What is Subject-Verb Agreement in English Grammar?
Subject-Verb Agreement is a grammatical rule that ensures that the subject and the verb in a sentence must agree in number. This means a singular subject takes singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb. We use Subject-Verb Concord as other term for Subject-Verb Agreement.
Subject-Verb Agreement : Some Important Rules with Examples
Here are some important rules of Subject-Verb Agreement. We have given some examples with each rule so that you can easily understand what Subject-Verb Agreement is.
Subject-Verb Agreement : Rule #1. A singular subject takes a singular verb.
Examples : 1. Mohan is an intelligent student.
2. The old man was hit by a car.
3. The cat chases the rat.
Subject-Verb Agreement : Rule #2. A plural subject takes a plural verb.
Examples : 1. The students are busy in preparing for half yearly examination.
2. Both the boys were clever enough to handle the situation.
3. The dogs run after the cat.
Subject-Verb Agreement : Rule #3. When a subject has two or more nouns joined by conjuction ‘and’, we usually use a plural verb.
Examples : 1. Ravi and Rajesh are going back to their village.
2. The boy and his father were waiting outside the office.
Subject-Verb Agreement : Rule #4. When the subject has a combination of singular and plural nouns/pronouns joined by ‘either……or’, ‘or’, ‘neither………nor’, ‘nor’, we use verb accorning to the last noun/pronoun or the one nearest to the verb.
Examples : 1. Either the servant or his sons have stolen the money.
2. Neither the teacher nor the students are to blame for the accident.
Subject-Verb Agreement : Rule #5. Some phrases with plural form are considered as a single unit and take a singular verb. These phrases often refer to measurements, amounts and quantities.
Examples : 1. Fifty kilometers is not a long distance.
2. The hundred dollars my father gave me was soon spent.
Subject-Verb Agreement : Rule #6. With each of, either of, neither of, any of or none of + a plural noun we prefer a singular verb. Though we can use a plural verb.
Examples : 1. Neither of the students has failed this year.
2. None of them was able to get out of the room without my help.
3. Each of Maya’s classmates has sent her a beautiful gift on her birthday.
Subject-Verb Agreement : Rule #7. With a number of, a lot of, plenty of, all of, some of, a majority of or the majority of + a plural noun we use a plural verb. But with the number of we use a singular verb.
Examples : 1. A number of refugees have enter our country illegally.
2. All of the students are present today.
3. The number of the books on crypto currency is very limited.
Subject-Verb Agreement : Rule #8. Some nouns with a singular form can be considered either as singular or as plural. If we see the institute or organization as a whole unit or entity, we use a singular verb. And we use a plural verb if we see it as a collection of individuals. These are the nouns :- audience, team, staff, firm, generation, class, club, council, croed, department, committee, government, enemy, family, group, jury, orchestra, press, public, company, community itc.
Examples :- 1. The committee has decided to postpone the upcoming meeting.
2. The government is introducing new tax policies.
3. The team is ready for today’s match.
4. The committee are divided in their opinion.
5. The government have expressed differing views on the issue of terrorism.
6. The team are arguing among themselves about the planning.
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