1. VERB OF sentence is used according to the number and person of the subject.

If the subject is
singular , verb is singular. If the subject is plural, verb is plural.

If the subject is 3rd person singular number, s, es or ies is used at the end of the base verb in present
indefinite(simple)tense.

Examples:

a. He eats a cake. He does not eat a cake (negative). Does he eat a cake?(interrogative)
b. He goes to school. He does not (doesn’t) go to school (negative). Does he go to school?
(interrogative) Does he not go to school?(negative–interrogative)Doesn’t he go to school?(
negative–interrogative).
c. He carries a bag. He does not carry a bag (negative).Does he carry a bag? (interrogative). Does
he not carry a bag?(negative-interrogative). Doesn’t he carry a bag?(negative-interrogative).

2. Prepositional Phrases and Why They Matter

Look at the sentence below.

EXAMPLE: The boxes of cake mix are on the shelf.

The verb is “are,” but what is the subject? Is it “boxes” or “cake mix”?

In order to figure out the subject, we must eliminate the prepositional phrase which is often times in-
between the subject and the verb.

A prepositional phrase is a two - to four - word phrase (sometimes more) that begins with a preposition
(above, among, at, below, beneath, between, in, of, over, to, under). A verb must agree with its subject,
not with the object of a prepositional phrase, which often comes between the subject and the verb.

EXAMPLE: The boxes of cake mix are on the shelf.

Since “of” is a preposition, we ignore the prepositional phrase “of cake mix.” Therefore, “boxes” is the
plural subject, which matches perfectly with the plural verb “are.”

Below are some samples of prepositional phrases:

Preposition Object of Prepositional Phrase

above in the trees the lab

among of the flowers the school

at on the movies the bridge

below over the trees the store

beneath to the trees the table

under

EXAMPLE: The teachers in the classroom are very experienced.

Since we know that “in” is a preposition, then it makes sense that “in the classroom” is a prepositional
phrase. Cross out “in the classroom.” You are left with “The teachers... (is/are) very experienced.”

“Teachers” is a plural subject, so it must take the plural verb “are.”

Other examples:

a. The dog growls when he is angry. The dogs growl when they are angry
b. The color of his eyes is/are blue.(of is preposition and eyes is object. of his eyes:- prepositional
phrase)(single color of eyes)
c. The colors of the rainbow are beautiful.(multiple colors of rain bow)
d. The biker in this race is very competitive.
e. The bikers in this race are very competitive
f. The detective who was called to the case is usually very good
g. The dog, who is chewing on my jeans, is usually very good
h. The flock of geese is flying south for the winter

However, what if we have an inverted sentence?

EXAMPLE: Under the tree is/are several flowers.

In this case, the verb must be plural (“are”) because the subject (“flowers”) is plural.

3. AND
a. Jamal and Kamal has/have gone to his/their native village.(common rule-plural verb)
b. Nabiha and Fahima are sisters. (Singular subjects–verb is plural)
Exceptions:-
c. Slow and steady wins/win the race. (If two subjects are separated by “and” refer to the
same thing or person, the verb is singular )
Spaghetti and meatballs is my favorite pasta dish.
Red beans and rice is my mom's favorite dish.
Breaking and entering is against the law.
The bed and breakfast was charming.
d. The headmaster and secretary is/are present.( same one subject)
e. The headmaster and the secretary is/are present.(two different subjects)
f. Each boy and each girl has/have a pen(both subjects are singular)
g. David and not his sons has/have helped me

4. SUBJECTED CONNECTED BY THE WORDS OR/ NOR/ NEITHER….NOR/ EITHER….OR, /NOT

ONLY….BUT ALSO/ WHETHER… OR:-
 A. (IF BOTH SUBJECTS ARE SINGULAR):- verb and pronoun become singular.
a. Either he or his brother is/are guilty.
b. Either he or his brother has gone his to the house.
c. Neither the teacher nor the student is/are present.
d. Neither the teacher nor the student has done his job properly.
e. Sally or Bubba has stolen the scarecrow.
f. Not only the guitar player but also the drummer was soaked with sweat.

B. (IF BOTH SUBJECTS ARE PLURAL):- the verb and pronoun become plural:
a. Either the cups or the glasses are in the dishwasher.
b. Neither they nor my friends are going to the festival.
c. Neither the boys nor the girls have finished their food.

