Rules For Subject Verb Agreement

October 31, 2019

subject verb agreement rules

Subject Verb Agreement Rules

The most easiest and basic rules for subject verb agreement is:-

Root Rule– A singular subject takes singular verb and its vice versa with plural. Plural subject take plural verb.

  • For Example- The list of grocery items is/are on the dining table.
    • Here list is the subject, then we will choose is for the verb.

Rule Plural Verb is used when the subject of sentence is joined by composed by noun and pronoun and it is connected by and then in such case plural verb are used.

  • For Example- Ram and his friends are at the party.
    • Here Ram and his friend are subject and are is verb
sentence verb agreement rules

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.

Rule 2

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

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

Rule 4

Compound subject contains both singular and plural noun or pronoun which is either joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with part of subject that is nearer the verb.

Rule 5

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

Rule 6

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

Rule 7

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

Rule 8

The Collective noun such as group, population, friends, family. The verb might be plural.

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.

Example for Subject Verb Agreement

Question 1

Samantha’s mother were kill in the car accident. Five months ago.

Option
A. was killed
B. Is killed
C. was kill
D. None of the above

Explanation

Since the sentence is in simple past tense, therefore “was Killed’ will come in place of were kill.

Hence Option A is the correct one.

Question 2

Tom imitates his father and do whatever his father was do.

Option
A. Does
B. Did
C. Doing
D. None of these

Explanation

Since the sentence is in simple present tense, therefore “does” will come in place of “was do”

Hence Option A is the correct one.

rules for subject verb agreement