- Subject–verb agreement refers to the number of the subject (whom or what a sentence is about) and verb (what the subject is or does).
- Use a singular subject with a singular verb and a plural subject with a plural verb.
- Now, the subject agrees with the verb.
A singular verb is one that has ‘s’ added to it in the present tense, such as writes, plays, runs, and uses forms such as is, was, has, does.
A plural verb does not have an ‘s’ added to it, such as write, play, run, and uses
forms such as are, were, have and do.
Rule 1
Subjects and verbs must agree in number.
This is an essential rule that forms the background of the concept.
Example:
1. The dog bites when he is angry.
2. The dogs bite when they are angry.
Drill:
My friends……me every weekend.
a.visit
b.visits
c.visites
Rule 2
Prepositional phrases between the subject and verb usually do not affect agreement. Learn to ignore the phrase and isolate the subject & verb – check for agreement.
Example:
The colors of the rainbow are beautiful.
Drill:
1. The shirts in the closet……new.
a.is
b.Are
2. The boy on the stairs….my cousin.
a.is
b.Are
3. The dog sitting under the stairs……my pet.
a.is
b.Are
Rule 3
Don’t get confused by the words that come between the subject and verb; they do not affect agreement.
Example:
The dog, who is chewing on my jeans, is a playful pet.
Drill: 1 2 3
My friends, who are my collogues as well, visit/visits/visited me every weekend.
Rule 4
When sentences start with “there” or “here,” the subject will always be
placed after the verb, so care needs to be taken to identify it correctly.
Example:
There is a problem with the balance sheet.
Here are the papers you requested.
Drill:
Frame two…… different sentences staring with ‘there’ and ‘here’ in the chat box.
Rule 5
If two subjects are joined by ‘and’, they typically require a plural verb form.
Example:
The cow and the pig are jumping over the moon.
Drill:
CHOOSE THE CORRECT ONE:
Mary and John usually (plays/play) together.
Rule 6
The verb is singular if the two subjects separated by ‘and’ refer to the
same person or thing.
Example:
IELTS and PTE is taught by John.
Drill:
CHOOSE THE CORRECT ONE:
This….the long and the short case study of the matter.
a.is
b.are
Rule 7
Indefinite pronouns typically take singular verbs.
(The following indefinite pronouns are always singular: one, anyone, everyone, no one, someone, anybody, everybody, nobody, somebody.)
Example :
Everybody wants to be loved.
Drill:
QUICK EXERCISE:
1…..(Do/Does) anyone want to join me.
2.No one….(has/have) joined the meeting.
Rule 8
If two infinitives are separated by ‘and’ they take the plural form of the verb.
An infinitive verb is essentially the base form of the verb with the word “to” in front of it. When you use an infinitive verb, the “to” is a part of the verb. It is not acting as a preposition in this case.
FOR EXAMPLE
to be to have to hold to sleep to spend
Example :
To walk and to chew gum require great skill.
Drill:
Exercise:
To teach and to learn….concentration. (need/needs)
Rule 9
When gerunds are used as the subject of a sentence they take the singular verb form of the verb, but when they are linked by ‘and’ they take the plural form.
Example :
Standing in the water was a bad idea. Swimming in the ocean and playing drums are my hobbies.
Drill:
Talking while having dinner…. a wrong trait. (is/are)
Rule 10
Collective nouns like herd, senate,class,crowd, etc. usually take a singular verb form.
Example :
The Army is coming.
Drill:
QUICK EXERCISE:
1…….The library (has/have) many books.
2…….A bunch of keys (is /are) missing.
Rule 11
Titles of books, movies, novels, etc. are treated as singular and take a
singular verb.
Example :
The book ‘Two States’ is written by Chetan Bhagat
Drill:
Complete the sentence.
1. Fast and furious…..an interesting movie. (is/are)
