ENTRANCE TRICKS PRIVATE SCHOOL

Main contents
 Basic Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement
 Special Cases
- Compound Subjects
- Indefinite Pronouns
- Collective Nouns
- Titles of Works
 Common Errors
 Work sheet

Subject-verb agreement refers to the grammatical rule that the subject and verb in a sentence
must agree in number (singular or plural). This agreement is crucial for clarity and correctness
in writing.

Singular Nouns- A singular noun refers to one person, place, thing, or idea.
Examples
- Person: teacher, child
- Place: city, park
- Thing: book, apple
- Idea: freedom, happiness

Plural Nouns- A plural noun refers to more than one person, place, thing, or idea.

Rules for Forming Plurals

1. Regular nouns: Add "s" to the end.
- Example: cat → cats

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2. Nouns ending in "s," "x," "z," "ch," or "sh": Add "es."

- Example: box → boxes

3. Nouns ending in a consonant + "y": Change "y" to "i" and add "es."
- Example: baby → babies

4. Nouns ending in a vowel + "y": Add "s."

- Example: toy → toys

5. Irregular nouns: Change form completely.

- Example: man → men, child → children
Examples
- One dog → two dogs
- One bus → two buses
- One city → three cities

Singular Verbs- A singular verb agrees with a singular subject in number.

Examples
- The dog barks.
- She runs every morning.
- The car is fast.

Plural Verbs- A plural verb agrees with a plural subject in number.

Examples
- The dogs bark.
- They run every morning.
- The cars are fast.

Basic Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement

Singular subjects take singular verbs:
- Example: The dog barks.
 Plural subjects take plural verbs:
- Example: The dogs bark.

Examples:

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- Singular: The cat runs fast.

- Plural: The cats run fast.

Compound Subjects
When two subjects are joined by "and," they typically take a plural verb.
- Example: Tom and Jerry are friends.

If the subjects are joined by "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the nearest subject.
- Example: Either the manager or the employees are responsible.

Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns refer to non-specific persons or things. Common examples include:

- Everyone
- Someone
- Anyone
- No one
- Everybody
- Somebody
- Nobody
- Each
- Either
- Neither
- Many
- Few
- Several
- All
- Some

Subject-Verb Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns

1. Singular Indefinite Pronouns:

Some indefinite pronouns are always singular and take singular verbs.
- Examples: Everyone, someone, anyone, no one, each, either, neither.

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- Example Sentences:
- Everyone is invited to the party.
- Each of the students has completed their assignment.

2. Plural Indefinite Pronouns:

Some indefinite pronouns are always plural and take plural verbs.
- Examples: Many, few, several, both.
- Example Sentences:
- Many are attending the conference.
- Several have already submitted their reports.

3. Indefinite Pronouns that Can Be Singular or Plural:

Some indefinite pronouns can be either singular or plural depending on the context.
- Examples: All, some, none, most.
- When these pronouns refer to a singular noun, they take a singular verb; when they refer to
a plural noun, they take a plural verb.

- Example Sentences:
- All of the cake is gone. (singular)
- All of the cookies are gone. (plural)
- Some of the water has spilled. (singular)
- Some of the apples have gone bad. (plural)

Tips for Subject-Verb Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns

1. Identify whether the indefinite pronoun is singular or plural.

2. Check if the context of the sentence clarifies whether it refers to a singular or plural noun.
3. Always use a singular verb with singular indefinite pronouns and a plural verb with plural
indefinite pronouns.

Collective Nouns
Collective nouns refer to a group but can take either singular or plural verbs based on context.
- Singular: The team wins the game.
- Plural: The team are wearing their new uniforms.

Titles of Works

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Titles of books, movies, and other works are treated as singular.

- Example: "The Great Gatsby" is a classic novel.

Common Errors
 Misidentifying the subject (e.g., confusing the subject with a nearby noun).

A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition and its object, which can be a noun, pronoun,
or noun phrase. It often provides additional information about time, location, direction, or
manner. For example:
- In the park
- Under the table
- With her friends

Prepositional phrases can sometimes cause confusion in identifying the subject of a sentence.
The object of a prepositional phrase is not the subject, and it does not affect the verb
agreement.

Example:
- The group of students is studying.
- Here, "the group" is the subject (singular), so the verb "is" agrees with it. The phrase "of
students" is a prepositional phrase that does not affect the subject-verb agreement.

