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Welcome to our blog on Subject Verb Agreement, an essential topic in English Grammar that plays a crucial role in all competitive exams. Approximately 3 - 4 questions certainly appear based on this topic, in the exam, making it imperative for you to grasp the concepts of Subject Verb Agreement thoroughly and practice a variety of questions.

<img loading="lazy" alt="Subject Verb Agreement piccs" src="https://study.kdcampus.live/admin/assets/uploads/ckeditor/Subject_Verb_Agreement_piccs.webp" style="height:338px; width:600px">

[Source: KD Live]

In this blog, we will comprehensively cover all the theoretical concepts and rules of this topic. Additionally, we have included many examples for you to deeply understand each concept and rule. So, let's dive into the world of Subject Verb Agreement and boost your exam preparation.

The basic idea behind this topic is pretty simple, as the name clearly suggests: Verbs need to agree with their subjects in number (singular or plural) and in person (first, second, or third). In order to check agreement, you simply need to find the verb and ask who or what is doing the action of that verb.

Let us learn the basic rules of Subject Verb Agreement: (In the following examples, the agreeing subject is in bold and the verb is in italics.)

<h2 id="content-id-1260-0">Rule 1 of Subject Verb Agreement</h2>

Subjects and verbs must agree in number. This is the cornerstone rule that forms the background of the concept.

• The dog growls when he is angry.

• The dogs growl when they are angry

<h2 id="content-id-1260-1">Rule 2 of Subject Verb Agreement</h2>

Subordinate clauses that come between the subject and verb don’t affect their Subject Verb Agreement.

• The dog, who is chewing on my jeans, is usually very good.

<h2 id="content-id-1260-2">Rule 3 of Subject Verb Agreement</h2>

Prepositional phrases between the subject and verb usually do not affect Subject Verb Agreement.

• The colors of the rainbow are beautiful.

<h2 id="content-id-1260-3">Rule 4 of Subject Verb Agreement</h2>

When sentences start with “there” or “here,” the subject will always be placed after the verb. Some care needs to be taken to identify each part correctly.

• There is a problem with the balance sheet.

• Here are the papers you requested.

<h2 id="content-id-1260-4">Rule 5 of Subject Verb Agreement</h2>

Subjects don’t always come before verbs in questions. Make sure you accurately identify the subject before deciding on the proper verb form to use.

• Where are the pieces of this puzzle?

<h2 id="content-id-1260-5">Rule 6 of Subject Verb Agreement</h2>

If two subjects are joined by “and,” they typically require a plural verb form.

• The cow and the pig are jumping over the moon.

<h2 id="content-id-1260-6">Rule 7 of Subject Verb Agreement</h2>

The verb is singular if the two subjects separated by “and” refer to the same person or thing as a whole.

• Red beans and rice is my mom’s favorite dish.

<h2 id="content-id-1260-7">Rule 8 of Subject Verb Agreement</h2>

If one of the words “each,” “every,” or “no” comes before the subject, the verb is singular.

• No smoking or drinking is allowed.

• Every man and woman is required to check in.

<h2 id="content-id-1260-8">Rule 9 of Subject Verb Agreement</h2>

If the subjects are both singular and are connected by the words “or,” “nor,” “neither/nor,” “either/or,” or “not only/but also,” the verb is singular.

• Either Jessica or Christian is to blame for the accident.

<h2 id="content-id-1260-9">Rule 10 of Subject Verb Agreement</h2>

The only time the object of the preposition decides plural or singular verb forms is when noun and pronoun subjects like “some,” “half,” “none,” “more,” or “all” are followed by a prepositional phrase. Then the object of the preposition determines the form of the verb.

• All of the chicken is gone.

• All of the chickens are gone.

<h2 id="content-id-1260-10">Rule 11 of Subject Verb Agreement</h2>

The singular verb form is usually reserved for units of measurement or time.

• Four quarts of oil was required to get the car running.

<h2 id="content-id-1260-11">Rule 12 of Subject Verb Agreement</h2>

If the subjects are both plural and are connected by the words “or,” “nor,” “neither/nor,” “either/or,” or “not only/ but also,” the verb is plural.

• Not only dogs but also cats are available at the animal shelter.

<h2 id="content-id-1260-12">Rule 13 of Subject Verb Agreement</h2>

If one subject is singular and the other is plural, and the words are connected by the words “or,” “nor,” “neither/nor,” “either/or,” or “not only/but also,” use the verb form of the subject that is nearest the verb.

• Either the bears or the lion has escaped from the zoo.

• Neither the lion nor the bears have escaped from the zoo.

<h2 id="content-id-1260-13">Rule 14 of Subject Verb Agreement</h2>

Indefinite pronouns typically take singular verbs (with some exceptions).

• Everybody wants to be loved.

<h2 id="content-id-1260-14">Rule 15 of Subject Verb Agreement</h2>

The exceptions to the above rule include the pronouns “few,” “many,” “several,” “both,” “all,” and “some.” These always take the plural form.

