Rules For Subject Verb Agreement

Rule 1:

In Singular Subject must use these verbs is, was, has, does, or verb ending with s or es but these verb are of singular forms of verbs.

Example:

• The boy carries a pile of books everyday.
• Rita is writing a book for her assignment.

Rule 2:

In Plural Subject must use these verbs are were, have, do or verbs without s or es because these are the plural forms of verbs.

Example:

• The boys carry a pile of books everyday.
• The students are writing a book for their assignment.

Rule 3:

If there is pronoun YOU as the sentence subject, we MUST use the plural form of verbs, which are as follows:- are, were, have, do or verbs without s or es ending

Example:

• You are responsible for all the activities in the classroom
• You have to give me the book that you borrowed yesterday.

Rule 4:

Compound subject contains both singular and plural noun or pronoun which is either joined by or/nor, the verb should be singular

Example:

• Rita or Rohan is selected for the post of secretary
• Pen or pencil is allowed to be used for the exam

Rule 5:

The following words are singular and require a singular verb:- each one, each, neither, everybody, everyone, someone, somebody.

Example:

• Each of the ministers is against the bill in the Parliament
• Everybody in the room admires him for his bravery

Rule 6:

If the sentence is beginning with “there is” or “there are” the verb is followed by a subject. Therefore “there” is not the subject the verb agrees with what follows.

Example:

• There are apples kept in the fruit basket
• There is a pencil lying under the bed

Rule 7:

General Rule- use a plural verb when two or more subject is joined together by and.

Example:

• Rita and Rohan are selected as the volunteers
• Priya and Yash love to go for a live music session every Sunday

Rule 8:

If the collective noun refers to the groups as a unit, then it takes a singular verb.

If it refers to the individuals in the group or the parts that make up the group, then the verb should be plural.

Example:

• The pride of lion walking in the jungle is the most jaw dropping sight to watch –
  • Here, the pride of lion is taken together as a single unit.
• The pride of lion are sometimes divided on their choice of prey. –
  • here, the pride of lion considers each lion individually where they have separate choices and do not work together.

Rule 9:

Whenever we use numbers in a statement, they are often taken as singular subjects along with singular verbs even if the number is plural.

Example:

• Fifty Thousand rupees is not a huge sum of money to donate
• Five kilometers is a long distance to cover on foot

Rule 10:

Using added words like ‘along with’, ‘as well as’, ‘as well’ etc, with the main subject always takes singular verb.

Example:

• Rohan along with his mother is at the museum
• The teacher as well as the principal has to attend the annual meeting tomorrow

Rule 11:

‘A number’ takes plural verb while ‘the number’ takes singular verb in a sentence.

Example:

• A number of visitors are waiting in the lobby of the hotel
• The number of visitors waiting in the lobby is huge.