Subject–Verb Agreement — Mastery
What you will be able to do
- Apply agreement with or/nor and either…or/neither…nor
- Use the correct verb with indefinite pronouns
- Handle nouns that are plural in form but singular in meaning
- Distinguish 'a number of' and 'the number of'
- Agree verbs with fractions, percentages and gerunds
1 Quick Introduction
You know the basic rule: a singular subject takes a singular verb. Grade 9 is about the tricky cases that trap even good writers — subjects joined by 'nor', words like 'physics' and 'scissors', and quantities like 'a number of'. Get these right and your sentences will be flawless under exam pressure.
मूल नियम आप जानते हैं: एकवचन कर्ता एकवचन क्रिया लेता है। कक्षा 9 उन कठिन स्थितियों के बारे में है जो अच्छे लेखकों को भी फँसा देती हैं — 'nor' से जुड़े कर्ता, 'physics' और 'scissors' जैसे शब्द, और 'a number of' जैसी मात्राएँ। इन्हें सही कर लें तो परीक्षा-दबाव में भी आपके वाक्य निर्दोष रहेंगे।
2 A Real-Life Situation
You edit a school report:
Draft: The number of absentees are rising, and neither the teachers nor the principal were informed.
Fixed: The number of absentees is rising, and neither the teachers nor the principal was informed.
3 The Grammar Rule
| Subject | Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A or/nor B | agrees with nearer | Neither he nor they are… |
| everyone, each, nobody | singular | Everyone is here. |
| physics, news, maths | singular | The news is good. |
| A number of | plural | A number of boys are… |
| The number of | singular | The number of boys is… |
4 Or/Nor Subjects, Indefinite Pronouns & Plural-Form Singular Nouns
Subjects joined by or, nor, either…or, neither…nor: the verb agrees with the nearer subject.
- Neither the players nor the coach was happy. (nearer = coach)
- Either the coach or the players were wrong. (nearer = players)
Indefinite pronouns — everyone, someone, anyone, nobody, each, either, neither, one — take a singular verb.
- Everyone has a role. Each of the girls is ready.
- 'None' can be singular (formal) or plural (informal).
Nouns plural in form but singular in meaning take a singular verb: physics, mathematics, economics, news, measles. The news is good. But tools/garments in pairs are plural: scissors, trousers, glasses → The scissors are sharp.
was — nearer subject 'girl' is singular.
are — 'scissors' is plural in form and meaning.
Key Points
- or/nor → verb agrees with the nearer subject
- Indefinite pronouns (everyone, each, neither) → singular verb
- physics/news/maths → singular; scissors/trousers → plural
5 A Number Of, Fractions, Gerunds & More
A number of vs The number of:
- A number of (= many) → plural verb: A number of students are absent.
- The number of → singular verb: The number of students is falling.
Fractions / percentages agree with the noun after 'of':
- Half of the cake is gone. (cake = singular)
- Half of the apples are rotten. (apples = plural)
Gerund subjects are singular: Reading books is my hobby.
Other rules:
- 'More than one' + singular: More than one student was absent.
- Distances, amounts, time as a unit → singular: Ten kilometres is a long walk.
- Titles/names as one unit → singular: 'Great Expectations' is a novel.
are — 'A number of' = many → plural verb.
is — 'work' (the noun after 'of') is uncountable/singular.
Key Points
- A number of → plural; The number of → singular
- Fractions/percentages agree with the noun after 'of'
- Gerund subjects, units of distance/time, and titles → singular
6 Vocabulary Builder
| Word | Meaning | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|
| Agreement | matching subject and verb | मेल |
| Indefinite pronoun | everyone, nobody, each… | अनिश्चयवाचक सर्वनाम |
| Fraction | a part of a whole | भिन्न |
| Gerund | -ing used as a noun | क्रियावाचक संज्ञा |
| Collective | naming a group | समूहवाचक |
7 Common Mistakes to Avoid
8 Practice Exercises
- The news ______ shocking.
- The scissors ______ blunt.
- Each of the boys ______ present.
- A number of students ______ absent.
- Mathematics ______ my favourite subject.
- is
- are
- is
- are
- is
- Neither the teacher nor the students ______ (was/were) informed.
- The number of accidents ______ (has/have) decreased.
- Two-thirds of the milk ______ (is/are) spoilt.
- Swimming and cycling ______ (is/are) good exercise.
- More than one window ______ (was/were) broken.
- were
- has
- is
- are
- was
- Neither of the answers are correct.
- A number of birds is singing.
- Physics are difficult.
- Half of the students was absent.
- Neither of the answers is correct. (error: are)
- A number of birds are singing. (error: is)
- Physics is difficult. (error: are)
- Half of the students were absent. (error: was)
- The number of visitors are growing.
- Running every morning are healthy.
- Ten years are a long time.
- The number of visitors is growing.
- Running every morning is healthy.
- Ten years is a long time.
- is / news / the / good
- absent / a / students / number / of / are
- is / hobby / reading / my
- The news is good.
- A number of students are absent.
- Reading is my hobby.
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| 1. A number of | a. plural verb |
| 2. The number of | b. singular verb (noun ends in -s) |
| 3. physics / news | c. singular verb |
| 4. scissors / trousers | d. plural verb (pairs) |
9 Micro Quiz
10 Reading Practice
The number of applicants this year is record-breaking. Neither the principal nor the teachers were prepared for the rush. "Statistics is not my strong point," the clerk admitted, "but a number of forms are still unprocessed." Half of the staff was on leave, and reading through every file was exhausting. Three weeks is simply not enough time.
- Why is 'is' used in 'The number of applicants … is record-breaking'?
- Explain the verb in 'a number of forms are still unprocessed'.
- Why is 'Three weeks is … not enough' singular?
- 'The number of' always takes a singular verb.
- 'A number of' means many, so it takes a plural verb 'are'.
- A period of time treated as a single unit takes a singular verb.
11 Speaking, Writing & Daily Use
- The news is encouraging.
- Each of the players has a role.
- A number of guests are arriving.
- Mathematics is logical and fun.
- Neither the boys nor their sister was late.
12 Challenge Zone
13 Chapter Mind Map
S-V AGREEMENT (MASTERY)
|
+--------+---+----+---------+
| | | |
OR/NOR INDEF -S NOUNS QUANTITY
nearer everyone news=sing a number=pl
subject each=sing scissors the number=
decides neither= =plural sing
singular fractions=
noun after of14 One-Minute Revision
Remember these
- or/nor → verb agrees with the nearer subject
- Indefinite pronouns (everyone, each, neither) → singular
- physics/news/maths → singular; scissors/trousers → plural
- A number of → plural; The number of → singular
- Gerund subjects, time/distance units and titles → singular