ENGLISH SANJEEV RATHORE

Subject verb agreement rules & questions

Tip 1: Singular-Plural
Subject-Verb Agreement: Subjects and verbs must AGREE with one
another in number (singular or plural).

a) A singular subject takes a singular verb: The dog growls when he

is angry.

b) A plural subject takes a plural verb: The dogs growl when they are
angry.

c) Phrases between the subject and verb do not affect agreement: The dog, which belongs to
my relatives, usually growls at strangers.

Ex - We let beliefs regulate our lives and (a)/ dares not examine their validity, lest
we (b)/ should tamper with the divine order.(c)/ no error.(d)

Answer - B

Solution - Replace the verb “dares” with “dare”.

Ex - My aim is not to shake the faith of readers brought up in a given tradition, but
to give them a chance to learn about traditions that --------- from their own.

a) Differed
b) Differs
c) Differ
d) Differing

Answer - C
Solution - Sentence is in present so verb “differ” will be used according
to the noun “traditions”.

Tip 2: Verbs in Tense

In the present tense: Nouns ADD an s to the singular form; Verbs
REMOVE the s from the singular form.

a) Singular: The dog chases the cat.

b) Plural: The dogs chase the cat.

In the simple past tense: The verb remains the same when without any
helping verbs.

a) Singular: The girl talked to me.

b) Plural: The girls talked to me.

Is-are, was-were, has-have, does-do: When helping verbs are used with a
main verb, there must be Subject-Verb Agreement:

a) Singular: The girl has talked to me.

b) Plural: The girls have talked to me.

Ex - It is much more likely than not that some principle (a)/ which for
the moment seems new, some distinction which (b)/ we may flatter
ourselves have not been observed before(c)/ no error.(d)
Answer - C
Solution - replace “have not” with “has not” it is used for the subject
“distinction”.

Ex - These princes were, in fact, men of like (a)/ passions with

ourselves, and acted as powerful (b)/ men generally does in a rude state
of society.(c)/ no error.(d)

Answer - C
Solution - Replace “does” with “do”.

Tip 3: Unlike, Besides, With, Except

As well as, Like, Unlike, Besides, in addition to, With, Together with,
Along with, and not, Rather than, No less than, Except, Nothing, No
more than: When these words join two or more subjects, the verb is used
according to the first subject.

a) Nothing but prayer is valuable. (here prayer is in singular number

so we use singular verb ‘is’)

b) The coach as well as the players was honored by the government.

(the first subject ‘coach’ is singular so we use singular verb ‘was’, not
‘were’)

Ex - (He Unlike many other politicians refuse) to indulge in cheap

jibes at other people's expense.

a) He as well as many other politicians refuse

b) Unlike many other politicians, he refuse
c) He Unlike many other politicians refuses
d) No improvement required.

Answer - A
Solution - The verb will be used according to the main subject “he”.
Ex - The firm besides selecting technological ventures (a)/ for
investment provide management, marketing and (b)/ networking advice
to the investee companies.(c)/ no error.(d)

Answer - B
Solution - replace “provide” with “provides”.

Tip 4: Either-Or, neither Nor

Not only-But also, Either-or, Neither-nor, none-but: When these words
join two or more subjects, the verb is used according to the nearest
subject.

a) One or two books is are needed. (Nearest subject ‘books’ is in

plural so we use plural verb ‘are’)

b) None but the students are responsible for the chaos in the class.

c) Neither the class teacher nor the students were present in the
assembly.

Ex - Neither the driver nor the passengers ------ hurt.

a) Is
b) Are
c) Was
d) Has been

Answer - B
Solution - When two subjects are connected with the pairs like - neither
...nor, either…..or, not only…..but also, then the verb is used according
to the nearest subject.

Ex - Not only his brothers but also (a)/ his cousin treat him like a
fool,(b)/ which his father does not like.(c)/ no error.(d)
Answer - B
Solution - replace “treat” with “treats”.

