Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-Verb Agreement means that the subject and the verb in a sentence must agree in number (singular or plural).
1. Basic Rule
A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.
Examples:
- He plays football. (singular subject + singular verb)
- They play football. (plural subject + plural verb)
2. Special Rules
2.1 Subjects joined by 'and'
Take a plural verb.
Example: Jack and Jill are friends.
2.2 Subjects joined by 'or' or 'nor'
Verb agrees with the subject closer to it.
Example: Neither the teacher nor the students were late.
2.3 Indefinite pronouns
Some indefinite pronouns are singular (everyone, each, someone), some are plural (few, many), and some depend on usage (all, some).
- Each of the players is ready.
- Many were excited.
2.4 Collective nouns
Take singular or plural verb depending on meaning.
- The team is winning. (considered one unit)
- The team are arguing among themselves. (individual members)
2.5 Distances, periods, sums of money
Take singular verbs.
- Ten kilometers is a long walk.
- Five hundred rupees is enough.
3. Common Errors
- ❌ She go to school every day.
✅ She goes to school every day. - ❌ The list of items are on the desk.
✅ The list of items is on the desk.
4. Practice Sentences
- Either my mom or my sisters are coming. ✅
- Each of the books is interesting. ✅
- All the milk has spilled. ✅