Subject-Verb agreement
Subject : In a sentence we speak about someone or something, the someone or something
is called subject
Verb : Ther are two types of verbs, main or action verb ( go, come, sit etc.) and auxiliary or
helping verb , here we deal with auxiliary/helping verb, they are called helping verb
because they help main verb to form a sentences. ( She is doing well, here is = helping verb
and doing = main verb. Am, is, are, was, were, been ,have, has, had, etc. are the helping
verbs.). A sentence would appear shabby if it’s subject and verb don’t agree with each
other.
My friends is coming tomorrow
(Here my friends = subject and is = verb, the subject doesn’t agree with the verb, there is no
action verb here.), the correct form of the sentence is.
My friends are coming.
Rules
1 Two or more subjects joined by conjunction and, takes plural verb form.
Jill and Jim are/were friends.
Jill and Jim the cricketers,have arrived.
Factories and workers are part of big cities.
But, Joe with his wife and children, is in city. (The subject to be taken in to account is Joe.)
Please note that when two nouns represent the same concept, singular verb is used.
Bread and butter is their main demand.
High and low is a part of the share market.
2 When two singular nouns indicate the same person or thing, singular verb is used
The founder and architect of this nation is dead. (Refers to the same person)
The poet and playwright is visiting the city tomorrow.
Honor and glory was his motto.
3 Relative pronoun like who should agree with the number (of person)
He is the man who seeks blood. (not seek)
She is one of those actress who were awarded Oscar.
4. When plural noun(Noun phrase) describes some amount or quantity
(Considered as a whole), the verb takes singular form.
(Considered as a whole), the verb takes singular form.
A Ten thousand Yen is not a small sum.
Judge said, “ fifteen minutes’ is allowed for the argument.”
Three months is a good period (for some purpose)
Fifteen hundred miles is a long distance.
Note: When plural noun represents proper noun.
Big dreams is a good novel
United states has promised F16s to South Korea.
Gulliver’s Travels is my favorite book.
5. Error due to proximity (of a verb) of the nearest noun
The quality of the apples is not satisfactory. ( is should agree with quality not with apples.)
Neither the chairman nor the managers were present.
Either you or he is telling a lie.
She is not to blame nor are you.
Not one of his lectures were printed.
6. Some nouns in plural form have singular meaning.
Politics, news, Each, media, Mathematics, Physics etc.
Politics is not interesting these days.
Five dozen is too much.
Wages of sin is death.
7.Collective nouns like staff, family, audience, committee etc. take either singular or plural verb.
The audience was large.
The audience were unhappy with the organizers.
Greek government is unyielding on austerity measures.
NOTE: Collective nouns like Police, people, Jury etc. take plural form
The Police are investigating the case. But we should say policeman is investigating…...
The Jury (many) were divided.
The jury (a group ) has elected its head.
If we think that collective noun represent many people/things, then the verb takes plural
form. The audience have become restless, due to the late start of the concert.
8.With relative pronoun like who , should agree with number and person
The man who is sitting there, is my friend.
She is one of those women who are music lovers.
9.Scissors, Trousers, Spectacles, pants are treated as two things.
These scissors are not sharp enough.
Your pants are dirty.
10. Paper, ice ,soap, furniture etc. are uncountable nouns
Paper sheet is/ice cube is/soap cake is.
11. Pains and means take either singular or plural form.
Fighters suffered great pains.
Pains is not a barrier for a true adventurer.
His means have improved considerably.
The austerity means employed by the planners is not in the right direction.
12. Subjects joined by or nor should agree with the nearer verb.
Either he or she is present.
Neither you nor she is to blame.
Neither My cousin nor I am interested.
No nook or corner was spared in the search.
13.Each,every,many a , wither, neither are followed by singular verb.
Neither of the two parties was willing.
Each of these minerals is found in the Gobi desert.
Every one of the students likes to have chocolate.
Many a man doesn’t know his potentials.
14 With and as well as
The building with its assets was sold.
Gold as well as wheat has taken a beating.