C. (IF THE BOTH THE SUBJECTS ARE DIFFERENT)- One singular and the other plural, verb follows
the last subject.
a. Neither the chairman nor the members is/are present.
b. Neither the members nor the chairman is /are present
c. Either my sisters or my mom has sent me a present.
d. Either the bears or the lion has escaped from the zoo.
Best option:-is to use the plural subject as the last subject:-
Neither the lion nor the bears have taken their food in the cages.

5. Each, either and neither are used as Adjectives; they are followed by nouns of the singular
number.
a. Neither accusation is true. Neither store is open.
b. Either store is fine with me.
c. At either end was a marble statue. (Here either = each or both.)

6. Neither/either + of + plural subject + singular verb….

a. Neither of the men is (not are) working.
b. Neither of the two stores is open.
c. Either of the boys is brave.
d. Either of the stores is fine with me.

7. When the subject and verb are reversed, they still must agree in both number and person.
Eg:-
Attached are copies of the contract. (Reverse sentence). (Normal sentence is, copies of contract
are attached).
8. A pronoun should be plural when it refers to two nouns joined by and.
Eg: Jane and Katarina believe they passed the final exam.

9. A pronoun should be singular when it refers to two nouns joined by OR or NOR

 Eg: Neither Jane nor Katarina believes she (not they) passed the final.

10. 2,3,1,/1,2,3
a. You, he and I are present(231)(commonly)
b. I, you and he are guilty(123)( confession)

a. My father and I did his/our best.(if subjects are 1st person with other person, pronoun will be
according to the first person)
b. You and he have done your/ his best.(if subjects are 2nd and 3rd person, pronoun would be
according to 2nd person)

11. COLLECTIVE NOUN may be singular or plural, depending on their use in the sentence. When the
collective noun refers to a group as a unit, a singular verb is used. When the collective noun
refers to the individuals or items that make up the group, a plural verb is used
A collective noun is a noun used to name a whole group:
Examples:-
Class /Group/Club/team/Committee
Crowd/Public/Mob/
Army/Troop/Brigade.
Audience/Orchestra
Herd/flock/swarm/Cattle
Jury /Senate/United States

a. The orchestra is playing a hit song. (Orchestra is considered as one unit—singular.)

b. The orchestra were asked to give their musical backgrounds. (Orchestra is considered as
separate individuals—plural)
c. The group agrees that new curtains would improve the space.
(The group is acting as a unit, so the word group is singular.)
d. The old group has gone their separate ways. (The group members are acting individually, so
the word group is plural.)
e. The United States (is/are) a country of contrast.
12. Subjects are plural (Collective noun) but looks singular, (when each member acts individually
verb and pronoun will be plural.)
Cattle, poultry, folk, gentry, family, herd, people, nobility, aristocracy
a. Cattle (is/are) grazing in the field.
b. The jury were divided in their opinions. ( Here every member act individually and has his own
opinion,)
c. The committee decided the matter without leaving their seats.
d. People is/are confused
e. The jury (was/were) polled for their verdicts.
f. The family (is/are) occupied with their individual problems. (Here each member act individually-
verb and pronoun both plural)
The family has come. (Here family act as a single body - verb is singular)

13. Collective nouns like herd, senate, class, crowd, family, jury etc. usually take a singular verb
form. ( when act as a single body):-
a. The herd is stampeding.
b. The class was ready for the test.
c. The committee (works/work) hard for better schools.
d. The senate passes the bill.

14. Subjects are singular but look plural, verb would be singular.
News/ statistics/ phonics /civics/politics/ Thesis
Mathematics/ Physics/ Home economics/ Social studies economics.
Mumps/Measles/Rabies
Gymnastics/ Acrobatics / Calisthenics (Callisthenics)/ Aesthetics.
Whereabouts/gallows
Example:
a. The news is (Not are) false.
b. Physics is (Not are) taught by Prof, Baldwin.

15. subjects are plural(plural look) , so verbs also are plural

Spectacles, scissors ,tidings, wages, thanks, ashes, assets, alms, bowls, bellows, aborigines, eves,
shears, mumps, annals, trousers, shorts, pants, jaws, glasses, pliers,
Examples: the scissors is/are blunt.

