Subject Verb Agreement

Rules and examples

 Verb – Action
Subject – Doer of the Action

Subject and Verb should agree in terms of number

Both need to be singular or

Both need to be plural
 Singular OR Plural?

Has ? Present
tense

Have ? Present
tense

Had ? Past perfect

tense
Has Singular Present
tense

Have Plural Present

tense

Had Singular & Past perfect

Plural tense
 is boiling on the stove.
The pot of eggs ___
The colours of the rainbow are
___ beautiful.

1. Use verbs that agree with a subject, not with a noun

that is part of a modifying phrase or clause between verb
and subject
 is comedies.
My favorite type of movie ___
are
Comedies ___ my favorite type of movie.

2. Use singular or plural verbs that

agree with the subject, not with the
complement of the subject
 has a nose.
Everybody ___

don’t they
Everybody loves ice cream, ___________?

Every good boy does

___ (Do) fine
3. Use singular verbs with singular indefinite
pronouns — each, the -bodies, -ones, and -things
(anybody, everyone, nothing, every, each, no),
and the like
 are possible.
Many outcomes ___

4. Use plural verbs with plural

indefinite pronouns
 is / has dried up.
All the paint ________

5. Use singular verbs with

uncountable nouns that follow an
indefinite pronoun
 are / have spilled on the floor.
All the nails __________

6. Use plural verbs with countable

nouns that follow an indefinite
pronoun
 are outside.
The dog and the cat ___

7. Use plural verbs with compound

subjects that include and
 are
Either the dog or the cats ___ responsible for the mess.

is responsible for the mess

Neither the dogs nor the cat ___

8. Use plural verbs or singular verbs,

depending on the form of the noun
nearest the verb, with compound
subjects that include nor or or
 goes (go) the dog.
Down the stairs ______

9. Use singular verbs with inverted

subjects that include singular nouns
 have
How _________ the flowers grown so quickly?

10. Use plural verbs with inverted

subjects that include plural nouns
 are / have assembled.
His staff members _________
is
The staff of TCS ___composed of talented people.
controls (control) about a 100 students
The staff ________
single handedly.

11. Use singular or plural verbs with

collective nouns depending on
meaning
 is headquartered in New York.
The United Nations ___
is a movie starring Tom Hanks.
The Burbs ___

12. Use singular verbs for

designations of entities, such as
nations or organizations, or
compositions, such as books or films
 is my favorite subject.
Physics ___

13. Use singular verbs for subjects

plural in form but singular in
meaning
 are
The economics of the situation ___ complicated.

Economics is
___ a complicated topic.

14. Use singular or plural verbs for

subjects plural in form but plural or
singular in meaning depending on
the context
The scissors are
___ in the cupboard.

15. Use plural verbs for subjects

plural in form and meaning
 love
India is one of the countries which ________
(loves, love) cricket.

16. For sentences which contain who, which or that the verb
should agree with the word that precedes the Pronoun.
 do not tweet.
I am one of those eccentrics who ___

16. (a) Use plural verbs in

constructions of the form one of
those (blank) who . . .
 does not
I am the only one of my friends who ______
tweet.

17. Use singular verbs in

constructions of the form the only
one of those (blank) who . . .
 boggles (Boggle) the
The number of people here ________
mind.

18. Use singular verbs in

constructions of the form
the number of (blank) . . .
 agree (Agree).
A number of people here ________

19. Use plural verbs in constructions of

the form
a number of (blank) . . .
 is spoken in jest.
Many a true word ___

20. Use singular verbs in

construction of the forms
every (blank) . . . and
many a (blank) . . .
 is my favourite dish
Red beans and rice ___

21. Use singular verb if the two

subjects are separated by and refer
to the same person or thing.
 is required to get the car running.
Four litres of oil ___

22. Use singular verb for units of

measurement or time.
 write (write) the text but
They not only _____
research (research) the photographs.
also ________
Lily not only eats
___ (eat) a lot but alsoruns
___ (run) a lot.

23. Use singular verb for singular subjects

and plural verb for plural subjects

connected by – not only, but also
 is a bad
Standing in the water ___
idea.
are my
Swimming in the ocean and playing drums ___
hobbies.
24. Use singular verb for singular
gerunds and plural verb if they are
linked by and
 is stampeding.
The herd ___

25. Use singular verb for collective nouns

GUESS WHAT IS COMMON AMONG
THE WORDS BELOW

MELLIFLUOUS
DISCORDANT
CACOPHONOUS
SONOROUS
POIGNANT
 MUSICAL
MELLIFLUOUS – pleasingly smooth and musical to hear
"her low mellifluous voice”
DISCORDANT – (1) harsh and jarring because of a lack of harmony
"the singers continued their discordant chanting"
(2) disagreeing or incongruous.
"the operative principle of democracy is a balance of discordant qualities"
CACOPHONOUS – involving or producing a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.
"the cacophonous sound of slot machines"
SONOROUS – (1) capable of producing a deep or ringing sound
"the alloy is sonorous and useful in making bells"
(2) (of a speech or style) using imposing language.
"he relished the sonorous words of condemnation"
POIGNANT – evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret
"a poignant reminder of the passing of time"
1. The cracked windshield, in addition to
the torn upholstery and rusted body, (has /
have) made Ruth’s old car difficult to sell.

