Subject Verb Concord

SUBJECT VERB CONCORD

Grammar-wise, in English a person, place, or object doing the action in the sentence is the
subject of the sentence. The sentence's topic indicates what or who it is talking about. A
noun or pronoun is often included in the simple subject, which may also contain modifying
words, phrases, or clauses. That often indicates that the subject comes before the verb.
Verbs are words that demonstrate an activity, such as singing, the occurrence, development,
or existence of something. There is usually a verb in almost every sentence. When a verb is
aligned and agrees with the subject in a proper form it forms a complete sentence. This can
be called subject-verb agreement or subject-verb concord.

Subject = noun or pronoun being talked about in the sentence

Verb = represents the action in in the sentence

Concord = agreement

Subject + Verb = Sentence

Subject + Verb (in concord) = Grammatically correct sentence

Subject- Verb in Singular and Plural Terms

Subject and verb should be in agreement.
The number of the subject and the verb should be same.
A singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb.

Rules for Writing Subject Verb Concord Statements with Examples

Singular verb is used for a singular subject and a collective noun whereas a plural verb is used
for a plural subject.

Singular subjects take singular verbs

Singular Subject + Singular Verb

Examples:
(i) My cat does not like milk.​ ​ (i) My cat do not like milk.
(ii) The ship has a pink mast.​ ​ (ii) The ship have a pink mast.

Subjects that are Collective Nouns take singular verbs

Collective Noun + Singular Verb

Examples
(i) Go check if the fleet of​ ​ ​ (i) Go check if the fleet of
ships has arrived. ​ ​ ​ ​ ships have arrived.
(ii) The choir is known for​ ​ ​ (ii) The choir are known for
its original compositions.​ ​ ​ their original compositions.

Plural subjects take plural verbs

Plural Subject + Plural Verb

Examples
(i) The tigers in the forest​ ​ ​ (i) The tigers in the forest
meet at the waterhole.​ ​ ​ meets at the waterhole.
(ii) The balls are heavy and​ ​ ​ (ii) The balls are heavy and
sink at the bottom.​ ​ ​ ​ sinks at the bottom.

For different subjects that are joined by the conjunction ‘and,’ in a sentence is accompanied
by a plural verb. Whereas two subjects that are nouns and joined by ‘and’ is accompanied by
a singular verb.

Subjects that are joined by ‘and’ take plural verbs

Subject 1 And Subject 2 + Plural Verb
(i) Apples and pears belong​ ​ ​ (i) Apples and pears belong
to the same family.​ ​ ​ ​ to the same family.
(ii) Animals and plants are both​ ​ (ii) Animals and plants is both
important for our ecosystem.​​ ​ important for our ecosystem.

Sometimes two nouns are connected by ‘and’ but still represent

a single entity.
Noun And Noun + Singular Verb

​ Single entity
(i) Milk and cereal is a popular​ ​ (i) Apples and pears belong
American breakfast.​ ​ ​ ​ to the same family.
(ii) Salt and pepper is essential​ ​ (ii) Animals and plants is both
for any recipe.​​ ​ ​ ​ important for our ecosystem.

When nouns are joined by ‘as well as’, ‘in addition to’, ‘besides’, ‘along with’ and ‘together
with’ the accompanying verb agrees with the first noun in the sentence.

Examples
(i) The monk as well his disciples is meditating in the sun.
(i) The monk as well his disciples are meditating in the sun.

(i) The children, together with the teacher, are practising hard.
(ii) The cat as well as the mice is responsible for spilling the milk.

(i) The children, together with the teacher, is practising hard.

(ii) The cat as well as the mice are responsible for spilling the milk.

For fractions the subject and verb are aligned as is, so for a singular fraction a singular verb
is used and for plural nouns or subject as a fraction, a plural noun is used. And for subjects in
form of periods and units of time, distances, sums of money and many such units, singular
verbs are used.
Fractions: The Verb Agrees With The Whole Subject* *singular Subject: Singular Verb; Plural
Subject: Plural Verb

Examples
(i) Three-fourth class is absent today.
(ii) One-fourth of the stock is missing.

