Subject Verb Concord

_{Subject Verb Concord}

Subject Verb Agreement

Rule 1 : The verb and subject must agree in number (singular or plural)

So, if the subject is singular, the verb should be singular and if the subject is plural, the verb should also be plural.

Examples:

1. He plays football. (SINGULAR)

2. They play football. ( PLURAL)

Rule 2 : The number of the subject (sing. or pl.) will not change due to words/phrases in between the subject and the verb.

Examples:

1. One of the glasses is empty.

(Here, the subject is ‘one’, the verb should be ‘is’).

2. The bouquet of red roses smells so sweet.

(Here, ‘bouquet’ is the subject and not ‘roses’, the verb should be ‘smells’ and not ‘smell’)

Rule 3 : Subjects joined by ‘and’, use a plural verb. Subjects joined by ‘either/or’ neither/nor’ use a singular verb.

Examples:

1. Radha and Meera are coming home.

2. Neither Akshay nor Rohit is coming home.

3. My dad or my mom is arriving today.

Rule 4 : The verb in a sentence containing ‘or’, ‘either/or’, ‘neither/nor’ agrees with the noun or pronoun closest to it.

Examples:

1. Neither the shoes nor the bag matches the dress. (Here, ‘bag’ is closest to the verb, hence ‘matches’)

2. Neither the bag nor the shoes match the dress. (Here, ‘shoes’ is closest to the verb, hence ‘match’)

Rule 5 : When the subject is followed by words like ‘as well as’, ‘along with’, ‘besides’, ‘not’ etc. ignore them and use a verb that agrees with the subject.

Examples:

1. Mayank, as well as his dog, is expected shortly.

2. Pratik, along with his brother, is going to school.

3. Girls, as well as, the boys are enjoying.

Rule 6 : If a sentence begins with ‘here’, ‘there’, the true subject usually follows the verb.

Examples:

1. Here are the chocolates.

2. There is a big puddle on the road.

Rule 7 : In sentences that include sums of money, periods of time or distances etc. (as a unit), use singular verbs.

Examples:

1. 500 rupees is a high price to pay. (money)

2. 62 years is the minimum age of retirement. (age)

3. 10 kilometers is too far to walk. (distance)

Rule 8 : In the case of words such as ‘a lot of’, all’, ‘some’ etc. , pay attention to the noun after ‘of’. If the noun after ‘of’ is singular then use a singular verb, if plural, use a plural verb.

Examples:

1. All of /A lot of the cake is gone.

2. All of /A lot of the cakes are gone.

3. Some of the cake is gone.

4. Some of the cakes are gone.

Rule 9 : In the case of collective nouns such as ‘group, ‘population’, ‘family’, the verb can be singular . Exceptions: police and people which use plural verb.

Examples:

1. Most of my family is here.

2. Half of the population was against the bill.

3. The police/people have handled the case.

Rule 10 : Nouns such as ‘mathematics’, ‘civics’, ‘news’ etc. while plural in form, are singular in meaning and use singular verbs.

Examples:

1. Mathematics/Civics is very difficult for some people.

2. The news is very saddening.

Rule 11 : In sentences that express a wish, the word ‘were’ is used instead of ‘was.

Examples:

1. I wish my sister were here.

2. I wish you were with me.

3. I wish I were the PM .

Multiple Choice

Question: Choose the correct OPTION.

The lady in the car (look/looks) like your mother. Most of the milk (is/are) gone.

• look/is

• looks/is

• looks/are

• looks/is

Multiple Choice

One of the flowers (has/have) wilted.

• has

• have

Multiple Choice

Here (is/are) the newspaper.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Either Ram or Shyam (is/are) coming today.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Physics (is/are) her favorite subject.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Physics (is/are) her favorite subject.

• is

• are