1. The cracked windshield, in addition to

the torn upholstery and rusted body, (has /
have) made Ruth’s old car difficult to sell.
2. At Tito’s Taco Palace (work/works)
friends who will stuff double meat into
our burritos for free.
2. At Tito’s Taco Palace (work/works)
friends who will stuff double meat into
our burritos for free.
3. None of this breakfast that Lilly Mae
cooked (is / are) fit to eat.

3. None of this breakfast that Lilly Mae

cooked (is / are) fit to eat.
4. Neither Fred's ratty clothes nor his sullen
attitude (bother / bothers) Esmeralda, who
lets Fred pick up the check every time they
dine out.

4. Neither Fred's ratty clothes nor his sullen

attitude (bother / bothers) Esmeralda, who
lets Fred pick up the check every time they
dine out.
5. The committee (comes / come) from all parts
of the city, so we usually have to start late
because so many members get stuck in traffic.

5. The committee (comes / come) from all parts

of the city, so we usually have to start late
because so many members get stuck in traffic.
ERROR SPOTTING
1) India is one of the countries (a) which has refused
to sign (b) the Test Ban Treaty in spite of pressure
(c) from several powerful nations (d). No error (e).

1) India is one of the countries (a) which has

refused to sign (b) the Test Ban Treaty in
spite of pressure (c) from several powerful
nations (d). No error (e).
2) The Chief Cashier, Mr. Malhotra (a), together
with three clerks (b), have been suspended (c), for
negligence (d). No error (e).

2) The Chief Cashier, Mr. Malhotra (a), together

with three clerks (b), have been suspended (c), for
negligence (d). No error (e).
3) Many students opt for biology (a) because
medicine is (b) one of the subjects (c) that
attracts them (d). No error (e).

3) Many students opt for biology (a) because

medicine is (b) one of the subjects (c) that
attracts them (d). No error (e).
4) This shelf, which contains (a) a number of
costly articles (b) collected from different
countries (c), were bought from Mumbai (d).
No error (e).
4) This shelf, which contains (a) a number of
costly articles (b) collected from different
countries (c), were bought from Mumbai (d).
No error (e).
5) An important member of a gang of thieves (a)
who had indulged in several cases of robbery (b)
have now surrendered (c) before the police (d).
No error (e).
5) An important member of a gang of thieves (a)
who had indulged in several cases of robbery (b)
have now surrendered (c) before the police (d).
No error (e).
SENTENCE CORRECTION
1) The rising cost of government
bureaucracy have made it all but
impossible to reign in the budget deficit.
a. The rising cost
b. Since the rising costs
c. Because of the rising costs
d. The rising costs
e. Rising cost

d. The rising costs

2) In a co-publication agreement, ownership of both
the material and its means of distribution are equally
shared by the parties.
a. Its means of distribution are equally shared by the
parties.
b. Its means of distribution are shared equally by
each of the parties.
c. Its means of distribution is equally shared by the
parties.
d. their means of distribution is equally shared by the
parties.
e. the means of distribution are equally shared by the
parties.
c. its means of distribution is equally
shared by the parties.
3) The rise in negative attitudes toward foreigners
indicate that the country is becoming less tolerant, and
therefore that the opportunities are ripe for extremist
groups to exploit the illegal immigration problem.
a. indicate that the country is becoming less tolerant, and
therefore that
b. indicate that the country is becoming less tolerant, and
therefore
c. indicates that the country is becoming less tolerant,
and therefore that
d. indicates that the country is becoming less tolerant,
and therefore
e. indicates that the country is becoming less tolerant of
and therefore that
d. indicates that the country is becoming less
tolerant, and therefore
4) The harvest of grapes in the local valleys decreased in
1990 for the third straight year but were still at a robust
level.
a. The harvest of grapes in the local valleys decreased in
1990 for the third straight year but were
b. The harvest of grapes in the local valleys began to
decrease in 1990 for the third straight year but were
c. In 1990, the harvest of grapes in the local valleys
decreased for the third straight year but were
d. The harvest of grapes in the local valleys decreased for
the third straight year in 1990 but was
e. The harvest of grapes in the local valleys began to
decreasing in 1990 for the third straight year but was
d. The harvest of grapes in the local valleys decreased for the third
straight year in 1990 but was
5) Each of the book’s protagonists – Mark Streit, Mary
Eby, and Dr. Thomas – has a powerful, dynamic
personality.
a. Each of the book’s protagonists – Mark Streit, Mary
Eby, and Dr. Thomas – has
b. Each of the book’s protagonists – Mark Streit, Mary
Eby, and Dr. Thomas – have
c. All the book’s protagonists – Mark Streit, Mary Eby,
and Dr. Thomas – has
d. Mark Streit, Mary Eby, and Dr.Thomas – the book’s
protagonists – each has
e. Each of the book’s protagonists – Mark Streit, Mary
Eby, and Dr. Thomas – could have had
a. Each of the book’s protagonists – Mark Streit, Mary
Eby, and Dr. Thomas – has