SUBJECT-

VERB
AGREEMENT
Singular
Subject
Plural
Subject
Singular
Verb
Plural
Verb
singular subject
takes a
singular verb.
plural subject
takes a
plural verb.
 RULE
NO. 1
The subject
and verb must
agree in
number.
 EXAMPLES

1. Dennis (drive, drives) carefully along

the highway.
2. Men (admire, admires) their own
cars.
RULE
NO. 2
Compound
subject takes
plural verb.
 EXAMPLES

1. Rose and Lynda (is, are) best friends

in school.
2. The doctors and nurses (distribute,
distributes) free medicines.
 RULE
NO. 3
A compound
subject referring to
a single person
takes a singular
verb.
 EXAMPLES

1. My confidant and my adviser (is,

are) my mother.
2. The treasurer and money-keeper of
our class (take, takes) good care of
our class fund.
 RULE
NO. 4
Compound subjects
modified by each
and every are
singular.
 EXAMPLES

1. Every father and mother (carry,

carries) out an assigned role.
2. Each male and female student (wear,
wears) I.D. inside the school.
 RULE
NO.
When 5
compound
subjects are joined by
or, nor, either-or,
neither-nor, the verb
agrees with the
subject nearer it.
 EXAMPLES

1. Neither the singers nor the composer

(is, are) benefited by the concert.
2. Either Jim or his friends (volunteer,
volunteers) to clear the mess.
 RULE
NO. 6
When preceded by
the article a, the
subject number is
plural.
 EXAMPLES

1. A number of poor children (is, are)

afflicted by the epidemic.
2. A number of people (pass, passes)
through the acid tests of life.
 RULE
NO. 7
When preceded by
the article the, the
subject number is
singular.
 EXAMPLES

1. The number of absentees from the

English class (is, are) reduced.
2. The number of enrolees generally
(decrease, decreases) during the
second semester.
 RULE
NO. 8
Singular indefinite
pronouns like someone
, anyone, each,
neither, and either
take singular verbs.
 EXAMPLES

1. Someone (is, are) by your side to

support you at the confrontation.
2. Anyone (welcome, welcomes) all
suggestions.
 RULE
NO. 9
The plural indefinite
pronouns such as all,
both, several, few, and
many take plural
verbs.
 EXAMPLES

1. Many (has, have) been invited to my

party.
2. Few (come, comes) to attend the
wedding.
 RULE
NO. 10
Many a followed
by a singular noun
takes singular
verb.
 EXAMPLES

1. Many a novel (has, have) been

written on love.
2. Many a youngster today (play, plays)
their studies.
Whoa
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of the presentation
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