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| Arup Roy, Lecturer in English Language & Literature, Kanchkura University College |
Subject-verb agreement means the agreement of the verb with the subject in number. Singularity and plurality of the subject determine the singularity and plurality of the verb. So, the greatest challenge is to understand whether a noun or pronoun is singular or plural. Surely, understanding them requires a lot of practice. Some certain rules and examples can help you a lot to understand them. This article deals with some essential rules with examples of subject-verb agreement. Follow the rules and examples shown below:
1. Two singular subjects joined by "and" take a plural verb.
- Messi and Ronaldo are the two great footballers.
- Sakib and Jadeja are the two great all-rounders.
2. When two singular subjects are joined by "and" expressing the same idea or same person, a singular verb is used.
- Slow but steady wins the race.
- The principal and secretary is present in the meeting.
3. If you find two or more singular subjects joined "or", "but" "nor", take a singular verb.
- Rohan or Rohit has come.
- He or his brother is responsible for it.
4. When one singular subject and one plural subject are joined by "or", "nor", "but" "either...or", "neither...nor", the verb agrees with the nearest subject.
- Rohan or his friends are playing cricket.
- Rohan and Rohit or Kamal has broken the chair.
- Neither Kamal nor his friends are playing cricket.
- Either Kholi or his teammates are to be given the credit.
5. Each, either, neither, everyone, many a many may follow plural subject but take singular verb.
- Neither of them is good at that.
- Many a man was killed by Pakistani armies.
- Either of them is happy.
- Each of them is has done well.
6. Some singular subjects followed by "as well as", "in addition to", "including", "with", "together with" always take a singular verb.
- Salman as well his brothers has done that.
- He with all his friends is responsible for it.
- Rohan together with his friend has taken responsibility.
- Rohan along with his brother is earning much.
7. Anybody, anyone, each, either, neither, everybody, everyone, no one, somebody--they all always take a singular verb.
- Somebody has broken it.
- Everyone is happy.
- Each has contributed to some extent.
- Either is doing good.
8. Singularity and plurality of a verb depend on the antecedent of the relative pronoun.
- He is one of the players who bat wisely.
- I know the man who has done it.
- This is the pen which is very expensive.
9. More than one takes a singular verb.
- More than one student has come.
10. When a sentence starts with "expletive there" or "introductory there", singularity or plurality of the verb is determined by the noun used after "expletive, introduction or adverbial there".
- There are forty students in this room.
- There is a beautiful dog in that room.
11. Introductory it always takes a singular verb.
- It is you who have played well.
- It is he who has played well.
12. When a collective noun is used as an undivided whole, it takes a singular verb. When we give emphasis on each member in the group, we are to use a plural verb.
- The jury is of the same opinion.
- The jury are divided in their opinions.
13. Name of book, magazine, movie, newspaper, always takes a singular verb.
- "The Bangladesh Times" is a good magazine.
- "The Daily Star" is gaining popularity day by day.
- "Titanic" is a wonderful movie.
- "The Star Campus" is a popular magazine.
14. Some words such as news, innings always take a singular verb.
- What is the news?
- This inning has changed the match.
15. When the majority indicates a group of people, it takes a singular verb.
- The majority is always able to impose its will on the minority.
16. Minority can follow either singular or plural verb.
- Only a small minority of students is/are opposed to the scheme.
17. Some words such as cattle, gentry, vermin, poultry, folk, elite, clergy, take a plural verb.
- The clergy are respected.
- The elite are not always happy.
- Poultry are providing necessary protein for us.
18. The word "wage" takes a plural verb and "gallows" takes a singular verb.
- Gallows does not frighten him.
- Wages are not impressive for our garments workers.
19. If some phrases such as some of, half of, a lot of, a great deal of, plenty of, most of are followed by a plural noun, a plural verb is used. But, if a noun is singular, the verb will be singular.
- Half of the mangoes are rotten.
- Half of the mango was given to me.
20. "One of" or "each of" is followed by a plural noun but takes a singular verb.
- One of the students is very bright.
21. Some of, many of, several of, a few of, a good number, a large number of--these phrases are always followed by plural noun and plural verb.
- A good number of students were present there.
- A large number of people are there.
- Some of the students are also there.
- Many of the employees are protesting.
- Several of the employees were injured.
22. Scissor, goggles, pants, trousers, shorts, glasses always take a plural verb.
- His pants are of cotton.
- These scissors are expensive.
- His glasses are only for reading purposes.
- My trousers are a bit tight around my waist.
- My shorts give me a lot of comforts.
- My swimming goggles help me a lot when I swim in the sea.
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