By Dr. Md.

Momin Uddin
Associate Professor
Department of English
Jagannath University
Dhaka - 1100
 Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule – 1: A singular subject takes a

singular verb whereas a plural subject
takes a plural verb.
Singular Verbs Plural Verbs
Does Do
Is Are
Has Have
Was Were
Had Had
 Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule – 1: A singular subject takes a singular verb

whereas a plural subject takes a plural verb.
Examples:
1. This line (is/are) taken from Shakespeare’s
sonnet 18.
2. These lines (is/are) taken from Shakespeare’s
sonnet 18.
3. Each of the lines (develop/ develops) the idea.
4. Both the boys (was/were) present there.
5. They each (was/were) invited.
6. Five books (has/have) been suggested.
 Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule – 2: Subjects come before the phrases beginning

with of. This is a key rule for understanding subjects.
The word  “of ”is the culprit in many, perhaps most,
subject-verb mistakes.
Examples:
 Incorrect: A bouquet of yellow roses lend color and
fragrance to the room.
 Correct: A bouquet of yellow roses lends . . ..
 Incorrect: The beauty of the flowers enchant everybody.
 Correct: The beauty of the roses enchants every body.
 Incorrect: One of the boys were called there.
 Correct: One of the boys was called there.
 Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule – 3: When two subject are connected

by or, either/or, or neither/nor , the verb
agrees with the noun or pronoun closest
to it.
Examples:
1. Neither he nor his brother is responsible.
2. Neither he nor his brothers are
responsible.
3. Either this boy or his father has done it.
4. Either this boy or his parents have done it.
 Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule – 4: When two or more subjects are

connected by and, use a plural ver.
Example: A car and a bike are my means
of transportation.
But note these exceptions:
Exceptions:
The bed and breakfast was charming.
In this sentence, bed and breakfast is a
compound nouns
 Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule – 5: Sometimes the subject is

separated from the verb by such words
as along with, accompanied by, as well as,
besides, not, etc. These words and phrases
are not part of the subject. Ignore them and
use a singular verb when the subject is
singular.
Examples:
The politician, along with the newsmen, is
expected shortly.
Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the
cause of her shaking.
 Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule – 5: Parentheses are not part of the

subject.
Example: 
1. Raihan (and his trusty dog) was always
welcome.
2. The whole family (parents and children)
has gone to visit the new site.
 Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule – 6: In sentences beginning

with here or there, the true subject
follows the verb.
Examples:
There are four hurdles to jump.
There is a high hurdle to jump.
Here are the keys.
 Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule – 7: Use a singular verb with

distances, periods of time, sums of
money, etc., when considered as a
unit.
Examples:
Three miles is too far to walk.
Five years is the maximum sentence
for that offense.
Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
 Subject-Verb Agreement

 Rule – 8: In the case of subjects with words that

indicate portions (i.e. a lot, a majority, some, all), we are
guided by the noun after of. If the noun after of is
singular, use a singular verb. If it is plural, use a plural
verb.
 Examples:
A lot of the pie has disappeared.
A lot of the pies have disappeared.
A third of the city is unemployed.
A third of the people are unemployed.
All of the pie is gone.
All of the pies are gone.
Some of the pie is missing.
Some of the pies are missing.
 Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule – 9: With collective nouns such as group, jury,

 family, audience, population, the verb might be singular
or plural, depending on the writer's intent.
 Examples:
All of my family has arrived OR have arrived.
Most of the jury is here OR are here.
A third of the population was not in favor OR were not in
favor of the bill.
 Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule – 9:
 Anyone who uses a plural verb with a collective noun must take
care to be accurate—and also consistent. It must not be done
carelessly. The following is the sort of flawed sentence one
sees and hears a lot these days:
 The staff is deciding how they want to vote.
Careful speakers and writers would avoid assigning the
singular is and the plural they to staff in the same sentence.
 Consistent: The staff are deciding how they want to vote.

 Rewriting such sentences is recommended whenever possible.

The preceding sentence would read even better as:
 The staff members are deciding how they want to vote.
 Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule – 10: When expressing a wish,

use ‘were’ after all types of subjects;
don’t use ‘was’ there.
Examples:
1. If he were a teacher
2. If Joe were present there, it would
not happen.
 Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule – 11: If two infinitives are

separated by and they take the plural
form of the verb.
Example:
1.To walk and to chew gum
require great skill.
2.To experience pain and to feel pain
are the same thing.
 Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule – 12: The words each, each one,

either, neither, everyone, everybody,
anybody, anyone, nobody, somebody,
someone, and no one are singular and
require a singular verb.
Each of these hot dogs is juicy.
Everybody knows Mr. Jones.
Either is correct.
Neither serves the purpose.
 Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule – 13: Nouns such as civics,

mathematics, dollars, measles, and
news require singular verbs.
The news is on at six.
Mathematics is a difficult subject.
 Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule – 14: Nouns such as scissors,

tweezers, trousers, and shears require
plural verbs. (There are two parts to these
things.)
Examples:
1. These scissors are dull.
2. Those trousers are made of wool.
3. The tweezers are new.
 Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule – 15: Expressions such as with,

together with, including, accompanied by
do not change the number of the subject.
If the subject is singular, the verb is too.
The President, accompanied by his wife,
 is traveling to India.
All of the books, including yours, are in that
box.