• Few were left alive after the flood.

<h2 id="content-id-1260-15">Rule 16 of Subject Verb Agreement</h2>

If two infinitives are separated by “and,” they take the plural form of the verb.

• To walk and to chew gum require great skill.

<h2 id="content-id-1260-16">Rule 17 of Subject Verb Agreement</h2>

When gerunds are used as the subject of a sentence, they take the singular form of the verb. However, when they are linked by “and,” they take the plural form.

• Standing in the water was a bad idea.

• Swimming in the ocean and playing drums are my hobbies.

<h2 id="content-id-1260-17">Rule 18 of Subject Verb Agreement</h2>

A collective noun, such as “team” or “staff,” can be either singular or plural depending upon the rest of the sentence. Typically, they take the singular form, as the collective noun is treated as a cohesive single unit.

• The herd is stampeding.

<h2 id="content-id-1260-18">Rule 19 of Subject Verb Agreement</h2>

Titles of books, movies, novels, and other similar works are treated as singular and take a singular verb.

• The Burbs is a movie starring Tom Hanks.

<h2 id="content-id-1260-19">Rule 20 of Subject Verb Agreement</h2>

Final rule: Remember, only the subject affects the verb! Nothing else matters.

• Jacob, who owns sixteen houses, is on his way to becoming a billionaire.

<h2 id="content-id-1260-20">Exceptions to the Rules of Subject Verb Agreement</h2>

Let’s review some of the most notable exceptions of Subject Verb Agreement:

• "Anyone", "everyone", "someone", "no one", and "nobody" always require singular verbs.

• "Neither" and "either" require singular verbs even though they seem to be referring to two separate things.

• When a sentence compounds a positive and a negative subject and only one is plural, the verb should agree with the positive subject.

• Words that indicate portions of a whole, such as "per cent", "fraction", "some", "none", and "remainder" require a singular verb only if the object of the preposition is singular.

• "Who", "that", and "which" can be singular or plural, according to the noun directly in front of them.

• The phrase introduced by "as well as" or "along with" modifies the earlier word, but doesn’t compound the subjects.

• Modifiers between the subject and verb do not affect whether the verb is singular or plural.

• Just because a word ends in -s doesn’t automatically make it plural.

This article has provided you with valuable insights into the world of Subject Verb Agreement. We sincerely hope that you have found this blog useful and that it has contributed to enhancing your understanding of this crucial topic. As you continue to gear up for your upcoming exam, we encourage you to share your thoughts, or any doubts you may have in the comments section below.

Stay tuned, as <a href="https://study.kdcampus.live/">KD Live</a> promises to bring you more such informative blogs with comprehensive study material and a thorough analysis of previous year questions on all the topics of English Language section. Best of luck with your exam preparations, and may you excel in your endeavors!

Welcome to our blog on Subject Verb Agreement, an essential topic in English Grammar that plays a crucial role in all competitive exams. Approximately 3 - 4 questions certainly appear based on this topic, in the exam, making it imperative for you to grasp the concepts of Subject Verb Agreement&nbsp;thoroughly and practice a variety of questions.

In this blog, we will comprehensively cover all the theoretical concepts and rules of this topic. Additionally, we have included many examples for you to deeply understand each concept and rule. So, let&#39;s dive into the world of Subject Verb Agreements&nbsp;and boost your exam preparation.

The basic idea behind this topic is pretty simple, as the name clearly suggests: Verbs need to agree with their subjects in number (singular or plural) and in person (first, second, or third). In order to check agreement, you simply need to find the verb and ask who or what is doing the action of that verb.

Let us learn the basic rules of Subject Verb Agreement: (In the following examples, the agreeing subject is in bold and the verb is in italics.)

Rule 1: Subjects and verbs must agree in number. This is the cornerstone rule that forms the background of the concept.

The dog growls when he is angry.

The dogs growl when they are angry

Rule 2: Subordinate clauses that come between the subject and verb don&rsquo;t affect their agreement.

The dog, who is chewing on my jeans, is usually very good.

Rule 3: Prepositional phrases between the subject and verb usually do not affect agreement.

The colors of the rainbow are beautiful.

Rule 4: When sentences start with &ldquo;there&rdquo; or &ldquo;here,&rdquo; the subject will always be placed after the verb. Some care needs to be taken to identify each part correctly.

There is a problem with the balance sheet.

Here are the papers you requested.

Rule 5: Subjects don&rsquo;t always come before verbs in questions. Make sure you accurately identify the subject before deciding on the proper verb form to use.

Where are the pieces of this puzzle?

Rule 6: If two subjects are joined by &ldquo;and,&rdquo; they typically require a plural verb form.

The cow and the pig are jumping over the moon.

Rule 7: The verb is singular if the two subjects separated by &ldquo;and&rdquo; refer to the same person or thing as a whole.

Red beans and rice is my mom&rsquo;s favorite dish.

