Definition

 Subject verb agreement simply means the subject

and verb must agree in number. This means both
need to be singular or both need to be plural.
RULE-1
 1. In the present tense, for third person singular subject, use
verbs ending in –s/es with singular subjects.
1st person 2nd person 3rd person
Sing. I walk you walk he/she/it walks
Plu. we walk you walk they walk
 I require attention. (1st person, singular, no –s is needed.)

 A dog requires attention. (3rd person singular, an –s is needed.)

 Dogs require attention. (–s indicates a plural subject, but the verb does
not need an –s.)
1. Your friend (talk-talks) too much.

2. The man (look-looks) like your brother.

3. The women (swim-swims) well.

4. Bill (drive-drives) a cab.

5. The football players (run-runs) five miles every day.

6. You (talk-talks) too much.

7. I (talk-talks) too much.
RULE-2
 Prepositional phrases that come between the
subject and the verb do not change the number of
the subject.
 The women (swim-swims) well.
 The man with the roses (look-looks) like your brother.
 The list of books (is-are )missing.
 The books on the table (is-are ) new.
 The President of the United States (has-have)imposed
restrictions.
A theory of physics ___________that a body
in motion stays in motion. (ascertains ,
ascertain)
A virus in all the company’s computers
_____ a real threat to security.(is,are)
The causes of this prevalent disease _______
bad diet and lack of exercise.(is,are)
The members of the choir _______ very
happy with the performance.(is,are)
RULE-3
 Subjects joined by and take a plural verb.
 My sister and brother _______ in Berlin.(live, lives)

 Both the teacher and the student ___________ surprised.(was,were)

 San Marcos and San Antonio __________ in Texas. (is,are)

 Sugar and flour ___________ needed for the recipe.(is,are)

 Pepperoni and cheese _______ great on a pizza.(is,are)

 Corned beef and cabbage __________ a traditional meal in Ireland. (popular

usage)(is,are)

 The creator and producer __________ arriving soon. (both refer to same
person)(is,are)
RULE-4
 Several, many, both, few are plural words and take a plural
verb.
 Both __________ qualified for the job.(is,are)

 Few __________what it really takes to get ahead.(know,knows)

 Several ______ already on location. Both _______ happy with the

grades they got.(is,are)

 Many ________ lost on the way.(was, were)

 Few __________ done their homework.(has,have)

 Several of the team ________ ready. (is,are)

RULE-5
 Some nouns are always plural and always take
a plural verb.

 Trousers, pants, slacks, shorts, briefs, jeans

 Glasses, sunglasses
 Scissors, pliers, tweezers
 My jeans _________ old.(is,are)

 This year shorts ___________ in fashion.(is,are)

 Where ___________ my scissors?(is,are)

 The scissors ___________very sharp.(is,are)

RULE-6
 Some words such as none, any, all, more, most, some,
majority, half may take either singular or plural verbs
depending on the meaning.
 Most of the news ______ good. (is,are)
 Most of the flowers ________ yellow. (was,were)
 All the money _______ been spent.(has,have)
 All of the students __________ the answer.(know,knows)
 All of the pizza __________ gone. (was,were)
 All of the children ___________ late. (was,were)
RULE-7
 When two singular words are connected by “either
..or” or “neither …nor”, the verb is singular .
 Either his uncle or his father has come.
 Neither the President nor the secretary (is, are) coming to
the meeting.
 When a singular subject and a plural subject are
connected by “either….. or” or neither ….. nor” the
verb agrees with the second subject.
 Neither the dog nor the cats (is, are) outside.
 Either my shoes or your coat (is, are) always on the floor.
RULE-8
 When a singular subject and plural subject are
connected by as well as, in addition to, together with
along with, accompanied by, the verb agrees with the
first subject.
 The teacher as well as the students _______ working
on the problem. (was,were)
 The children together with their mother _____(is,
are) waiting.
RULE-9.
 When words like the following are used as subjects, they take singular verb.

 Everybody
 Anybody
 Somebody
 Nobody
 Each
 Everyone
 Anyone
 Someone
 No one
 Either
 Everything
 Anything
 Something
 Nothing
 Neither
 Everybody _____________the answer.(know, knows)

 Nobody ___________German here.(speak, speaks)

 Somebody ___________in the room.(was,were)

 Every man and woman ___________ the right to vote.(has,have)

 Each student and teacher ___________ aware of the

difficulty.(was,were)

 Neither gray nor white __________ my favorite color. (is,are)

 Either Grandpa or my sisters ___________ going to the

park.(is,are)
RULE-10
 Nouns such as family, jury, council, group,
committee, board, and faculty may be considered
singular or plural, depending on meaning.
 The jury _________returning to the courtroom. (is,are)

 The jury ___________arguing among themselves. (is,are)

 The committee _________ here every Thursday. (meet,meets)

 The crowd __________ getting angry. (is.are)

 The jury ___________ finally reached a decision. (has,have)

 The majority __________ most of the time. (rule,rules)

 The staff ___________ gone their separate ways for the holidays.
(has,have)

 My family ________ in Ankara.(live,lives)

 Our team ___________ won every game this year.(has,have)

RULE-11
12. Generic (Common) references
which indicate entire
community require plural verb.
 The rich _________ not always happy.(is,are)
 The young ____________ to listen to loud
music.(like,likes)
 The old ___________ loud music.(hate/hates)
 The English _________ distant and the French are
humorous.(is,are)
RULE-12
If the verb precedes the subject, determine the subject
and make the verb agree with it.
• Above a cluster of convents rises the Cathedral of St. John.
RULE-13
 When the verb comes before the subject
as there or here in the beginning of the
sentences, it agrees with the subject that
immediately follows the verb.
There _________ a tree in the garden.(is, are)
There ___________ a pine tree and some oaks in the
garden.(is,are)
There ________ to be a relationship.(seem,seems)
There _________ five books on the shelf.(is, are)
Here ___________ the report you wanted.(is,are)
RULE-14
 11. Some nouns look plural with –s but they take a singular verb.

 Sciences
 Physics
 Mathematics
 Statistics
 Economics

 Abstract nouns
 News
 Politics
 Ethics

 Diseases
 Measles
 Mumps
 Maths ______ found difficult by many students.(is/are)

 Statistics ___________ complicated

methods.(require/requires)

 Physics ______my favourite subject in school.(was/were)

 Politics ________ not a compulsory curriculum

subject.(is/are)

 International relations ______an optional unit on the

course.(is/are)

 Measles _________ easily prevented today.(is,are)

RULE-15
 15. Gerund subjects (-ing verb form without an auxiliary verb)
take singular verbs.
 Feeding the poor in developing countries _________ what most aid is
used for.(is/are)

 Running my businesses ___________up most of my time.(takes/take)

 Typing ________ a skill that I have not yet mastered.(is/are)

 Swimming ___________ build muscle tone.(help/helps)

 Standing in the water __________ a bad idea. (was/were)

 Swimming in the ocean and playing drums ______ my hobbies.(is/are)