GRAMMAR: SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT

SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT                                                                                                   

            
 
 The subject and verb have to agree with each other.

 If the subject is plural, the verb should also be plural. 

 E.g.(i) Either he or his friends were culprit.                                                                                                                      I            I                                                                                                                         plural subject         plural verb

        (ii) Neither they nor that man goes park.                                                                                                                         I            I                                                                                                                       singular subject       singular verb

Compound subjects (two subjects in the same sentence) usually take a plural verb, unless the combination is treated as singular in popular usage or the two subjects refer to the same thing or person. Here are some examples of subject verb agreement with compound subjects:

  • Sugar and flour are needed for the recipe.

  • Neither my dad nor my brothers know how to ski.

  • Pepperoni and cheese are great on a pizza.

  • Corned beef and cabbage is a traditional meal in Ireland. (popular usage)

  • The creator and producer is arriving soon. (both refer to same person)

When using "or" or "nor" in a compound subject containing a singular and plural subject, the verb agrees with the closest subject. Examples of compound subjects using or, neither-nor, or either-or include:

  • My mom or dad will be coming to the play. (singular)

  • Neither grey nor white is my favourite colour. (singular)

  • Either Grandpa or my sisters are going to the park. (closest subject is plural)

  • Either my sisters or Grandpa is going to the park. (closest subject is singular)

  • Neither she nor I am going to college. (closest subject is singular)

BASIC RULES OF SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT.


A singular subject (she, Bittu,car) takes a singular verb (is, goes, shines), whereas a plural subject takes a plural verb.

Example: The list of items is on the desk.
If you know that list is the subject, then you will choose is for the verb.

 

Rule 1. A subject will come before a phrase beginning with of. This is a key rule for understanding subjects. The word of is the culprit in many, perhaps most, subject-verb mistakes.
 Example : A bouquet of yellow roses lends . . . (bouquet lends, not roses lend)

 

Rule 2. Two singular subjects connected by or, either/or, or neither/nor require a singular verb.

Examples: My aunt or my uncle is arriving by train today.
Either Kunal or Sia is helping today with stage decorations.

 

Rule 3. The verb in an or, either/or, or neither/nor sentence agrees with the noun or pronoun closest to it.

Examples: Neither the plates nor the serving bowl goes on that shelf.

Neither the serving bowl nor the plates go on that shelf.

This rule can lead to bumps in the road. For example, if I is one of two (or more) subjects, it could lead to this odd sentence:

 Neither she, I, nor my friends are going to the festival.(X)
She, my friends, and I was not going to the festival.

 

Rule 4. As a general rule, use a plural verb with two or more subjects when they are connected by and.

Example: A car and a bike are my means of transportation.

But note these exceptions:

Exceptions:

Breaking and entering is against the law.

The bed and breakfast was charming.

In those sentences, breaking and entering and bed and breakfast are compound nouns.

 

Rule 5. Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by such words as along as,with, as well as, besides, not, etc. These words and phrases are not part of the subject. Ignore them and use a singular verb when the subject is singular.

Examples:The politician, along with the newsmen, is expected shortly.
Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause of her shaking.

 

Rule 6. In sentences beginning with here or there, the true subject follows the verb.

Examples: There are four hurdles to jump.
 There is a high hurdle to jump.
 Here are the keys.

 

EXERCISES                                            

Q1. Fill in the blanks with a verb form that agrees with the subject.

a. Bread and butter ……………… served for breakfast. (was / were)           

b. The horse and carriage …………….. at the door. (is / are)

c. My brother ………………. to be an astronaut. (want / wants)

d. My parents …………….. teachers. (is / are)

e. Politics ……….. not something I am interested in. (is / are)

f. The cost of essential commodities ……………… gone up. (has / have)

g. Her clothes ………….. made of expensive fabrics. (is / are)

h. Either Manu or I ………….. to go. (has / have)

i. Neither Mala nor her parents …………….. at the party. (was / were)

j. Nobody ………………. what happened to her. (know / knows)

Q2. Fill in the blanks with appropriate forms of verb. Choose the answers from the options given in the brackets.

a. One of my friends .................. .. gone to France.(has/have)

b. Each of the boys ..................... . given a present.(was/were)

c. Neither of the contestants ..................... .. able to win a decisive victory.(was/were)

d. Oil and water ..................... .. not mix.(does/do)


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