SUBJECT-
VERB
AGREEMENT
(1) CLASS XI GRAMMAR
SEMESTER 1
WISELY LEO CANDRA, S.S.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Students will be able to explain the rules
01 for subject-verb agreement, identify and correct
errors in subject-verb agreement.
Students will be able to identify the singular and
02 plural subjects and verbs in sentences.
Students will be able to edit sentences for
03 correct subject/verb agreement and use
complete sentences.
Subject-Verb Agreement
The subject and verb are the most important elements of a sentence. The relation
between the subject and verb depends on two issues: person and number. The
verb of a sentence must be in agreement with the subject in regard
to person and number.
The number of the subject can be singular and plural. The verb must be singular
if the subject is singular and the verb must be plural if the subject is plural.
So, identifying the number of the subject is required to take a verb.
The person of the subject can be first, second, and third. The verb changes
according to the number and person of the subject.
Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement
Rule 1
Singular subjects need singular verbs, while plural subjects require plural verbs. ‘Be’
verbs change the most according to the number and person of the subject. Other
verbs do not change much on the basis of the subjects except the verbs of the simple
present tense. If the subjects are a third person singular number, the verbs are used
with s/es when they are in simple present tense. The verbs with s/es in the sentence
are called singular verbs.
‘Be’ verbs according to number and person of the subject.
Person / Number Singular Plural
First am are
Second are are
Third is are
Examples:
Person / Number Singular Plural
First I am an excellent tennis player. We are excellent tennis players.
Second You are a nice person. You all are nice people.
Alex plays well under pressure. They are good at chasing.
Third
He is a good player. They play well under pressure.
So, subjects and verbs must agree in number. This is the cornerstone rule that forms the
background of the concept. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular too. If the subject is
plural, the verb must also be plural.
Examples:
• The dog growls when he is angry.
• The dogs growl when they are angry.
Rule 2
When the prepositional phrases separate the subjects from the verbs, they have
no effect on the verbs.
Examples:
• A study (singular subject) on African countries
shows (singular verb) that 80% of the people (plural
subject) of this continent live (plural verb) below the
poverty line.
• The perspective of different people varies from time
to time.
• The fear of terrorists and militants has made them
flee the city.
Rule 3
Subordinate clauses that come between the subject and verb don't affect their
agreement.
Examples:
• The dog which is chewing on my jeans is usually very good.
• The women who went to the meeting were bored.
Rule 4
When sentences start with "there" or "here," the subject will always be placed after
the verb. Some care needs to be taken to identify each part correctly.
Examples:
• There is a problem with the balance sheet.
• Here are the papers you requested.
Rule 5
Subjects don't always come before verbs in questions. Make sure you accurately
identify the subject before deciding on the proper verb form to use.
Examples:
• Where are the pieces of this puzzle?
• Why are the students laughing?
Rule 6
If two subjects are joined by "and," they typically require a plural
verb form.
Examples:
• The cow and the pig are jumping over the moon.
• The man and his son come to my house.
Rule 7
The verb is singular if the two subjects separated by "and" refer to the same
person or thing as a whole.
Examples:
• Red beans and rice is my mom's favorite dish.
• Our secretary and treasurer comes from England.
Rule 8
If one of the words "each," "every," or "no" comes before the subject, the verb is
singular.
Examples:
• No smoking or drinking is allowed.
• Every man and woman is required to check in.
Rule 9
Either . . . or, neither . . . nor, not … but, not only … but also, or, and nor take two
nouns before and after them. The nouns placed after these conjunctions are
regarded as the subjects of the sentence. The nouns placed prior to the words or,
nor, but, and but also have no effect on the verbs.
Examples:
• Neither Alex nor his brothers are going to the party.
• I or Robert opens the door when someone comes.
Rule 10
Noncount nouns take a singular verb.
Examples:
• Education is the key to success.
• The information obtained from the business owners was relevant to include in the
study.
Rule 11
Some nouns are always singular and indefinite. When these nouns become the
subjects, they always take singular verbs.
Any + No + singular Some + sin. Every + sin. Each + sin.
singular noun noun noun noun noun
Anybody Nobody Somebody Everybody Each student
Anyone No one Someone Everyone Either*
Anything Nothing Something Everything Neither*
*Note: Either and neither are singular if they are not used with or and nor.
Examples:
• Everybody wants to live happily.
• Neither alternative hypothesis was accepted.
• Each student has to submit a separate assignment.
Rule 12
The exceptions to the above rule include the pronouns "few," "many," "several," "both,"
"all," and "some." These always take the plural form.
Examples:
• Both are qualified for the job.
• Few were left alive after the flood.
• Many went to the beach and got sunburned.
• Several are already on location.
THANKS!
NEXT MEETING:
SUBJECT-VERB
AGREEMENT (2)
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