Subject Verb Object Rules || English Grammar

Subject-Verb-Agreement

Subject-Verb-Agreement means that a subject and its verb must be both singular or both plural:

• A singular subject takes a singular verb
• A plural subject takes a plural verb
  Example:
  Sohan   lives     in London.
    S.S.           S.V.
  People speak Hindi in Bihar.
     P.S.        P.V.

Rules

1.       If there are two or more singular nouns or pronouns and they are joined by ‘and’, and mention two different persons or things, a plural verb is used.
Example:
Ram and Shyam are working hard these days.
Mathura and Ayodhaya are religious places.
My father and mother help me.

2.       But if two singular nouns are joined by ‘and’ and they refer to the same person or thing, they are followed by a singular verb.
Example:
the philosopher and teacher has left the city.
The horse and carriage has arrived
Note- If the determiner is used before both the nouns, it means that both the persons are different, they are followed by plural verb.
Example:
The Poet and the writer are dead.

3.       If two singular nouns are joined by ‘and’ and they reveal one idea, use a singular verb.
Example:
Dal and roti is his favourite lunch.
Bread and butter tastes good.

4.       If two subjects are joined by ‘and’ but follow the word each or every, they are followed by a singular verb.
Example:
Every lion and every tiger was locked up in the cage.
Each boy and each girl is given a certificate for participating in the race.

5.       If two or more than two subject are joined by ‘or’ , the verb is used according to the second subject.
Example:
She or I am reading.
You or he is writing.
Sita and Rita or Anita meets you.
Anita or Sita and Rita meet you.

6.       If two or more than two subject are joined by ‘not’ , the verb is used according to the first subject.
Example:
You and she are dull.
He not I is good.
They not he are lazy.
Mohan not Sohan and Ram comes here.

7.       When the subject consists of ‘one of or only one of + plural noun’ the verb is singular.
Example:
One of the girls was singing.
One of the men has comes here.
Only one of the students goes there.

8.       If two subjects are joined by ‘along with’, together with’, ‘besides’, ‘no less than’, and not’, the singular verb is used.
Example:
The servant along with his daughter is busy in cleaning the house.
His father and not he is to be blamed for his failure in the examination.

9.       If two subjects are joined by ‘as well as’, use the verb according to the first subject.
Example:
He as well as his neighbours is generous to all.
His neighbours as well as he are generous to all

10.   If a sentence begins with the words like- each of, everyone of, nobody of, no one of, somebody of, someone of, either of, neither of, etc., the singular verb is used.
Example:
Each of the girls in the party was looking pretty.
Neither of the boys was tired.

11.   If a sentence has the subjects of all the three persons, put second person pronoun in the first place. Third person  pronoun and first person pronoun come after it respectively (2,3,1) and followed by a plural verb.
Example:
You, she and I were eating fruits.
You and I are going to the temple.
You and he have nice watches.
He and I do our homework.
They and I never disobey our parents.

12.   There are some nouns which appear plural in form but they express meaning which is evidently singular, they are followed by a singular verb. These nouns can sometimes be the name of subjects, books, or a country etc.
Example:
This news is not true.
Mathematics is taught in every school.
Physics is very difficult.
Politics is not one of his favorite subjects.

13.   There are some nouns which appear singular in form but have meaning in plural, they are followed by a plural verb.
Example:
People speak Hindi in Bihar.
Cattle are grazing in the field.
Children were playing cricket.

14.   If a plural noun express some specific quantity or amount taken as a whole, it is followed by a singular verb.
Example:
twelve years is not an age to go for a trip.
Five hundred rupees is a sufficient amount to buy a purse.

15.   When the sentence begins with ‘there’ and the real subject comes after the verb, use verb according to the number of the real subject.
Example:
There are two cars in the ground.
There is one clock in his drawing room.
There are ten rupees in my pocket.
There is a ten rupee note in my pocket.

16.   ‘It’ is always followed by a singular verb whether the real subject is plural.
Example:
It is they who broke the window.
It was Ram and Seeta who did not attend the class.

17.   When gerunds are used as the subject of a sentence, they take the singular verb form of the verb. However, when they are linked by ‘and’ they take plural form.
Example:
Dancing on ice was a bad idea.
Swimming in the ocean and playing congo are my hobbies.

18.   A collective noun such as ‘jury’, ‘committee’, ‘family’, etc takes a singular verb when it is considered one unit. When they are regarded as individuals, they take a plural verb.
Example:
The jury is about to give decision.
The jury are divided in their opinions.
The government has passed the bill.
The government have different opinions on POTA.

19.   When the subjects are joined by ‘either……or’ and ‘neither……nor’ are different persons, the verb will agree in person and the number with the nearest noun to it.
Example:
Neither she nor her sisters visit the temple.
Either they or he is telling a lie.

20.   Some noun which appear to be plural in form when preceded by ‘a pair of’ takes a singular verb.
Example:
A pair of shoes was bought by her.
A pair of trousers was washed by the helper.

But when these nouns are used without a pair of, they take a plural verb.
His shoes have worn out.
My scissors do not cut well.

21.   Plural verb is used after ‘some’, ‘many’, ‘both’, ‘a few’.
Example:
Some are innocent.
Many are absent.
Both are dull.

22.   Singular verb is used after ‘Noun + preposition + the same noun’.
Example:
Village after village has been swept away.
Page after page was opened.
Word for word is the description.