WHAT IS SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT:

Subject Verb Agreement deals with the agreement of the subject and verb in number in a particular sentence. If a subject is singular the verb must be singular and if the verb is plural the subject has to be plural. We can’t have a singular subject and plural verb and vice versa.

There are some exceptions in every case as we know.

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Here are some rules to follow:

RULE 1:

Two singular subjects +  or or nor  =  singular verb  in order.

Eg: My mom or my sister  is meeting you at the airport.

RULE 2:

Two singular subjects + either/or or neither/nor  = singular verb.

Eg: Neither Samanta nor Jessica is available to meet you for dinner.

          Either Zack or John is meeting in an hour at the restaurant.

RULE 3:

Two or more nouns or pronouns   use a plural verb.

Eg:Kimberly and her family are visiting Paris this month.

RULE 4:

If Compound Subject        + or or nor  + verb then should agree with the part of

(contains both singular subject that is nearer to the verb.

And plural noun/pronoun)

Eg: The athlete or his teammates sprint every day.

Eg: His teammates or the athlete sprints every day.

RULE 5:

If     Subject + Phrase + Verb

Then  Verb has to agree with Subject and not the noun/pronoun.

 Eg:The birthday girl, along with her friends, is anxious for the party to start.

RULE 6:

Doesn’t goes with singular subjects

Eg:Meghan doesn’t like  pizza.

Don’t goes with plural subject

Eg:They don’t know the way to central park.

RULE 7:

Each, either, each one, everyone, neither, everybody, anyone, anybody, somebody, nobody, someone, and no one are singular so they need a singular verb.

Eg:Each of the girls is qualified for the prize.

Eg:Neither knows how the competition will end.

RULE 8:

Sentences that begin with there is or there are have the subject following the verb since there is not a subject. Therefore, the verb must agree with what follows it.

Eg:There are many paths to success.

Eg:There is one road out of town.

Exercise : Subject and Verb Agreement Exercise

Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject.

No. Question Answer
1. Annie and her brothers (is, are) at school. Annie and her brothers are at school.
2. Either my mother or my father (is, are) coming to the meeting. Either my mother or my father is coming to the meeting.
3. The dog or the cats (is, are) outside. The dog or the cats are outside.
4. Either my shoes or your coat (is, are) always on the floor. Either my shoes or your coat is always on the floor.
5. George and Tamara (doesn’t, don’t) want to see that movie. George and Tamara don’t want to see that movie.
6. Benito (doesn’t, don’t) know the answer. Benito doesn’t know the answer.
7. One of my sisters (is, are) going on a trip to France. One of my sisters is going on a trip to France.
8. The man with all the birds (live, lives) on my street. The man with all the birds lives on my street.
9. The movie, including all the previews, (take, takes) about two hours to watch. The movie, including all the previews, takes about two hours to watch.
10. The players, as well as the captain, (want, wants) to win. The players, as well as the captain, want to win.
11. Either answer (is, are) acceptable. Either answer is acceptable.
12. Each one of these books (is, are) fiction. Each one of these books is fiction.
13. Nobody (know, knows) the trouble I’ve seen. Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen.
14. (Is, Are) the news on at five or six? Is the news on at five or six?
15. Mathematics (is, are) John’s favorite subject, while Civics (is, are) Andrea’s favorite subject. Mathematics is John’s favorite subject, while Civics is Andrea’s favorite subject.
16. Eight dollars (is, are) the price of a movie these days. Eight dollars is the price of a movie these days.
17. (Is, Are) the tweezers in this drawer? Are the tweezers in this drawer?
18. Your pants (is, are) at the cleaner’s. Your pants are at the cleaners.
19. There (was, were) fifteen candies in that bag. Now there (is, are) only one left! There were fifteen candies in that bag. Now there is only one left!
20. The committee (debates, debate) these questions carefully. The committee debates these questions carefully.
21. The committee (leads, lead) very different lives in private. The committee leads very different lives in private.
22. The Prime Minister, together with his wife, (greets, greet) the press cordially. The Prime Minister, together with his wife, greets the press cordially.
23. All of the CDs, even the scratched one, (is, are) in this case. All of the CDs, even the scratched one, are in this case.

 

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Anisha Mukhija

Anisha Mukhija

CATKing Mentor / Author

Anisha has done MBA in Marketing from NMIMS And Executive Management(PMNO) from Harvard Business School. She has been instrumental in growing CATKing Digital with her experience with Marico and Henkel in the past.