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The verb in every sentence must agree with the subject in person and in number.
1. When two or more subjects are connected by and, the verb is plural.
Examples:
In these sentences, you can see how perfectly "Verb and Subject" agree with each other.
2. If two singular nouns refer to the same person, the verb must be singular.
Examples:
The poet and novelist is dead. (That means that the same person is a poet and a novelist)
The secretary and cashier was present. (That means the same person was a secretary and
cashier)
Note: To find out whether the two words refer to the same person or two different persons, look at
the article or possessive adjective. If there are two articles or possessives, there are two different
persons. In that case, the verb must be in plural.
3. If two singular subjects express one idea then the verb may be singular. (Plural verb also
permitted)
Examples:
4. If we get the word each and every before singular subjects, the verb is singular.
Examples:
In these sentences, you can see how perfectly "Verb and Subject" agree with each other.
5. Two or more singular subjects connected by or,nor, eitheror, neithernor take singular
verb.
Examples:
6. When the subjects, connected by or, nor, eitheror, neithernor, are of different numbers.
The verb must be plural and the plural subject must be put just before the verb.
Examples:
In these sentences, you can see how perfectly "Verb and Subject" agree with each other.
7. When the subjects connected by or, nor, eitheror, neithernor are of different persons.
The verb agrees in person with the subject that comes just before it.
Examples:
He or I have to be there.
I or he has to be there. (Between this sentence and the above sentence, the above sentence
is preferable)
8. When subjects which are different in person or number or both are connected by and, the
verb is plural.
Examples:
In these sentences, you can see how perfectly Verb and Subject agree with each other.
9. For a collective noun, usually a singular verb is used, but when the individuals in the group are
taken into consideration, a plural verb is used.
Examples:
10. Few nouns which are plural in forms but singular in meaning take singular verb.
Examples:
The news was false.
In all the sentences given above, you can see how perfectly Verb and Subject agree with each other.