IBA + BUP

Admission Course
FrLive Class: Subject
Verb Agreement

Abrar Saud
IBA DU BBA, Notre Dame
College
 What is Subject-Verb Agreement ?

Subject Verb

I am playing in the field now.

He is the one whom I trust the most.
They are going to the picnic without even informing me.
❖ Rule 1 : “None” can take either a singular verb or a plural verb.
It depends on the noun which follows it. When “None” refers to
a singular or non-count noun , it takes a singular verb and when
it refers to a plural noun ,it takes a plural verb.

Example:
None of the students have done their homework today.
None of the crimes _______ been solved.
None of my things ______ been stolen.
None of the furniture _____ damaged in the fire.
None of the money _______ missing.
❖Rule 2 : “A number of” vs “ The number of”

The phrase “A number of” is plural and the phrase “The number of”
is singular. Because the subject is different for the two phrases.

Example:
A number of students say that Abrar bhai teaches better than
Rifat bhai.
A number of books ______ been sold.
The number of students present today is 58.
The number of the seats available for IBA BBA every year
________ 120.
❖Rule 3 : There are a number of nouns that are always plural .Here
is a list
Scissors Eyeglass Trousers Tweezers Tongs
es
Shorts Pants Pliers Jeans Clothes

Example:
The pants are in the drawer.
A pair of pants ____ in the drawer.
These scissors _____ so sharp.
This pair of scissors _____ is dull.
❖Rule 4: If two subjects are joined using the following expressions,
the verb agrees with the first subject.

Accompanied As well as In addition Together with

by to
Among Even Along with

Example:
Sajid along with his friends is coming to the party.
Andrew Tate as well as his brother _____ been arrested in Romania.
The Principal accompanied by the class teacher ______ coming to
the classroom.
❖Rule 5 : When two subjects are joined by either of the following ,
the verb agrees with the subject nearer the verb.

Eiher ….or Neither ….or

Not only ….but also Only or/ only nor

Example:
Neither Ratul nor his friends are coming to the party.
Not only Jake but also his colleagues ______ intended to resign.
Neither the farmer nor the farm workers _____ willing to settle the
strike.
❖Rule 6: Fraction, percent, some, all, part, majority - if they denote a
countable subject ,they take a plural verb and when they denote a
non count subject , they take a singular verb.

Example:
One of the students are present in the class today.
Two fifth of the city _____still employed.
Fifty percent of the people ____ against the price hike.
Fifty percent of the apples _____ been damaged.
Twenty percent of country _____ been flooded by the recent
catastrophe.
❖Rule 7: Many a vs Many
Many a takes a singular verb and Many takes a plural verb.

Example:
Many a man _____tried this but failed.
Many students _____ been killed in the protest.
Exercise – 1 :
1. Sajid and Sadia ______________(have/has) to work together on the
project.
2. Either cake or burger ______________ (is/are) needed our cravings.
3. Neither the cat nor the dog ______________ (like) the new pet bird.
4. Many of the students ______________ (excel) in mathematics.
5. None of the information you provided ______________ (be)
accurate.
6. A number of books ______________ (be) available at the library.
7.The jury ______ (was/were) divided in their opinions.
8.The jury _____ (is/are) unanimous in its decision.
9. Both the laptop and the desktop computer ______________ (have)
their advantages.
10. One of the students in the class ______________ (win) the science
competition.
11. Here ______________ (come) the judges of the Competition.
12. Many a man ______________ (dream) of traveling to space.
13. The majority of the team members ______________ (support) the
new strategy.
14. Fifty percent of the apples ______________ (be) rotten.
15. Accompanied by her friends, Maria, as well as her sister,
______________
❖ Rule 8 : These subjects are singular/plural based on the context of the
sentence.
Committee Jury Class Majority Governme Army
nt
Club Organizatio Crowd Public Team Group
n
Example:
The majority _____ agreed to my proposal.
The majority of the students _____ agreed to my proposal.
❖ Rule 9 : When a word denotes nationality and refers to a language, it
takes a singular verb and if the word refers to people, it takes a plural
verb.
Example:
Japanese ____ a hard language to learn.
The Japanese _____so hardworking.
❖Rule 10 : Collective nouns that indicate time/money/measurements
are used as singulars.

Example:
Two miles is a long distance to travel on foot.
20 hours ___ a huge time to complete the work.
❑With money, if the amount is specific, use a singular verb; if the amount is
vague, use a plural verb.
* Within a year, $5 million _____spent on building a new factory, and millions
more _____ spent on training future factory workers.
* Funds _____allocated each year to help medical research.
Rule 11: There is a certain type of noun such as 'staff' or 'family' which
may be either singular or plural depending on what they're referring to
(as well as the writer or speaker's intention). This is shown in the
following examples:

Example:
The staff in my office _____lazy
The staff at work _____ is exceptionally good.
Your family _____ovely to be with.
Your family____nicer than mine.
1. A majority of candidates want to have placement in Dhaka Bank.

a. A majority of candidates want to have placement

b. A majority of candidates want to have job
c. A majority of candidates wants to have placement
d. A majority of candidates wants to placement
e. None of these

2. While larger banks can afford to maintain their own data-processing operations, manh
smaller regional and community banks are finding that the cost associated with upgrading data-
processing equipment and with the development and maintenance of new products and
technical staff are prohibitive.

a. cost associated with

b. costs associated with
c. costs arising from
d. cost of
e. costs of
3. One of the perennial problems of the tourist industry is that of fitting what people want to
see into the time they have available to see it in.

a. that of fitting what people want to see into the time they have available to see it in
b. fitting what people want to see into the time they have available
c. that of fitting what people want to see in the time which they have available
d. fitting what people want to see in the time they have available for seeing
e. the need to fit what people want to see into the available time for seeing

4. Neither Mr. Rahman nor his friend are invited to speak at the seminar.

a. is invited to speak at the seminar

b. are invited to speak at the seminar
c. are to speak at the seminar
d. are speaking at the seminar
e. will be speak at the seminar
23. Which of the following sentence correctly uses punctuations?

a. China already has three profound interests in Central Asia, in securing supplies of energy,
in the land route to Europe, and in ensuring stability in its own.

b. China already, has three profound interests in Central Asia: in securing supplies of energy,
in the land route to Europe and, in ensuring stability in its own.

c. China already has three profound interests in Central Asia-in securing supplies of energy;
in the land route to Europe and, in ensuring, stability in its own.

d. China already has three profound interests in Central Asia: in securing supplies of energy;
in the land route of Europe; and in ensuring stability in its own.
 SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT
EXERCISE I
Instruction: Underlined parts of the following sentences may contain error(s) in grammar. Choose the underlined
portion that is incorrect. If there is no error then select (E).

1. (A)Lately, (B)many of the (C)committee's suggestions (D)has been rejected. (E)No error.

2. (A)Everyone (B)expected to do well in the exam (C)because all (D)had worked so hard for it.
(E)No error.

3. (A)Determination of the long term (B)effects of aerosols on the upper atmosphere (C)are
currently one of the (D)most challenging problems in climate research. (E)No Error.

4. The office memoranda (A)was circulated, but (B)nobody responded; (C)hence, (D)few supplies
were lost.

5. (A)Both of the debate teams must (B)participate in (C)order (D)to infuse the school of business
with team spirit. (E)No error