English Assignment -7
Subject Verb Agreement
Here are some rules that govern the agreement of subject and verb:
Rule 1.
A singular subject takes the verb in the singular and a plural subject takes the verb in the plural. Note:
All English verbs are plural; we make them singular by adding s or es to the verb.
Examples:
(i) Naina goes for a walk every day.
(ii) The workers are on strike.
Rule 2. Two or more singular nouns or pronouns joined by ‘and’ generally take a plural verb.
Examples
• She and I were playing.
• Both, her books and pen, have been lost.
Rule [Link] two singular nouns refer to the same person, the verb must be in singular.
Examples:
• Her friend and classmate is dead.
• Ankur’s wife and boss has met with an accident.
Rule 4. When a singular subject is qualified by ‘each’, ‘every’, ‘neither’ or ‘either’, the verb must be in
singular.
Examples:
• Each one of you has to attend the match
• Neither of the teams was very strong.
Rule [Link] two subjects are joined by either-or/neither-nor, the verb agrees with the subject
nearest it.
Examples:
• Neither the guru nor his disciples are present.
• Either the boys or the teacher is wrong.
Rule 6. When the nouns are compound in form, making one unit, the verb must be singular.
Examples:
• Bread and butter is their only food.
• Here comes my friend and philosopher.
Rule 7. When a sentence begins with introductory ‘there’, the verb must agree with the noun that
follows it.
Examples:
• There are ten apples in the basket.
• There is a swimming pool in my house.
Rule 8. The nouns plural in form but singular in meaning take the verb in singular. ‘
Examples:
• The news is true.
• Mathematics is not an easy subject.
Rule 9. Collective nouns take verb in singular but when the individuals are taken separately, the verb
can be in plural.
Examples:
• A herd of cattle is grazing.
• The jury were divided in their opinion.
Rule 10. A plural noun referring to distance, weight, height, amount of money represent a single
figure or quantity, the verb must be singular.
Examples:
• Five kilometers is a long distance for walk.
• She gives him an old five hundred rupee note.
Rule 11. Nouns such as food, furniture, crockery, stationery, etc. are singular, so the verb must be
singular.
Examples:
• The furniture has been polished.
• The stationery is damaged during the transit.
Rule 12. Phrases like—‘a lot of’, ‘plenty of’, ‘most of’ are used in singular when they refer to the
amount or quantity, but they take plural verb when they refer to number.
Example:
• A lot of work needs to be done.
• Most of the boys like these candies.
Q1. Fill in the blanks using the correct form of the verb given in brackets.
a) A dog …………………………… a faithful animal.
(b) Neither my parents nor relatives …………………………… present yesterday at the party.
(c) Each of the boys …………………………… honest.
(d) The entire class as well as the principal, …………………………… agreed to the proposal.
(e) Neither Rasipa nor Reeta …………………………… present.
(f) His briefcase and wallet …………………………… been lost.
(g) Politics …………………………… his bread and butter.
(h) The committee …………………………… issued its report.
(i) Three parts of the business …………………………… left for me to do.
(j) Either he or I …………………………… mistaken.
(k) The jury………………….. divided in their opinions. (was, were)
(l) There……………………… many exceptions to this rule. (is, are)
(m) Bread and butter…………………. my favourite breakfast. (is, are)
(n) Neither Ramesh nor his friends…………………… hurt. (was, were)
(o) Slow and steady………………. the race. (win, wins)
(p) No news…………… good news. (is, are)
(q) There………………… sixty students in our class. (is, are)
( r) Mathematics…………….. my favourite subject. (is, are)
(s) The poet and singer………….. dead. (is, are)
(t) He as well as his classmates …………………………. Working. (is, are)
Q2. Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject.
1. Annie and her brothers (is, are) at school.
2. Either my mother or my father (is, are) coming to the meeting.
3. The dog or the cats (is, are) outside.
4. Either my shoes or your coat (is, are) always on the floor.
5. George and Tamara (doesn't, don't) want to see that movie.
6. Benito (doesn't, don't) know the answer.
7. One of my sisters (is, are) going on a trip to France.
8. The man with all the birds (live, lives) on my street.
9. The movie, including all the previews, (take, takes) about two hours to watch.
10. The players, as well as the captain, (want, wants) to win.
11. Either answer (is, are) acceptable.
12. Every one of those books (is, are) fiction.
13. Nobody (know, knows) the trouble I've seen.
14. (Is, Are) the news on at five or six?
15. Mathematics (is, are) John's favorite subject, while Civics (is, are) Andrea's favorite subject.
16. Eight dollars (is, are) the price of a movie these days.
17. (Is, Are) the tweezers in this drawer?
18. Your pants (is, are) at the cleaner's.
19. There (was, were) fifteen candies in that bag. Now there (is, are) only one left!
20. The committee (debates, debate) these questions carefully.
21. The committee members (leads, lead) very different lives in private.
22. The Prime Minister, together with his wife, (greets, greet) the press cordially.