16. If definite numeral adjective is placed before the above plural noun,, verb becomes singular.
Dozen, pair, thousand, hundred, score, fathom, etc
Example:
A pair of scissors is/are on the floor.
A dozen of pants is/are in the cupboard.
17. A number of plurals, mostly derived from Latin, do not end in -s. Nevertheless, they are plural
and should be treated as such. Words such as criteria, phenomena, memoranda, and media are
plural. Their singular forms are criterion, phenomenon, memorandum, and medium.

18. Gerund, to infinitive, phrase or clause is the subject: verb is usually singular

a. Swimming is/are good for health

b. To walk is a good habit/to err is human.

19. Two infinitives/gerund separated by and take a plural verb

a. To run and to read are my two favorite “Free-time” activities.
 b. Swimming in the ocean and playing drums are my hobbies.

20. Subject and complement are different number, verb is according to subject
The muslims is/ are a brave nation.

21. Introductory there/ here, verb is according to the subject which follows the verb.
Example:
There is/are many schools in our village.
There is your radio on the table.
There is a meeting today.
Here are the results from this past month.
Here are the papers you requested.
Here is your watch.
Here are his cloths.

22. verb after relative pronoun is according to the antecedent(who, which, what, when, where are
relative pronoun)
Example:
It is I who am/is responsible for this.

23. Adjective has no plural form but if ‘’The’’ is placed before adjective then it becomes plural
common noun and its verb become plural
Example:
The pious is/are happy. The poor is/are sad.

24. Verb after “one of the …..” is singular.

Example:
One of the students is/are absent in the class.

25. Subject added with the following phrase (with, together with, as well as, along with, in addition
to, accompanied by - These words and phrases are not part of the subject - Ignore them and use
the “verb” and “pronoun” according to the subject):-
Example:
The headmaster along with the students has planted saplings. (Here subject is singular)
The teachers as well as the students have joined the meeting. (Here subject is plural)
Fahima accompanied by Nabiha is trying to solve the problem.
The politician, along with the newsmen, is expected shortly.
Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause of her shaking.

26. Units of measurement usually use a singular verb.

a. Six gallons of paint was used on the house.
b. Five dollars is too much for a cup of coffee
 c. Forty miles is a long way
d. Four quarts of oil was required to get the car running.
BUT
Ten dollars (i.e., dollar bills) were scattered on the floor

27. Titles of books, movies, novels, etc. are treated as singular

a. Gulliver’s travels is/are a famous book
b. “Holes” was one of my favorite books. I want to see the movie.

28. If the words each, every or no come before the subject, the verb is singular
a. Each boy and girl has to take the test.
b. Every frog and toad turns into a prince.
c. No paper and pen is required.(But an apple would be nice!:)
d. No smoking and drinking is allowed. Every man and woman is required to check in.

Most indefinite pronouns take singular verbs

Indefinite pronoun:- these pronoun do not point to any particular nouns, but refer to things or
people in general.

one body thing

someone somebody something
anyone anybody anything
No one nobody nothing
everyone everybody everything

Little One * Everybody is happy.

Another Neither * No one has a dime.
Much Either * Nothing was going to help.
 Each
Neither of the men is (not are) working.
Either of the boys is brave
29. But exceptionally indefinite pronouns like Both, few, many, others, and several take a plural
verb
a. Several need to finish the race.
b. Both are happy.
c. A few have the right answer. Few were left alive after the flood.
d. Both of my dogs has/have collars. (“have”)
e. Several of my friends is/are sick. (“are)

30. . When the subject is all, any, more, most, none, or some, this is the ONLY time you must look
at the object of the prepositional phrase to determine whether it is singular or plural.
(The only time when the object of the preposition factors into the decision
of plural or singular verb forms is when noun and pronoun subjects like
some, half, none, more, all, etc. are followed by a prepositional phrase. In
these sentences, the object of the preposition determines the form of the
verb.)
a. All of the chickens have laid eggs.
b. All of the chicken is gone. All of the chickens are gone.
c. Some of the milk has spilled
d. Most of the news is good. (singular)
e. Most of the flowers were yellow. (plural)
f. All of the pizza was gone. (singular)
g. All of the children were late. (plural)

Recapitulation:-

1. Most indefinite pronouns take singular verbs.

2. But exceptionally indefinite pronouns like both, few, many, others, and several take a plural
verb.
3. When the subject is all, any, more, most, none, or some, this is the ONLY time you must
look at the object of the prepositional phrase to determine whether it is singular or plural.