Rule 8: If one of the words &ldquo;each,&rdquo; &ldquo;every,&rdquo; or &ldquo;no&rdquo; comes before the subject, the verb is singular.

No smoking or drinking is allowed.

Every man and woman is required to check in.

Rule 9: If the subjects are both singular and are connected by the words &ldquo;or,&rdquo; &ldquo;nor,&rdquo; &ldquo;neither/nor,&rdquo; &ldquo;either/or,&rdquo; or &ldquo;not only/but also,&rdquo; the verb is singular.

Either Jessica or Christian is to blame for the accident.

Rule 10: The only time the object of the preposition decides plural or singular verb forms is when noun and pronoun subjects like &ldquo;some,&rdquo; &ldquo;half,&rdquo; &ldquo;none,&rdquo; &ldquo;more,&rdquo; or &ldquo;all&rdquo; are followed by a prepositional phrase. Then the object of the preposition determines the form of the verb.

All of the chicken is gone.

All of the chickens are gone.

Rule 11: The singular verb form is usually reserved for units of measurement or time.

Four quarts of oil was required to get the car running.

Rule 12: If the subjects are both plural and are connected by the words &ldquo;or,&rdquo; &ldquo;nor,&rdquo; &ldquo;neither/nor,&rdquo; &ldquo;either/or,&rdquo; or &ldquo;not only/ but also,&rdquo; the verb is plural.

Not only dogs but also cats are available at the animal shelter.

Rule 13: If one subject is singular and the other is plural, and the words are connected by the words &ldquo;or,&rdquo; &ldquo;nor,&rdquo; &ldquo;neither/nor,&rdquo; &ldquo;either/or,&rdquo; or &ldquo;not only/but also,&rdquo; use the verb form of the subject that is nearest the verb.

Either the bears or the lion has escaped from the zoo.

Neither the lion nor the bears have escaped from the zoo.

Rule 14: Indefinite pronouns typically take singular verbs (with some exceptions).

Everybody wants to be loved.

Rule 15: The exceptions to the above rule include the pronouns &ldquo;few,&rdquo; &ldquo;many,&rdquo; &ldquo;several,&rdquo; &ldquo;both,&rdquo; &ldquo;all,&rdquo; and &ldquo;some.&rdquo; These always take the plural form.

Few were left alive after the flood.

Rule 16: If two infinitives are separated by &ldquo;and,&rdquo; they take the plural form of the verb.

To walk and to chew gum require great skill.

Rule 17: When gerunds are used as the subject of a sentence, they take the singular form of the verb. However, when they are linked by &ldquo;and,&rdquo; they take the plural form.

Standing in the water was a bad idea.

Swimming in the ocean and playing drums are my hobbies.

Rule 18: A collective noun, such as &ldquo;team&rdquo; or &ldquo;staff,&rdquo; can be either singular or plural depending upon the rest of the sentence. Typically, they take the singular form, as the collective noun is treated as a cohesive single unit.

The herd is stampeding.

Rule 19: Titles of books, movies, novels, and other similar works are treated as singular and take a singular verb.

The Burbs is a movie starring Tom Hanks.

Rule 20: Final rule: Remember, only the subject affects the verb! Nothing else matters.

Jacob, who owns sixteen houses, is on his way to becoming a billionaire.

Exceptions to the Rules 

Let&rsquo;s review some of the most notable exceptions:

&bull; &quot;Anyone&quot;, &quot;everyone&quot;, &quot;someone&quot;, &quot;no one&quot;, and &quot;nobody&quot; always require singular verbs.

&bull; &quot;Neither&quot; and &quot;either&quot; require singular verbs even though they seem to be referring to two separate things.

&bull; When a sentence compounds a positive and a negative subject and only one is plural, the verb should agree with the positive subject.

&bull; Words that indicate portions of a whole, such as &quot;per cent&quot;, &quot;fraction&quot;, &quot;some&quot;, &quot;none&quot;, and &quot;remainder&quot; require a singular verb only if the object of the preposition is singular.

&bull; &quot;Who&quot;, &quot;that&quot;, and &quot;which&quot; can be singular or plural, according to the noun directly in front of them.

&bull; The phrase introduced by &quot;as well as&quot; or &quot;along with&quot; modifies the earlier word, but doesn&rsquo;t compound the subjects.

&bull; Modifiers between the subject and verb do not affect whether the verb is singular or plural.

&bull; Just because a word ends in -s doesn&rsquo;t automatically make it plural.

This article has provided you with valuable insights into the world of Subject Verb Agreements. We sincerely hope that you have found this blog useful and that it has contributed to enhancing your understanding of this crucial topic. As you continue to gear up for your upcoming exam, we encourage you to share your thoughts, or any doubts you may have in the comments section below.

Stay tuned, as KD Live promises to bring you more such informative blogs with comprehensive study material and a thorough analysis of previous year questions on all the topics of English Language section. Best of luck with your exam preparations, and may you excel in your endeavors!

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