Spot the error

- Subject-Verb Agreement
- Rules, examples and practice questions
1) Read each sentence given below and find out whether there is an
error in it. The error, if any will be one of the parts of the sentence which
are marked as 1,2,3 and 4. If there is no error, the answer will be (5) i.e.
No error. (Ignore the errors of punctuation, if any).

The Department (1) / assured us that (2) / a series of seminars (3) /

were to be arranged.(4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 4
Explanation:
Replace 'were' with 'was'. The main subject here is 'a series', which is
singular, the verb should be 'singular'.

The correct sentence should be: The Department assured us that a series of
seminars was to be arranged.

Note: After the expressions -

A body of, A crowd of, A bunch of, A team of, A heap of, A
herd of, A fleet of, A piece of, A pair of, A chain of
Noun is Plural but Verb is always Singular.

e.g. A crowd of people is waiting for the actor.

In solving subject-verb agreement, the basic rules are:

Subject (Singular) -----> Verb (Singular)

2) A great many (1) / students has (2) / been declared (3) / successful.
(4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
Replace 'has' with 'have'. 'A great many' should always followed by a 'plural
noun' and 'plural verb'.
The correct sentence should be: A great many students have been declared
successful.
Same rule applies for,
Many, A great many, A good many
e.g. A great many girls are standing there.
3) The Manager says that (1) / there is (2) / many important details
(3) / to attend before this gets launched. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
Replace 'is' with 'are'. When subject of the sentence is - 'many', verb is
always plural.
The correct sentence should be: The Manager says that there are many
important details to attend before this gets launched.
When following words are used as subject in a sentence, verb is
always plural.
Many, Both, Few, A few
e.g. Many were invited but a few have come.
Both are sad.
Similarly, for the following words; if the noun is plural, then verb is
also plural.
Many of, Both of, Few of, A few of

4) This news were (1) / broadcast (2) / all over the world (3) / from
ABC Radio. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 1

Explanation:
Replace 'were' with 'was'. Nouns, that are plural in appearance but are
singular in meaning, take a singular verb. e.g. news, statistics, politics etc.
The correct sentence should be: This news was broadcast all over the world
from ABC Radio.

5) The United States (1) / of America (2) / are the richest (3) / country
of the world. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 3
Explanation:
Replace 'are' with 'is'. Names of countries, the title of the books, subjects
which look like plural, but actually are singular number, are always followed
by singular verb.
The correct sentence should be: The United States of America is the richest
country of the world.
e.g. Mathematics is a difficult subject.
The 'Malgudi Days' is an interesting book.

6) More than one (1) / student have (2) / taken the interview (3) / for
this company. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
Replace 'have' with 'has'.
'More than one' is always followed by singular noun and singular verb.
The correct sentence should be: More than one student has taken the
interview for this company.
e.g. More than one room is vacant.
Note that, in case of, 'More + plural noun + than one', verb is also plural.
e.g. More students than one are late.

7) Everybody (1) / among (2) / your friends (3) / like playing. (4) / No
Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 4
Explanation:
The correct form of verb should be - 'likes'.
When subject of the sentence is - 'Everybody', verb is always singular.
The correct sentence should be: Everybody among your friends likes playing.

Same rule applies for the following -

Subject Verb
Everybody Singular
Everyone
Everything
Somebody
Someone
Something
Anybody
Anyone
Anything
Nobody
No one
Nothing
e.g. Everybody knows that the earth is round.
Nobody knows his secret.

8) Three-fourths of (1) / the land (2) / have been (3) / ploughed. (4) /
No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 3
Explanation:
Replace 'have' with 'has'.
Here, the subject 'land' is an uncountable noun i.e. used in singular sense, so
the verb should also be singular.
The correct sentence should be: Three-fourths of the land has been ploughed.

In case of the following -

Half of, One third of, Two thirds of, Three-fourths of
Some, Some of, All, All of, Enough, Most, Most of, Lots of, A
lot of, Plenty of

Case I - If noun is uncountable, it is used in 'singular' sense, then verb is also

'singular'.
e.g. Some money is needed.
Lots of milk is available.