31. With words that indicate portions—e.g.,a third, half, a lot, a majority, some, most, all—If the
noun after of is singular, use a singular verb. If it is plural, use a plural verb
Examples:
a. A lot of the pie has disappeared.
b. A third of the city is unemployed.
c. A third of the people are unemployed.
d. All of the pie is gone.
e. All of the pies are gone.

POINTS TO REMEMBER:-

1. A pronoun should be plural when it refers to two nouns joined by “AND.”

2. A pronoun should be singular when it refers to two nouns joined by “Or” or “Nor”.
3. A pronoun should refer to one and only one noun or compound noun.
4. A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in both number and person.
5. The subject and verb must agree both in number and person.
6. Intervening phrases and clauses have no effect on subject-verb agreement.
7. When the subject and verb are reversed, they still must agree in both number and person.
8. As a general rule, a modifier should be placed as close as possible to what it modifies.
9. When a phrase begins a sentence, make sure that it modifies the subject of the sentence.
10. For a sentence to be parallel, similar elements must be expressed in similar form.
11. When two adjectives modify the same noun, they should have similar forms.
12. When a series of clauses is listed, the verbs must be in the same form.
13. When the first half of a sentence has a certain structure, the second half should preserve
that structure.

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT RULES

GENERAL RULE:
A singular subject requires a singular verb.
A plural subject requires a plural verb.
Rule #1: Subjects and verbs must agree in number. This is the cornerstone rule that forms the
background of the concept.
Rule #2: Don’t get confused by the words, phrases, or clauses that come between the subject
and verb; they do not affect agreement.
Rule #3: The expression the number is followed by a singular verb while the expression a
number is followed by a plural verb.
Rule #4: Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by such words as along with, as well
as, besides, not, together with, etc. These words and phrases are not part of the subject. Ignore
them and use a singular verb when the subject is singular.
Rule #5: If two subjects are joined by and, they typically require a plural verb form.
Rule #6: The verb is singular if the two subjects separated by and refer to the same person or
thing.
Rule #7: Two singular subjects connected by or, either/or, or neither/nor require a singular verb.
Rule #8: Plural verb is used if both parts of the compound subject connected by or or nor are
plural.
Rule #9: The verb in an either/or, or neither/nor sentence agrees with the noun or pronoun
closest to it.
Rule #10: Singular verb is used if the compound subject is preceded by the word each or every.
Rule #11: Singular indefinite pronouns always take a singular verb even though the meaning
may seem plural.
These subjects always take singular verbs:
each every someone either anyone neither nobody one somebody no one anybody everyone
everybody
Rule #12.a: Other indefinite pronouns can be either singular or plural depending on the noun
they refer to. Either singular or plural: all, any, half, more, most, no, none, and some.
Rule#12.b: With words that indicate portions—e.g., a lot, a majority, some, all—If the noun after
of is singular, use a singular verb. If it is plural, use a plural verb.
Rule #13: Several, many, both, few are plural words and take a plural verb.
Rule #14: In sentences beginning with here or there, the true subject follows the verb.
Hard-to-find Subjects
Rule #15: If the subject that comes after a verb is singular, the verb should be singular. If it is
plural, the verb should be plural.
Rule #16: When the collective noun refers to a group as a unit, a singular verb is used.
Rule #17: When the collective noun refers to the individuals or items that make up the group, a
plural verb is used.
Rule #18: Subjects with nouns that end in –s but have a singular meaning (such as branches of
knowledge) take on singular verbs.
Rule #19: Some nouns with plural forms but singular in meaning take plural verbs.
Rule #20: Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc., when
considered as a unit.
Rule #21: A title of a book, movie, work of art, etc. takes a singular verb even if it looks plural.
Rule #22: When using a relative pronoun (who, which, that, what, whatever, and whoever) to
introduce a dependent clause, that verb in the clause should agree in number with the
pronoun’s antecedent (the word to which the pronoun refers).
Rule #23.a: A noun expressing time, amount or measurement is normally singular.
Rule #23.b: If the unit of measurement refers to a number of individual items, then it is treated
as a plural.
Rule #24: A number of plurals, mostly derived from Latin, do not end in -s. Nevertheless, they
are plural and should be treated as such. Words such as criteria, phenomena, memoranda, and
media are plural. Their singular forms are criterion, phenomenon, memorandum, and medium.
Rule #25: The word “were” replaces was in sentences that express a wish or are contrary to fact.