Tip 5: Each, Every

Each, Every, None, Anyone, Neither and Either: When these words are
used as pronouns or adjectives, the following verb should be in the third
person singular.

a) Neither of the two workers have has come today. (Though we are
talking about two workers, we still use ‘has’)

None: when used with uncountable nouns, verb is singular.

a) None of the information is correct.

Each: when used after subject, verb is plural.

a) They each are obedient.

b) Each of the students is obedient. (Here ‘each’ is an adjective, so

singular verb)

Ex - --------- of those new cells has a new copy of your DNA.

a) Some
b) A few
c) Each
d) Little

Answer - C
Solution - pronouns like - “each, every, either, neither, nothing, none
e.t.c.” work as a singular subject.

Ex - If (someone notice) that she gets a headache when she eats burger.

a) someone notices
b) everybody notice
c) somebody notice
d) No improvement required.

Answer - A
Solution - pronouns like - “someone, somebody, each, every, either,
neither, nothing, none e.t.c.” work as a singular subject.

Tip 6: Many A/An, More than One

Many A/An, More than One: These expressions should be followed by a
singular noun and singular verb.

a) Many a candidate has applied for the job. (The noun ‘candidate’
and the verb ‘has’ is in singular due to use of ‘many a’)

b) Many candidates have applied for the job. (Noun and verb both
plural)

c) More than one man was absent. (The noun ‘man’ and the verb
‘was’ is in singular due to use of ‘more than one’)

d) More men than one were absent. (In case of ‘more men than one’,
the verb is plural)

Ex - (Many a people) of the village were going to join the assembly.

a) Many a peoples
b) A many peoples
c) Many people
d) No improvement required.

Answer - C
Solution - Many + plural noun + plural verb
Many a + singular noun + singular verb.

Ex - More players than one -------- trying to avoid the training session.

a) Is
b) Are
c) Was
d) None of the above

Answer - B

Tip 7: Plural Noun (time, distance, period)

Amount, Sum, Quantity, Time, period, Distance: When these are
expressed using plural nouns, the following verb is singular.

a) Two miles are is too far to walk.

b) Hundred rupees is the entry fee. (‘Hundred rupees’ is considered

one amount of money)

c) Hundred rupees were scattered on the floor. (In this sentence,

‘hundred rupees’ is considered to be hundred individual rupee notes and
not a single unit)

Ex - We heard this from his father that (ten miles are a) long distance to
walk.

a) ten miles are

b) ten mile is a
c) ten miles is a
d) No improvement required.

Answer - C

Tip 8: Collective Noun

Family, Herd, Choir, Group, Team, Group and Population: These types
of collective nouns are followed by both singular and plural verbs,
depending on the intent.

a) The class is in session. (Here ‘class’ is referring to the whole group

so we have a singular verb)

b) The class are taking their tests today. (The ‘class’ in this sentence
is referring to each member as an individual so it uses a plural verb)

Ex - India ------- played very well in their last match.

a) Has
b) Have
c) Had
d) None of the above

Answer - B

Tip 9: And
If two subjects are joined by "and," the verb is plural:

a) Bread and butter are sold here.

If the two subjects separated by "and" refer to the same person or thing,
the verb is singular:
a) Bread and butter is difficult to earn. (Here ‘bread and butter’ is a
compound noun)

b) Rice and fish is my mom's favorite dish.

Tip 10: It, Here, There

It: When sentence begins with ‘It’, the verb is according to the subject
indicated by ‘It’).

a) It is a real challenge to find a good deal on a car. (‘Finding a good

deal’ is the subject which is singular)

There, Here: When sentences start with “there” or “here,” the subject
will always be placed after the verb and verb is conjugated in agreement
with the subject.

a) There is a problem with the balance sheet.

b) Here are the papers you requested.

Ex - There is some members of the (a)/ committee who do not want him
(b)/ to become the head of the committee.(c)/ no error.(d)

Answer - A
Solution - Replace “is” with “are”.