as well as her brother is selected to play in the team.
 The box of milk chocolate together with the birthday cake makes a nice present for
her.
Not: The box of milk chocolate together with the birthday cake make a nice present
for her.

 Rule 12. ‘Each’ and ‘every’ joined by ‘and’ take a singular verb.

Some indefinite pronouns are particularly troublesome .Everyone and everybody certainly
feel like more than one person and, therefore, students are sometimes tempted to use a plural
verb with them. They are always singular, though. Each is often followed by a prepositional
phrase ending in a plural word (Each of the cars), thus confusing the verb choice. Each, too,
is always singular and requires a singular verb.

Everyone has finished his or her homework.

You would always say, "Everybody is here." This means that the word is singular and
nothing will change that.

Each of the students is responsible for doing his or her work in the library.

Don't let the word "students" confuse you; the subject is each and each is always singular —
Each is responsible.

You would always say, "Everybody is here." This means that the word is singular and
nothing will change that.
  Each and every participant has to undergo a medical examination. 
Not: Each and every participant have to undergo a medical examination..  

 Every girl and every boy is writing an essay.

Not: Every girl and every boy are writing an essay.

 Rule 13. When two nouns are treated as one entity (single noun), the verb is in the
singular.

 Bread and butter was his daily breakfast. (Bread and butter stand for one item of food,
so a singular verb is used.)
 Milk and fruit is a good diet.
 Time and tide waits for no man.

Rule 14.  When a quantity or an amount is treated as a whole, the verb used is
singular.

Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc., when considered as
a unit.

Examples:

 Three miles is a big distance.

 Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense.
Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
BUT
Ten dollars (i.e., dollar bills) were scattered on the floor.
 The $100.00 you lent me was not enough amount
 Two hundred dollars nowadays is not a big sum.
 She said seventy kilograms was her weight.
 Ten kilometres is a long distance to walk.

Rule 15. Agreement and Indefinite Pronouns

A small number of indefinite pronouns can be singular or plural: all, any, more, most, none,
and some. None, that can be either singular or plural; it often doesn't matter whether you use
a singular or a plural verb — unless something else in the sentence determines its number.
Means some indefinite pronouns — such as all, some — are singular or plural depending on
what they're referring to. (Is the thing referred to countable or not?) Be careful choosing a
verb to accompany such pronouns.

 Some of the beads are missing. (beads a countable noun)

 Some of the water is gone. (water,an uncountable nouns)
 Some of the coffee we had after lunch was very good.
 Some of you have not understood what I said. 
 (Writers generally think of none as meaning not any and will choose a plural verb, as in
"None of the engines are working," but when something else makes us regard none as
meaning not one, we want a singular verb, as in "None of the food is fresh.")

 None of you claims responsibility for this incident?

 None of you claim responsibility for this incident?
 None of the students have done their homework. (In this last example, the word their
precludes the use of the singular verb.
 None of the students have done their homework. (In this last example, the word their
precludes the use of the singular verb.
 None of the engines are working.
 None of the food is fresh.
 All he needs now is a $1,000 loan. (= The only thing he needs now is a $1,000 loan.
All is used as a singular.)

 All were arrested for fighting. (= Everyone {involved in the fighting} were arrested.
All is a plural here.)

 Is there any of your home-made soup left?. (Any is singular as it is used with an
uncountable noun.)
 Are any of you going to help find my missing car keys? (Any is plural, used with
second person you.)

 Some people have volunteered for the rescue but more are needed.( more for plural.)
 He accidentally spilled his coffee; more was spilled on my shirt.(more for singular.)

 Most have joined the campaign after listening to his talk.(most used for plural here.)
 Most of her money is spent on clothes.(most used for singular here.)

 They have drunk all the orange juice, and there is none left for me.
 After what happened, none of her friends phone her anymore.
 There are indefinite pronouns that are always singular (anyone, nobody, somebody,
someone, no one etc.) therefore, require singular verbs.

Everyone has done his or her homework.

Somebody has left her purse.

There are also indefinite pronouns that are always plural (both, others, several, etc.).

With words that indicate portions—a lot, a majority, some, all, etc.—Rule given earlier is
reversed, and we are guided by the noun after of. If the noun after of is singular, use a
singular verb. If it is plural, use a plural verb.
  Examples:
A lot of the pie has disappeared.
A lot of the pies have disappeared.
A third of the city is unemployed.
A third of the people are unemployed.
All of the pie is gone.
All of the pies are gone.
Some of the pie is missing.
Some of the pies are missing.

