SV Agreement

SUBJECT - VERB
AGREEMENT
Subject-Verb agreement means the subject
and verb must match, or agree, in number.
•Singular subject takes a singular verb.
‘He talks.'
•Plural subject takes a plural verb.
‘They talk.’
RULE 1
When the subject has two or more

nouns or pronouns connected by ‘and’,
use a plural verb.
Ex: Ravi and Rohit are good friends.
NOTE
If two nouns joined by ‘and’ suggest

one idea or refer to the same person
or thing, the verb to be used is singular.
Ex: Rice and curry is my favourite dish.
The rice and the curry are my favourite
dish.
RULE 2
When two or more singular nouns and

pronouns are connected by ‘or’ or ‘nor’,
use a singular verb.
Ex: My mother or my father, one of the
two, is coming to attend the function.
RULE 3
When a compound subject contains both a singular and a
plural noun/pronoun joined by or/nor, the verb should
agree with the part of the subject that is closest to it.
Ex: Neither Pooja nor her brothers have reached the
station.
RULE 4
Collective nouns take a singular verb when we refer

to the group as a unit.
We use a plural verb when we talk of the members
of the group acting as individuals.
Ex: The staff is meeting on Wednesday.
The staff members are not ready with the
presentation.
RULE 5
Do not get misled by a phrase that comes between

the subject and the verb. Look for the true subject.
Ex: Sana, along with her cousins, is coming to our
house this weekend.
The ministers, not the president, are responsible for
the crisis.
T
RULE 6
Pronouns like each, each one, either, neither,

nobody, everyone, somebody, anybody, no one
take a singular verb.
Ex: Each of us is a trained cook.
Everyone is invited to the programme.
RULE 7
Expressions like with, together with,

including, along with, accompanied by, in
addition to or as well as, do not change the
number of the subject.
Ex: The students, as well as the teachers,
are working on a project.
RULE 8
Some nouns which are plural in form

but singular in meaning, take a
singular verb.
Ex: Economics is an interesting subject.
RULE 9
When the plural noun is a proper name for

some single object or some collective unit,
it must be followed by a singular verb.
Ex: Great Expectations is my favourite
book.
RULE 10
When a plural noun denotes some specific
quantity or amount considered as a
whole, the verb is generally singular.
Ex: Ten thousand dollars is too much to
pay for this watch.
Five years was the time he spent to write
this book.
RULE 11
If a sentence begins with the adverb

‘there’ or ‘here’, the true subject follows
the verb. The verb must agree with the
subject placed after it.
Ex: Here are a few rabbits.
There is one girl behind the door.
RULE 12
Some nouns are always plural. These include

trousers, tweezers, scissors etc.
But if these nouns are preceded by the expression
‘a pair of’, the verb used is singular.
Ex: My spectacles are lost.
A pair of trousers was missing from the cupboard.
WORKSHEET - 1
Ex I. Fill in the blanks with the correct forms of verbs given in brackets:
(i) The activist and the patriot _________

are
on hunger strike. (be)
(ii) A large sum of money __________
was stolen yesterday. (be)
(iii) Everybody____________
knows that story. ( know)
(iv) A lot of houses __________
have collapsed in the storm. (has)
(v) Either he or she __________
cooks dinner. (cook)
(vi) Mathematics __________
is John's favorite subject. (be)
(vii) A pack of lions ____
is approaching the camp. (be)
(viii) The movie, including all the previews, __________
takes about two hours to watch. (take)
Ex II. Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate verbs in agreement with its subjects:
(i) The teacher ____________ completed this chapter.
(a) has (b) have (c) is (d) are
(ii) She ___________ her office by 9 am daily.

(a) reach (b) reaches (c) reached (d) reaching
(iii) A bouquet of flowers ___________ required for the event.

(a) have (b) has (c) are (d) is
(iv) Either of the two dresses will ____________ good.

(a) look (b) looks (c) looked (d) looking
(v) The book ‘Management Principles’ _____________ quite insightful.

(a) are (b) has (c) is (d) have
(vi) Many people __________ registered for the course.

(a) have (b) are (c) is (d) has
(vii) Minna __________ to take part in the quiz competition.

(a) will want (b) wants (c) have wanted (d) want
(viii) There ___________ plenty of space for guests at the venue.

(a) was (b) were (c) have (d) have been
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SUBJECT - VERB

When the subject has two or more

If two nouns joined by ‘and’ suggest

When two or more singular nouns and

Collective nouns take a singular verb when we refer

Do not get misled by a phrase that comes between

Pronouns like each, each one, either, neither,

Expressions like with, together with,

Some nouns which are plural in form

When the plural noun is a proper name for

If a sentence begins with the adverb

Some nouns are always plural. These include

(i) The activist and the patriot _________

(ii) She ___________ her office by 9 am daily.

(iii) A bouquet of flowers ___________ required for the event.

(iv) Either of the two dresses will ____________ good.

(v) The book ‘Management Principles’ _____________ quite insightful.

(vi) Many people __________ registered for the course.

(vii) Minna __________ to take part in the quiz competition.

(viii) There ___________ plenty of space for guests at the venue.

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