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SUBJECT VERB AGGREMENT
ONLY SUBJECT AFFECTS VERB!
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SUBJECT
SINGULAR
VERB
When “s/es/ies” is added to a
verb.
Eg has,plays
does
PLURAL VERB
Does not contain “s/es/ies”
Eg. have, Play, do
 Prepositional phraseIt is important to know when to omit a prepositional phrase and when not to.
 Prepositional phrase is the part of sentence starting with Preposition e.g. “of the
mangoes”
 These phrases are not counted with the Subject in general cases but there are
exceptions in which these phrases helps to determine the Singularity os Plurality
of verb.
 Example:
Each of the mangoes is sweet.
The subject is ‘Each’ and not "Each of the mangoes" since ‘of the
mangoes is a prepositional phrase’ so omitted.
General error : Taking mangoes as subject and using plural verb
Rules:
1) Compound Subject always take PLURAL Verb.
 Compound Subject - When Two Subjects are joined by 'and'.
 Example:
Ram and Shyam are going for bowling
 Subject -‘Ram and Shyam’ Verb- ‘are’
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2) Usage of ‘Each’ and ‘Every’
 If 'Each' or 'Every' is used with compound subject then it will take singular verb
 Example:
Each boy and each girl is invited
Each Boy and girl is invited
3) “As well as", "Together with", "Along with" , "In addition to" will not make a
compound subject
 Example
He along with his teammates is coming today
 In the above statement the Subject is “He”,
“Along with his teammates” is a prepositional phrase
which is omitted , since he is singular it will take singular
verb.
4) Use of Articles:
1. It has two cases
i.)
A/the Noun1 and Noun2 is treated as a Singular subject so will take
singular verb.
 Example
The boss and secretary was invited
The above sentence implies that Boss and Secretary are the same person
hence singular verb will be used.
ii.)

A/the Noun1 and A/The Noun 2 is treated as a Plural subject so will
take Plural verb.
ExampleThe boss and the secretary were invited
The above sentence implies that Boss and Secretary are the different
person hence plural verb will be used.
5) Usage of Neither/ Nor , Either or, Not only but also

1. In case of Neither /Nor, Either/ or, Singularity or plurality can be checked by
just considering the subject just after "nor"/”or”.
Example
Neither Abhay nor his friend Vijay is present.
 In above statement after “nor” the subject is singular hence it will take singular
verb.
Cookies or brownies are nice treats for your teacher
 In above statement after “nor” the subject is plural hence it will take
plural verb.
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
2. Similarly In case of not only/but also subject after but also is looked for to
decide the verb.
Example
Not only the doctor but also the nurses of this nursing home are very kind.
 In above statement after “but also” the subject is plural hence it will take
plural verb.
6) CASES OF INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
a) CASE 1: When the subject will always take Singular verb
 The subject would have suffix as
-one
-body
-thing
 Example: Someone, Nothing, Somebody, Noone
 Each, Every,Neither, Either also takes only Singular verb

Examples:
Everybody among your friends likes playing basketball
 In the above statement “among your friends” is a prepositional
phrase so omitted hence “Everyone” is the subject hence Singular
verb will have to be used always.
Each of the mangoes is ripe
 In the above statement “of the mangoes” is a prepositional
phrase so omitted hence “Each” is the subject hence Singular
verb will be used.
b) CASE 2: When the subject will take always Plural verb.
 The subject will include:
-Many
-both
-Few
-Several
-afew

Example:
Many were invited but only afew have come.
 Exception : Many + a/an _____+'singular verb'+_____
 Example
Many an orange was rotten.
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c) CASE 3: When the subject can take either Singular or Plural verb
 These subjects are referred to as ‘SANAM’
 SANAM Stands for:
S-Some
A-Any
N-None
A-All
M-Most
 In case of SANAM Singularity and Plurality are found by prepositional phrase
 Example
Some of the biscuit was eaten.
 In the above statement in the prepositional phrase “of the
biscuit” , “biscuit” is singular hence singular verb will be used.
Some of the biscuits were eaten.
 In the above statement in the prepositional phrase “of the
biscuit” , “biscuits” is plural hence plural verb will be used.
7) COLLECTIVE NOUN
 Collective nouns are words for single things that are made up of more than one
person, animal, place, thing, or idea
 When a group is working together then it takes singular verb
 Example
The team is ready for the match.
 (Here the team is single unit and will perform the
task together)
 When a group has a divided opinion or each member has to be considered
individually then it takes plural verb.
 Example
The jury were divided in their opinion.
 (here every member of jury has different opinion so would be
treated individually hence plural)
8) Fraction Subjects
 Agreement of Fraction with verb depends on the noun.
 Uncountable Nouns (Nouns which require a unit to be measured, e.g. hectare of
land) always take Singular Verb
 Example
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Two fifths of the cake is eaten
One third of the land has been cultivated
 Countable Nouns (which can be counted , e.g. pens) can take either
Singular or Plural depending on the noun used.

Examples:
Half of the hotels are closed today
Step by step explanation
 In this “of the hotels” is prepositional phrase so omitted
 So we are left with only “half” which is a fraction subject
 Now we need to check the noun
 The noun is “hotels” which is plural so the verb should also be
plural so we use a plural verb “are”.
9) Amount/Distance / Time always takes Singular Verb
 Example
Five minutes in the dentist’s chair feels like a long time.
10) A Number / The number
 A Number always takes plural Verb.
 Example
A number of girls have passed.
 The Number always takes Singular Verb.
 Example
The number of the trucks is increasing
11) If a sentence starts with “there” or “ here”, the subject will always be placed
after the verb.
 Example
There is a meeting today.
Here are the results from this past month.
12) Subjects can come after the verb in questions.
 Example
Does Betty always play with dolls?
How are the Bosco sticks today?
13) Titles of books, movies, novels, etc. are treated as singular
 Example
Immortals of Meluha was one of my favorite books.
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14) Two infinitives separated by and take a plural verb
 Examples
To run and to read are my two favorite “Free-time”
activities.
All The Best!!!
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