NOTE

 In recent years, the SAT testing service has considered none to be strictly singular.
However, according to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage: "Clearly
none has been both singular and plural since Old English and still is. The notion that it
is singular only is a myth of unknown origin that appears to have arisen in the 19th
century. If in context it seems like a singular to you, use a singular verb; if it seems
like a plural, use a plural verb. Both are acceptable beyond serious criticism." When
none is clearly intended to mean "not one," it is followed by a singular verb.

Rule 16. Use of were instead of was in sentences where one expresses a wish

 The word were replaces “was” in sentences that expresses a wish or are contrary to
fact:
 Example: If Joe were here, you'd be sorry.
 Shouldn't Joe be followed by was, not were, given that Joe is singular? But Joe isn't
actually here, so we say were, not was. The sentence demonstrates the subjunctive
mood, which is used to express things that are hypothetical, wishful, imaginary, or
factually contradictory. The subjunctive mood pairs singular subjects with what we
usually think of as plural verbs.
 Examples :
I wish it were Friday.

 In this example, a wishful statement, not a fact, is being expressed; therefore, were,
which we usually think of as a plural verb, is used with the singular subject I.

Note: The subjunctive mood is losing ground in spoken English but should still be
used in formal speech and writing.

Rule 17.

Some words end in -s and appear to be plural but are really singular and require singular
verbs.

 The news from the front is bad.

 Measles is a dangerous disease for pregnant women.

 Economics is my favourite subject.

 Mathematics is not her field .

 

Rule 18.

Some words ending in -s refer to a single thing but are nonetheless plural and require a
plural verb.

 My assets were wiped out in the depression.

 The average worker's earnings have gone up dramatically.

 Our thanks go to the workers who supported the union.

 My scissors are broken.

 His pants are dirty.

 Politics is a rough life.

 Baked beans is one of my favourite dishes.

 Mumps has been nearly eradicated in the U.S.

A few words, though singular in nature, are made of paired items .

When we apply “ a pair of” then they take singular verb.

 A pair of scissors is broken

 A pair of pants is bought by my mother yesterday.

Rule 19.

 Titles of books and other works of art are always considered singular even if the title
sounds plural.
 The Alfred Hitchcock film The Birds was successfully advertised with a campaign
that said, "The Birds is coming!" Unlike so many ads, that one was grammatically
correct.

Rule No 20

With fractions, percentages and indefinite quantifiers (e.g., all, few, many, much, some),

the verb agrees with the preceding noun or clause:
With a singular or non-count noun or clause, use a singular verb:
 One-third of this article is taken up with statistical analysis.
 Much of the book seems relevant to this study.
 Half of what he writes is undocumented.
 Fifty percent of the job is routine.
  All the information is current
With a plural noun, use a plural verb:
 One-third of the students have graduate degrees.
 Many researchers depend on grants from industry.
 Half of his articles are peer-reviewed.
 Fifty percent of the computers have CD-ROM drives.
 All the studies are current.
With a collective noun, use either a singular or a plural verb, depending on whether you want
to emphasize the single group or its individual members:
Half of my family lives/live in Canada.
All of the class is/are here.
Ten percent of the population is/are bilingual.

Rule No 21 Adjectives preceded by the and used as plural nouns take a plural verb:

 The rich get richer.
 The poor face many hardships.

Rule No 22

Expressions using the phrase “number of” depend on the meaning of the phrase:

They take a singular verb when referring to a single quantity:
 The number of students registered in the class is 20.
 They take plural verbs when they are used as indefinite quantifiers .
 A number of students were late.
 A number of reasons are listed in the letter
 The number of reasons is growing.

Rule No 23

Some countable nouns in English such as earnings, goods, odds, surroundings, proceeds,

contents, and valuables only have a plural form and take a plural verb.
Example: The earnings for this quarter exceed expectations.
Example: The proceeds from the sale go to support the homeless population in the city.
Example: Locally produced goods have the advantage of shorter supply chains.
Rule No 24.
After many/ a great many / a good many, etc. the noun is always plural which is followed by
a plural verb.
 A great many girls are following fashion trends these days.