Subject–Verb Agreement
What you will be able to do
- State the basic rule of subject–verb agreement
- Handle compound subjects joined by and / or / nor
- Use the right verb with either/neither and collective nouns
- Ignore intervening phrases between subject and verb
- Treat titles and uncountable nouns as singular
1 Quick Introduction
Subject–verb agreement means the verb must match its subject in number: a singular subject takes a singular verb, a plural subject takes a plural verb. "The dog barks" but "The dogs bark." It sounds simple — until phrases sneak in between the subject and the verb.
कर्ता-क्रिया मेल (Subject–Verb Agreement) का अर्थ है कि क्रिया अपने कर्ता से वचन में मेल खाए: एकवचन कर्ता के साथ एकवचन क्रिया, बहुवचन कर्ता के साथ बहुवचन क्रिया। "The dog barks" पर "The dogs bark।" यह आसान लगता है — जब तक बीच में कोई वाक्यांश न आ जाए।
2 A Real-Life Situation
You proofread a notice:
Draft: The list of winners are on the board.
Fixed: The list of winners is on the board.
3 The Grammar Rule
| Subject | Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | singular (+s) | The boy plays. |
| Plural | plural (no s) | The boys play. |
| A and B | plural | Ram and Sita are here. |
| A or/nor B | agrees with nearer | Neither he nor they are ready. |
4 Compound Subjects & Either/Neither
When two subjects are joined by and, they usually take a plural verb:
- Ram and Shyam are friends.
- Exception: if the two form one idea, use singular — Bread and butter is my breakfast.
When subjects are joined by or, nor, either…or, neither…nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject:
- Either the teacher or the students are wrong. (nearer = students)
- Neither the students nor the teacher is wrong. (nearer = teacher)
'Each', 'every', 'either', 'neither' as subjects are singular: Each of the boys is ready.
was — the nearer subject 'captain' is singular.
is — 'each' is singular.
Key Points
- Subjects joined by 'and' → plural verb (usually)
- Subjects joined by or/nor → verb agrees with the nearer subject
- Each/every/either/neither as subject → singular verb
5 Intervening Phrases, Collective & Uncountable Nouns
A phrase between the subject and the verb does not change the verb. Find the real subject and ignore the phrase.
- The box of books is heavy. (not 'are')
- The quality of the products is good.
Collective nouns (team, family, jury) usually take a singular verb when acting as one unit: The team has won. (Use a plural verb only when members act individually.)
Uncountable nouns and certain nouns plural in form but singular in meaning take a singular verb:
- The news is good. Mathematics is easy. Water is precious.
A title or a single name is singular: "Oliver Twist" is a novel.
was — the subject is 'the list' (singular); 'of items' is an intervening phrase.
is — 'news' is singular though it ends in -s.
Key Points
- Ignore phrases between subject and verb (the box of books is…)
- Collective nouns acting as one → singular verb (the team has)
- news, mathematics, water etc. take a singular verb
6 Vocabulary Builder
| Word | Meaning | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|
| Agreement | matching in number | मेल |
| Compound subject | two or more subjects | संयुक्त कर्ता |
| Intervening | coming in between | बीच में आने वाला |
| Collective | naming a group | समूहवाचक |
| Uncountable | cannot be counted | अगणनीय |
7 Common Mistakes to Avoid
8 Practice Exercises
- The team ______ winning.
- The boys ______ playing.
- Mathematics ______ my favourite subject.
- The list of names ______ long.
- Ram and Sita ______ here.
- is
- are
- is
- is
- are
- Each of the students ______ (has/have) a book.
- Neither he nor his friends ______ (was/were) late.
- The quality of these shoes ______ (is/are) poor.
- Either the manager or the clerks ______ (is/are) responsible.
- The scissors ______ (is/are) sharp.
- has
- were
- is
- are
- are
- The list of guests are ready.
- Each of the girls have a pen.
- The news are not good.
- Neither of the answers are right.
- The list of guests is ready. (error: are)
- Each of the girls has a pen. (error: have)
- The news is not good. (error: are)
- Neither of the answers is right. (error: are)
- The bunch of keys are missing.
- Physics are difficult for me.
- Ram and Shyam is good friends.
- The bunch of keys is missing.
- Physics is difficult for me.
- Ram and Shyam are good friends.
- is / of / the / box / books / heavy
- the / has / won / team
- are / Ram / Sita / friends / and
- The box of books is heavy.
- The team has won.
- Ram and Sita are friends.
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| 1. The team | a. singular verb (and = one idea? no, plural) |
| 2. Mathematics | b. plural verb |
| 3. Ram and Sita | c. singular verb (one unit) |
| 4. Neither boy | d. singular verb |
9 Micro Quiz
10 Reading Practice
The committee of teachers has decided to hold a fair. The news is exciting. Neither the students nor the principal is against it. A list of activities has been prepared, and the box of prizes is ready. Mathematics, science and art are all part of the show, and every class is going to take part.
- Why is 'has decided' singular in 'The committee … has decided'?
- Find a sentence where an intervening phrase could trap you.
- Why is 'every class is' singular?
- 'committee' is a collective noun acting as one unit, so it takes a singular verb.
- 'A list of activities has been prepared' — the subject is 'list' (singular), not 'activities'.
- 'every' makes the subject singular, so the verb is 'is'.
11 Speaking, Writing & Daily Use
- The team is practising hard.
- Each of the boys has a uniform.
- Neither of the answers is correct.
- The news is very encouraging.
- Mathematics is easier than I thought.
12 Challenge Zone
13 Chapter Mind Map
SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
|
+--------+---+----+---------+
| | | |
COMPOUND OR/NOR INTERVENING SPECIAL
and=plural agrees ignore the news=sing
one idea= with phrase maths=sing
singular nearer (box of..) team=sing14 One-Minute Revision
Remember these
- Singular subject → singular verb; plural subject → plural verb
- Subjects joined by 'and' → plural (unless they form one idea)
- or/nor → verb agrees with the nearer subject
- Ignore phrases between subject and verb (the box of pens is…)
- news, mathematics, each, neither, collective nouns → singular verb