PPT: Subject-Verb Agreement | English for CLAT PDF Download

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Subject Verb 
Agreement
Page 2


Subject Verb 
Agreement
What is Subject Verb Agreement?
Basic Concept
Subject-verb agreement means 
the subject and verb must 
match in number. Singular 
subjects require singular verbs, 
while plural subjects take plural 
verbs.
Head Noun
In subjects with multiple 
nouns/pronouns, identify the 
head noun. The verb must 
agree with this head noun, not 
necessarily the noun closest to 
the verb.
Verb Forms
Singular verbs typically end 
with -s or -es (e.g., "leaves," 
"stays"). Plural subjects use the 
base form without these 
endings (e.g., "leave," "stay").
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Subject Verb 
Agreement
What is Subject Verb Agreement?
Basic Concept
Subject-verb agreement means 
the subject and verb must 
match in number. Singular 
subjects require singular verbs, 
while plural subjects take plural 
verbs.
Head Noun
In subjects with multiple 
nouns/pronouns, identify the 
head noun. The verb must 
agree with this head noun, not 
necessarily the noun closest to 
the verb.
Verb Forms
Singular verbs typically end 
with -s or -es (e.g., "leaves," 
"stays"). Plural subjects use the 
base form without these 
endings (e.g., "leave," "stay").
Basic Rules to Follow
Rule No 1
Singular subjects 
take singular 
verbs with -s/-es 
endings. Example: 
"He writes" and 
"She plays."
Rule No 2
Plural subjects 
take plural verbs 
without -s 
endings. Example: 
"They write" and 
"We play."
Rule No 3
Subjects joined by 
'and' take plural 
verbs. Example: 
"The doctor and 
nurse work 
together."
Page 4


Subject Verb 
Agreement
What is Subject Verb Agreement?
Basic Concept
Subject-verb agreement means 
the subject and verb must 
match in number. Singular 
subjects require singular verbs, 
while plural subjects take plural 
verbs.
Head Noun
In subjects with multiple 
nouns/pronouns, identify the 
head noun. The verb must 
agree with this head noun, not 
necessarily the noun closest to 
the verb.
Verb Forms
Singular verbs typically end 
with -s or -es (e.g., "leaves," 
"stays"). Plural subjects use the 
base form without these 
endings (e.g., "leave," "stay").
Basic Rules to Follow
Rule No 1
Singular subjects 
take singular 
verbs with -s/-es 
endings. Example: 
"He writes" and 
"She plays."
Rule No 2
Plural subjects 
take plural verbs 
without -s 
endings. Example: 
"They write" and 
"We play."
Rule No 3
Subjects joined by 
'and' take plural 
verbs. Example: 
"The doctor and 
nurse work 
together."
More Basic Rules
1
Rule No 4
When two subjects express 
one idea, use a singular 
verb. Example: "Bread and 
butter is wholesome." Here, 
"bread and butter" is 
considered one item.
2
Rule No 5
Singular subjects joined by 
'or' or 'nor' take a singular 
verb. Example: "A doctor or 
nurse is working in the 
hospital."
3
Rule No 6
When singular and plural subjects are joined by 'or', 'either-or', 
'neither-nor', or similar conjunctions, the verb agrees with the 
nearest subject. Example: "Neither Deepak nor his friends are 
joining the tour."
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Subject Verb 
Agreement
What is Subject Verb Agreement?
Basic Concept
Subject-verb agreement means 
the subject and verb must 
match in number. Singular 
subjects require singular verbs, 
while plural subjects take plural 
verbs.
Head Noun
In subjects with multiple 
nouns/pronouns, identify the 
head noun. The verb must 
agree with this head noun, not 
necessarily the noun closest to 
the verb.
Verb Forms
Singular verbs typically end 
with -s or -es (e.g., "leaves," 
"stays"). Plural subjects use the 
base form without these 
endings (e.g., "leave," "stay").
Basic Rules to Follow
Rule No 1
Singular subjects 
take singular 
verbs with -s/-es 
endings. Example: 
"He writes" and 
"She plays."
Rule No 2
Plural subjects 
take plural verbs 
without -s 
endings. Example: 
"They write" and 
"We play."
Rule No 3
Subjects joined by 
'and' take plural 
verbs. Example: 
"The doctor and 
nurse work 
together."
More Basic Rules
1
Rule No 4
When two subjects express 
one idea, use a singular 
verb. Example: "Bread and 
butter is wholesome." Here, 
"bread and butter" is 
considered one item.
2
Rule No 5
Singular subjects joined by 
'or' or 'nor' take a singular 
verb. Example: "A doctor or 
nurse is working in the 
hospital."
3
Rule No 6
When singular and plural subjects are joined by 'or', 'either-or', 
'neither-nor', or similar conjunctions, the verb agrees with the 
nearest subject. Example: "Neither Deepak nor his friends are 
joining the tour."
Rule No 7
Special Joining Words
If two subjects are joined together 
by phrases such as 'as well as', 
'with', 'along with', 'together with', 
'besides', 'in addition to', 'and not', 
or 'rather than', the verb will agree 
with the main subject.
Examples
Students, as well as the 
teacher, are playing.
He, as well as his brothers, are 
sitting there.
I, as well as him, are going out 
of the station for a week.
Remember
In these constructions, the main 
subject (the one before the joining 
phrase) determines whether the 
verb should be singular or plural, 
regardless of what follows the 
joining phrase.