Class on Subject Verb Agreement

Prepared by:

Mohammad Kasifur Rahman

M.A. in Literatures in English and Cultural Studies B.A. (Hons.) in English Jahangirnagar University

What is a subject? What is a verb?

The subject is the actor or acting concept in a sentence, and the verb does all the work and tells us what the subject is doing.

Mr. Arif eats eggs.

Subject Verb

Caution: Be careful not to confuse the subject with its compliment. A compliment is a word that renames or describes the subject. Example: Her biggest fear is spiders. Here, fear is the subject, so the verb needs to be singular. The word spiders is the compliment.

What is Subject-Verb Agreement?

Subject-verb agreement is the correspondence of a verb with its subject in person (first, second, or third) and number (singular or plural).

Example: The girl [singular subject] reads [singular verb] mystery stories.
Dogs and cats [plural subject] love [plural verb] to have their ears scratched.

Importance of Subject-Verb Agreement:

To use verb correctly according to subject, noun and pronoun To use correct verbs in the sentence according to number and person When subjects and verbs do not match in number, it confuses the listeners and the readers

Rule:
If the subject of a sentence is singular, the verb must be singular. If the subject of a sentence is plural, the verb must be plural.

Example: Hafij [singular subject] is [singular verb] asleep. Hafij and his friends [plural subject] are [plural verb] asleep

Exercise: Correct / Incorrect?

a. The girls read mystery stories. b. The colour of his eyes are blue.

c. The players in the field are taking rest. Check the answers: a. correct b. incorrect

c. correct

Rule: Agreement with Compound Subjects Joined by And

Compound subjects are composed of several nouns or pronouns connected by and, or, either-or, or neithernor. Subjects connected by and almost always form a plural subject and demand a plural verb. Example: Jamal and Kamal have gone to their native village. Jamal and Kamal has gone to their native village. (Incorrect)

Exceptions:
i.

When subjects connected by and describe a single person or thing, verb that follows them is also singular.

Example: The Headmaster and Secretary is present.

The Headmaster (Incorrect). and Secretary are present

But if the subjects connected by and describe different persons, verb becomes plural.
Example: The Headmaster and the Secretary are present. The Headmaster and the Secretary is present (Incorrect).

Exceptions:
ii. Expressions indicating quantity or amount to be considered as a unit require a singular verb. Examples:

Two hundred yards is a long way to crawl.

Slow and steady wins the race. But Time and tide wait for none.

Exercise: Choose the Best Answer

a. Dogs and cats _____to have their ears scratched. i) love ii) loves iii) none

b. Bread and butter _____ my favourite breakfast. i) are ii) is iii) none
c. The president and founder of the college _____ named Ahsan Ullah. i) were ii) was iii) none d. Two hundred dollars _____ a lot of money. i) is ii) are iii) none

Check the answers: a. i) love b. ii) is

c. ii) was

d. i) is

Rule: Agreement With Collective Nouns and Indefinite Pronouns

The verb following the collective noun is usually singular. Example: The jury was unanimous in its opinion. The family has been living here for four years. Exception: If collective nouns denote Noun of Multitude, the verb must be plural.

Example:
The jury were unanimous in their opinion. Some singular-in-form nouns, such as remainder, rest, and number, have a plural meaning in certain contexts; their number depends on their modifiers: Example:

The remainder of the job applicants are waiting outside.

The rest of the books are being donated to the library.

This system also applies to certain indefinite pronouns, such as some, all, and enough:

Example: Some of the books were missing. All of the cookies were eaten. But singular verb is used when the modifier is singular. Example: The rest of the map was found.

Example Continues
All of the cake was eaten. The remainder of this chapter is especially important.

Exercise: Correct/ Incorrect

a. The whole family are celebrating the holidays at home this year. b. Some of the water is polluted.

c. The rest of the books are being donated to the library.

d. The committee have issued its report. Check the answers: a. incorrect b. correct

c. correct

d. incorrect

Rule
Two or more singular objects connected by or or nor require a singular verb. Example: Our happiness or sorrow is largely due to our own actions. Neither praise nor blame seems to affect him.