Case II - If noun is countable, it is used in 'plural' sense, then verb is also

'plural'.
e.g. Half of the shops are closed today.
All men are mortal.
Lots of students were there.

9) One of the issues (1) / which was (2) / discussed at the meeting
(3) / was raised by him. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
Replace 'was' by 'were' in part 2.
When subject is a relative pronoun, the verb agrees in Number and Person,
with the noun/pronoun to which the relative pronoun refers.
Here, relative pronoun 'which' refers to 'the issues' i.e. plural, therefore, the
verb should also be 'plural'.
The correct sentence should be: One of the issues which were discussed at
the meeting were raised by him.
e.g. Ravi who is my friend has a thirst for knowledge.
The students who are here did not do well.

10) The Elite class (1) / have no soft corner (2) / for the (3) / poor.
(4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
Replace 'have' with 'has'.
Collective nouns such as 'the elite class, the middle class etc' are treated as
singular, thus the verb should be 'singular'.
The correct sentence should be: The Elite class has no soft corner for the
poor.

11) Mr. Budhrani, (1) / my friend and professor, (2) / are known for
(3) / his good behaviour. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 3
Explanation:
Replace 'are' with 'is'.
When two singular nouns are joined by 'and' refer to the same person or
thing, the verb used for them should be 'singular'.
The correct sentence should be: Mr. Budhrani, my friend and professor, is
known for his good behaviour.
e.g. Rice and curry is the staple food of the Indians.
Here, rice and curry, refer to one thing 'food'.

12) The Party Chief (1) / and the Chief Minister (2) / was (3) / absent.
(4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 3
Explanation:
Replace 'was' with 'were'.
If article is used with both nouns, the reference will be to two persons or
things, and the verb should be 'plural'.
The correct sentence should be: The Party Chief and the Chief
Minister were absent.
e.g. The writer and the doctor are dead.
Here, the sentence refers to two persons, the writer (one man) and the
doctor (the other man).

13) The manager (1) / as well as (2) / the clerks (3) / were fighting.
(4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 4
Explanation:
Replace 'were' with 'was'.
When two nouns are used with as well as, the verb must agree with the first
subject.
In this case, first subject is 'manager', the correct verb to be used should be
'was'.
The correct sentence should be: The manager as well as the clerks was
fighting.
e.g. Rohan as well as his friends is doing his work.
The students as well as their teachers are doing their work.
The same rule applies for the following phrases -
in addition to, besides, like, unlike, with, along with, together with,
accompained by, led by, headed by, guided by, controlled by, governed by,
rather than.
e.g. He together with his friends is coming today.

14) Neither the students (1) / nor the teacher (2) / were in his (3) /
class. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 3
Explanation:
Replace 'were' with 'was'.
When two different subjects are joined by 'either...or; neither...nor', the verb
agrees with the subject near to it (generally second subject).
Here, the verb is near to the second subject 'the teacher', it should agree with
the second subject i.e. 'was' should be used.
The correct sentence should be: Neither the students nor the
teacher was in his class.
e.g. Either your brother or you have done your work.

15) Not only (1) / the principal (2) / but also the students (3) / was
laughing. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
Answer Explanation
ANSWER: 4
Explanation:
Replace 'was' with were'.
When two subjects are joined by 'not only...but also', the verb must agree
with the second subject.
The correct sentence should be: Not only the principal but also the
students were laughing.
Similarly,
Don't say: Not only the teacher but also the children is dancing.
Say: Not only the teacher but also the children are dancing.

Don't say: Not only the children but also the teacher are playing.
Say: Not only the children but also the teacher is playing.

The use of helping verb should be made very carefully. When two
subjects are joined by 'not only..but also', the verb must agree with the
second subject.
The same rule applies when two subjects are joined by 'or', the verb must
agree with the second subject.

e.g. Krish and his brothers were there. (Second subject is 'plural')

Mohan or Sohan is responsible for this. (Second subject is 'singular')