Another Example:
- The box of chocolates was delicious.
- "The box" is the subject (singular), so "was" is the correct verb form. The prepositional
phrase "of chocolates" does not change this.

- Incorrect:The bouquet of flowers were beautiful.

- Correct: The bouquet of flowers was beautiful.
- Incorrect:The group of students are studying.
- Correct: The group of students is studying.

Using the wrong verb form with collective nouns:

- Incorrect: The team are winning the match.
- Correct: The team is winning the match.

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Worksheet
1. Everyone in the class (is/are) excited about the trip.
- A) is
B) are

2. Each of the dogs (has/have) a collar.

A) has
B) have

3. None of the information (was/were) correct.

A) was
B) were

4. Many of the students (has/have) completed their assignments.

A) has
B) have

5. Either the teacher or the students (is/are) responsible for the project.
A) is
B) are

6. Neither of the answers (is/are) acceptable.

A) is
B) are

7. Some of the cake (was/were) eaten at the party.

A) was
B) were

8. All of the furniture (is/are) new.

A) is
B) are

9. Few of the books (was/were) returned on time.

A) was
B) were

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10. Each of the players (were/was) given a trophy.

A) were
B) was

11. Either my brother or my sisters (is/are) going to the concert.

A) is
B) are

12. All of the cookies (was/were) eaten by the children.

A) was
B) were

13. Somebody (has/have) left their umbrella.

A) has
B) have

14. Both of the options (is/are) viable.

A) is
B) are

15. Each of the students (has/have) a different opinion.

A) has
B) have

16. None of the team (was/were) ready for the match.

A) was
B) were

17. All of the team members (is/are) present today.

A) is
B) are

18. Either the cat or the dogs (is/are) making that noise.
A) is
B) are

19. Most of the water (has/have) evaporated.

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A) has
B) have

20. Some of the flowers (was/were) wilted.

A) was
B) were

21. Each of the cars (was/were) parked in a different spot.

A) was
B) were

22. Many a student (has/have) asked this question.

A) has
B) have

23. Neither of the options (is/are) suitable for our needs.

A) is
B) are

24. All of the evidence (was/were) presented in court.

A) was
B) were

25. Several of the candidates (was/were) interviewed yesterday.

A) was
B) were

26. Each of these books (is/are) fascinating.

A) is
B) are

27. None of the staff (was/were) informed about the changes.

A) was
B) were

28. Either my mom or my dad (is/are) cooking dinner tonight.

A) is

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B) are

29. All of us (has/have) to participate in this event.

A) has
B) have

30. Most of the cake (is/are) left over from yesterday's party.
A) is
B) are

Answers and Explanations

1. A: "is" – "Everyone" is singular.

2. A: "has" – "Each" is singular.
3. A: "was" – "None" can be singular when referring to information.
4. B: "have" – "Many" is plural.
5. B: "are" – The nearest subject "students" is plural.
6. A: "is" – "Neither" is singular.
7. A: "was" – "Some" can be singular when referring to an uncountable noun like cake.
8. A: "is" – "Furniture" is singular.
9. B: "were" – "Few" is plural.
10. B: "was" – "Each" is singular.
11. B: "are" – The nearest subject "sisters" is plural.
12. B: "were" – "Cookies" is plural.
13. A: "has" – "Somebody" is singular.
14. B: "are" – "Both" is plural.
15. A: "has" – "Each" is singular.
16. A: "was" – "Team" can be considered singular as a unit.
17. B: "are" – Referring to multiple members, hence plural.
18. B: "are" – The nearest subject "dogs" is plural.
19. A: "has" – "Most" can be singular when referring to an uncountable noun like water.
20. B: "were" – "Flowers" is plural.
21. A: "was" – Referring to each individual car, hence singular.
22. A: "has" – The phrase "Many a student" takes a singular verb.
23. A: "is" – "Neither" is singular.
24. A: "was" – "Evidence" is uncountable and treated as singular.
25. B: "were" – "Candidates" is plural.

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26. A: "is" – Referring to each book individually, hence singular.

27. A: "was" – Treated as a singular group here.
28. A: "is" – The nearest subject "dad" is singular, but either works as they both refer to one
person cooking dinner together.
29. B: "have" – Referring to multiple people, hence plural.
30. A: "is" – Cake is treated as a singular mass noun.

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