(i) Three-fourth class are absent today.

(ii) One-fourth of the stockare missing.

Distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc.: singular verbs

Examples
(i) Hundred cents is equal to one dollar.
(ii) Ten miles is a long distance to cover in an hour.

(i) Hundred cents are equal to one dollar.

(ii) Ten miles are a long distance to cover in an hour.

For indefinite pronouns that do not refer to any person, amount, or thing in particular, like,
something, anything, everyone, each, no one, anyone etc that can be considered as a singular
subject, a singular verb is used to complete a sentence.

Singular Subjects Take Singular Verbs

Singular Subject + Singular Verb
Examples
(i) Someone has stolen my ring.
(ii) Everyone has a virtue and a vice.

(i) Someone have stolen my ring.

(ii) Everyone have a virtue and vice.

For Indefinite pronouns that are plural like, many, few others etc. must be accompanied by a
plural verb.

Both, Few, Many, Several, Others... + Plural Verb

Examples
(i) Have you met the Simpson brothers? Both are so tall!
(i) Have you met the Simpson brothers? Both is so tall!

A singular verb is used when either of or neither of is used as the subject of a sentence. And
for the subjects, either or or neither nor the verb form should be aligned with the closest
subject.

When Used As A Subject of A Sentence,

Either of or Neither of + Singular Verb

Examples
(i) Neither of the flowers is as pretty as the ones last year.
(ii) Either of us is capable of winning the race.

(i) Neither of the flowers are as pretty as the ones last year.
(ii) Either of us are capable of winning the race.

Either..Or Or Neither..Nor + verb Of Closest Subject

(i) Either the Principal or the teachers are talking to the students.
(ii) Neither the eggs nor the chicken was saved in the storm.

(i) Either the Principal or the teachers is talking to the students.

(ii) Neither the eggs nor the chicken were saved in the storm.

A singular verb is used for subjects with ‘many a’, ‘one of’ and ‘more than a’ sentence.
Examples
(i) One of the students is​ ​ ​ (i) One of the students are
absent today.​​ ​ ​ ​ absent today.
(ii) Many a mangoes was spoilt.​ ​ (ii) Many a mangoes were spoilt.

The verb concords to the closer subject when ‘not only’ and ‘but also’ is used in the
sentence.
Examples
(i) Not only dogs but also cats are available at the animal shelter.
(ii) Not only my dresses but also her dress is missing from the cupboard.

(i) Not only dogs but also cats is available at the animal shelter.
(ii) Not only my dresses but also her dress are missing from the cupboard.

Solved Examples
Fill in the blanks
1. Half of the envelopes _______ been opened.
A. has
B. have
Ans: Half of the envelopes have been opened.

2. A box of crayons ______ given to me by her.

A. was
B. were
Ans: A box of crayons was given to me by her.

3. The horde _____ excited by the loud music.

A. are
B. is
Ans: The horde is excited by the loud music.

4. It _____ seem difficult.

A. does
B. do
Ans: It does seem difficult.

5. They _________ practised and performed so well.

A. has
B. have
Ans: They have practised and performed so well.

Exercise - Practice Questions

Fill in the blanks
1. Do ____ know you are unwell?
A. they
B. he/she

2. The man with his wife _____ waiting for the bus to arrive.
A. are
B. is
3. Either she or he ___ to go.
A. have
B. has

4. Not only my books her book _____ also missing.

A. is
B. are

5. The stationery items and notebooks ____ missing from my desk.

A. are
B. is

6. Anyone _____ capable of this.

A. is
B. are

7. Do you know of someone who ______ this book?

A. has
B. is having

8. The choreographer along with her sisters _______ to the same competitive team.
A. belongs
B. belong

9. Many of my friends ___________ to visit me.

A. have come
B. has come