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Rules For Subject Verb Agreement
Rules for Subject Verb Agreement
The easiest and basic rules for subject-verb agreement is:-
Root Rule– A singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb.
For Example-
- The list of grocery items is/are on the dining table.
- Here list is the subject which is singular, so we choose ‘is’ as the verb.
- The lists of every items are kept on the dining table
- Here, the ‘lists’ is the plural subject, hence we take ‘are’.


Subject Verb Agreement Rules
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:
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.
- 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
Note:- Subject-verb agreement is necessary to ensure that there is no grammatical error and the subject agrees with the type of verb used. With the above-mentioned rules, you will be able to answer the subject-verb agreement questions easily.
Practice Questions
Question 1
Samantha’s mother were kill in the car accident. Five months ago.
Option
- was killed
- Is killed
- was kill
- None of the above
Explanation
Since the sentence is in the simple past tense, therefore “was Killed’ will come in place of were kill.
Hence Option A is the correct one.
Question 2
Tom ______ his father in everything he does
Option
- Imitate
- Imitates
- Imitating
- Imitated
Explanation
Since the sentence is in the simple present tense, therefore the verb will be in present tense too. Because Tom is a singular subject, we will take ‘imitates’ as the answer.
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