Grammar & Verbal Ability • Topic 5 of 6

Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement is the classic spot-the-error topic: a singular subject needs a singular verb and a plural subject a plural verb, but the CTET buries the real subject so the wrong verb looks right. The number-one trap is the phrase between subject and verb -- 'The box of chocolates IS on the table' (the subject is 'box', singular, not 'chocolates'). Learn the fixed cases. Words like each, every, either, neither, everyone, somebody, nobody and 'one of' are always singular: 'Each of the boys WAS present.' Two subjects joined by 'and' are plural, but 'either...or' / 'neither...nor' / 'or' make the verb agree with the NEARER subject -- 'Neither the teacher nor the students WERE informed.' A collective noun (team, family, government, jury) usually takes a singular verb when acting as one unit. Uncountable nouns (news, information, furniture, advice) and certain nouns ending in -s but singular in meaning (mathematics, physics, news) take a singular verb -- 'The news IS good.' Some words look singular but are plural -- 'scissors', 'trousers' and 'a pair of...' take a plural verb. Reading to the true headword before choosing the verb is the whole game.

✅ Solved examples

1. Correct the sentence: 'The list of items are on the desk.'

'The list of items IS on the desk.' The subject is 'list' (singular); 'of items' is a modifier and does not change the verb.

2. Choose the correct verb: 'Neither the principal nor the teachers ____ (was/were) available.'

were. With 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the NEARER subject, which is 'teachers' (plural).

3. Correct the sentence: 'Each of the students have a book.'

'Each of the students HAS a book.' 'Each' is always singular, so the verb is 'has', not 'have'.

4. Choose the correct verb: 'Mathematics ____ (is/are) my favourite subject.'

is. Though it ends in -s, 'mathematics' is a singular subject (a field of study), so it takes a singular verb.

✏️ Practice — try these, take hints as needed

1. Spot and correct the error: 'One of my friends are a doctor.'

The real subject is "one".

"of my friends" only describes "one".

One of my friends IS a doctor.

2. Choose the correct verb: 'The news ____ (was/were) shocking.'

"news" looks plural but is uncountable.

Uncountable nouns take a singular verb.

was

3. Choose the correct verb: 'Either Ram or his brothers ____ (has/have) the keys.'

"Either...or" agrees with the nearer subject.

The nearer subject is "brothers".

have

4. Spot and correct the error: 'My new trousers is too tight.'

"trousers" is treated as plural.

Like scissors and spectacles.

My new trousers ARE too tight.

📝 Topic test — 8 questions

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Key Concepts — Quick Reference

This chapter

Tense forms at a glance

Simple Present	V1 / V1+s · habit, fact -> She writes daily.
Present Continuous	is/am/are + V-ing · now -> She is writing.
Present Perfect	has/have + V3 · past with present link -> She has written.
Simple Past	V2 · finished past -> She wrote.
Past Continuous	was/were + V-ing · ongoing past -> She was writing.
Past Perfect	had + V3 · earlier of two past actions -> She had written before he came.
Simple Future	will + V1 · later -> She will write.

Grammar rules quick-reference

Articles a / an	By SOUND not letter -> a university, an hour, an MP, a one-rupee coin.
Article the	Specific / unique / superlative -> the sun, the best, the book you read.
Subject-verb agreement	Verb agrees with the SUBJECT, not the nearest noun -> The box of pens is here.
Active -> Passive	Object becomes subject + be + V3 -> Ram ate it / It was eaten by Ram.
Direct -> Indirect	Backshift tense, shift pronouns & time words -> said, "I am here" / said that he was there.
Each / every / either / neither	Always SINGULAR verb -> Each boy was present.