Rule
But when one of the subjects joined by or or nor is

plural, the verb must be plural. The plural subject

must be placed nearest the verb; as,

Neither the Chairman nor the directors are present.

(Singular) (Plural)

Rule
When the subjects joined by or or nor are of different persons, the verb agrees with the nearer. Example: Either he or I am mistaken. Either you or he is mistaken.

Exercise: Use the right form of verb

a. Either the man or his wife (know) the answer.

b. Neither my friend not I (to be) to blame.

c. Either you or he (to be) mistaken. d. Neither the President nor the directors (know) the matter. Check the answers: a. knows b. am

c. is

d. know

Rule
Either, neither, each, everyone, many a, must be followed by a singular verb. Example: Neither of the two men was very strong.

Many a man has done so.

Some other Words that Take Singular Verb:

Everybody Anybody Somebody Nobody Each

Everyone

Anyone

Someone

No one

Either

Everything

Anything

Something

Nothing

Neither

Examples:
Everybody knows the answer. Somebody was in the room. Nobody speaks Arabic here.

Rule
Two nouns qualified by each or every, even though connected by and, require a singular verb. Examples: Every man and woman has the right to vote. Each boy and each girl was given a chocolate.

Exercise: Correct / Incorrect

a. Neither of the two men was very strong.

b. Many a man have done so.

c. Every boy, every girl and every child were welcomed. d. Everybody loves his/ her parents.

Check the answers: a. correct b. incorrect

c. incorrect

d. correct

Rule
Some nouns which are plural in form, but singular in meaning take a singular verb. Example: The news is true. The wages of sin is death.

Usually the following Nouns Take Singular Verb:

Sciences
Physics Mathematics Statistics Economics

Abstract nouns
News Politics Ethics

Diseases
Measles Mumps

Examples:

Mathematics is found difficult by many students.

Statistics requires complicated methods.

But some nouns which are plural in form always take plural verb. Example: The scissors are blunt.
Some nouns which are always plural:
Spectacles Scissors Thanks Assets Alms Glasses Jaws Pants Ashes Aborigines Amends Billiards Bowels Trousers Shorts

Rule
Some nouns which are singular in form, take a plural verb. Example: Cattle are grazing in the field. Some other singular nouns used as plural:
Aristocracy Nobility Cattle Poultry People Folk Gentry Vermin

Exercise: Use the right verbs

a. Cattle (to be) grazing in the field. b. Politics (to be) the business of his life. c. His spectacles (to be) broken.
Check the answers:

a. are

b. is

c. are

Rule
If any noun or pronoun is connected by with, together with, as well as, along with, in addition to, accompanied by, the verb follows the first subject. Example: Lily as well as her sisters has done well in the examination. Mr. Azad accompanied by his children has attended the party.

Exercise: Choose the best answer

a. The house, with its contents, ____ insured. i) was ii) were iii) None b. The ship, with its crew, ___ lost. i) were ii) was iii) None c. Justice, as well as mercy, ____ it. i) allows ii) allow iii) None d. The Headmaster along with the students ___ planted trees. has i) has ii) have iii) None

Check the answers: a. i) was b. ii) was

c. i) allows

d. i) has

Rule
When the plural noun is a proper name for some single object/ unit, it must be followed by a singular verb.

Example:
The Arabian Nights is still a great favourite. The United States has a big navy.

Rule
When the subject of a sentence is Infinitive or Gerund or Verbal Noun or Clause or Phrase, the verb must be singular.

Example:
To walk is a good exercise. Walking is a good exercise.

Exercise: Correct / Incorrect

a. Gullivers Travels are a famous book. b. The picking of flowers are his hobby.

c. The Arabian Nights delights many readers. Check the answers: a. incorrect

b. incorrect

c. correct