Let’s start this post How to use Subject Verb Agreement
INTRODUCTION
1. Each, every, everyone, nobody, either, neither, none, one, no one, someone – Singular verb
Each of the boy ……is……good. (is,are )
Nobody ……has…….a book. (has, have )
Somebody ……was……there. (was, were )
Either of the books …is………good. (is, are)
Neither of the boys ….is …..able to win the race. (is, are)
2. Either …s1……or …s2 ……. verb
Neither ……s1…..nor ……s2…. verb
Not only ……s1…..but also …s2…. verb
Note- Verb – Always comes according to the second subject (s2).
Ex- Either ram or his brothers …are..coming.
Neither you nor I ….am ….wrong .(am, are)
Neither he nor you ….are…..wrong (is, are)
Not only they but also I ….am ….going .(am. are)
Not only Rosh but also her friends ….were…. there. (was, were)
3. as well as, with, together with, along with.
S + conjunction + s + ……..verb ……
1st 2nd
Note –verb comes always according to 1st subject.
I as well as, he ….am…going. (is am are)
A boy, with his brother, ….was… there .(was /were )
The bag, together with the boxes, …is ….new.(is/are)
4. A number of,(plural ) …….plural …
The number of,(singular )…….singular ….
5. The noun and The noun ……plural …..
Ex- The headmaster and The scientist ….are… coming.(is ,are)
The noun and noun ….. singular …..
Ex -The headmaster and Scientist ….is….. coming . (is, are)
6. Distance, time, money, measurement, weight, member……..singular verb……
Ten kilometers …is….not a long distance. (is, are)
Three months …is …not enough time. (is, are)
Fifty rupees …is…a lot of money for me. (is, are )
Two kilos of coffee …costs…about five hundred rupees. (cost, costs)
7. Noun and noun (independent) …plural
Ram and Sayam are coming.
Noun and noun (dependent ) …..singular
Age and experience …brings…wisdom to man . (bring /brings)
8. noun + preposition + noun …..verb….
1st 2nd
Note- verb comes according to 1st noun.
Ex- The cows of Ram are black.
The examination of the boys ….is …finished. (is / are)
9. Multiple of noun –decision ….singular
Every man, woman, and child …was… given food .(was / were )
My friend, philosopher, and guide …is… no more .(is /are)
10. Singular noun + preposition +same singular noun-…….singular
Ex- Ship after ship is sailing (is /are )
Letter after letter… describes… the beauty of the place.(describe / describes)
11. His glasses are lost.
These shoes are dirty.
My pants are new.
Those scissors were small. (binoculars, scales, spectacles, pajamas, shirts, trousers,….verb plural
12. A pair of shoes belong to me. (singular verb)
A pair of scissors has been lost . (singular verb)
A pair of pants is blue. (singular verb)
A pair of trousers was here. ( singular verb )
13. Nothing but +s/p noun -singular verb
Ex- Nothing but water …is .. seen. (is/ are)
Nothing but snow …is… seen .(is / are )
Nothing but boys…was… seen .(was / were )
Nothing but trees …is…there .(is /are)
14. Singular collective noun + of + plural noun …singular v
1st 2nd
Note –verb comes always according to 1st collective noun
A bunch of keys is lying there.
A series of events has happened.
A set of pens was bought.
A flock of sheep was grazing in the field.
A set of books has been bought.
A crowd of students is waiting outside.
News- singular verb ex –No news is good news.
Disease name —singular verb –measles, rickets, mumps,
Ex- measles is a dangerous disease.
Physics, politics, statistics, billiards, ( singular verb)
The United Nations, The United States. (singular verb)
Ex-The United Nations is our only hope.
The United States has a big army.
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