Subject - Verb Agreement

Day 26

Subject - Verb Agreement:

The CAT is intended to test your knowledge of standard English along with the basic rules that govern the usage of standard English. One of the main rules is Subject - Verb Agreement.  The verb should agree with its subject in number and person as well.

Rules:

1. Singular subject takes Singular verb and a Plural subject takes Plural verb.

eg. Deepak is reading a storybook.
     There are 20 boys in my class.

2. Two and more subjects joined by AND takes plural verbs.

eg. K and M are friends.

3. If  two singular nouns joined by AND refer to same thing or person takes singular verb.


eg. The great orator and poet is dead.


4. If  two singular nouns joined by AND express same idea takes singular verb.


eg. Slow and Steady wins the race.


5. Each and Every follows a singular verb.

eg. Every man, woman and child was happy.

6. When two subjects are joined with, as well as or together with, the verb should agree with the first subject.


eg. The house, with its furniture was burnt.
     Hari , as well as Anil, likes music.


7. Two or more Singular subjects connected by OR, NOR, EITHER...OR, NEITHER...NOR, NOT ONLY ... BUT ALSO take a verb in singular.


eg. Ram or Sham is to blame.
     Either S or R was signing a song.
     Either G, M or S has done this.
     Neither S Nor M was present.


8. If one of the subjects is in Plural, verb must be in Plural and Plural Subject Must be placed next to the Verb.


eg. M or His friends have done this.
      Either He or his parents were given the prize.
      Neither Ali Nor his friends are present.


9. When two subjects are joined by OR or NOR and indicate different persons , the verb agrees with the subject nearest to it.


eg. Either He or I am mistaken.


10. EITHER , NEITHER, EACH, EVERY, EVERYONE, MANY A, MUST follow a singular verb.


eg. Either of the two boys has done this.
     Neither of the two boys has done this.
     Each of the boys was clever.
     Many a boy has not done his duty.
     Every one of them has told a lie. 
      
11. A collective Noun may take a singular or plural verb. If collection is thought of a whole a singular verb is used. But if it is taken as individuals a plural verb is used.


eg. The committee have decided this. (Committee taken as individual members. )
      The jury has given its verdict.       ( jury as a whole )


12. Some nouns which are plural in form but singular in meaning , take a singular verb.


eg. No news is a good news. 
      Mathematics is a difficult subject.


13. Some nouns singular in form but plural in meaning take a plural verb.


eg. Twelve dozen cost rupees one hundred.


14. When the plural noun is the name of one thing takes singular verb.


eg. The United States has a big army.


15. Verb should agree with its proper subject instead of a noun near to it.


eg. The quality of these Mangoes is good.


There is no specific rule for NONE and EACH.


Here are few examples,

1. None of the horses were injured.
2. None of the food was eatable.
3. None of the glasses were dirty.