Tips to solve Subject-Verb Agreement along with Practice Questions | English for CLAT PDF Download

What is Subject Verb Agreement? 

A Subject is said to be in Agreement with the Verb when the plurality of both is on the same terms. This means that a Singular Subject takes a Singular Verb and a Plural Subject takes a Plural Verb.

Note:

• A singular verb is the verb which has an ‘s’ or an ‘es’ with it.
• A plural verb is without an ‘s’ or an ‘es’.

How To Solve Subject-Verb Agreement Quickly? 

A sentence is made up of two parts:
Subject and Verb.

• SUBJECT that tells us what the sentence is about. It can be either a noun (book, cars, Mary, etc)or a pronoun(they, she, etc). It can be either singular or plural.
• VERB represents the action of a sentence (is, went, will place, have taken, etc)

Basic Rule of Subject Verb Agreement

A subject must agree with its verb in number.

This has two implications:

• A singular subject takes a singular verb.
• Plural subjects take plural verbs.

How to make the subject and verb agree?

1. Identify the subject of the sentence.
2. Decide if the subject is singular or plural.
3. Lastly, decide which verb form will match the subject.

Below are some tricks and tips that can help you to solve Subject Verb Agreements efficiently.

Tricks

Trick 1

Collective nouns may take either a singular or a plural verb, depending on their use in the sentence.

• Singular verb with a collective noun as a single unit:
  • When the collective noun is considered as a whole entity, it takes a singular verb.
  • Example: The team is preparing for the match.
  • In this sentence, "team" is a collective noun, but it is acting as a single unit. Therefore, it takes the singular verb "is."
• Plural verb with a collective noun emphasizing individual members:
  • When the collective noun emphasizes the individual members within the group, it takes a plural verb.
  • Example: The jury are deliberating on their verdict.
  • Here, "jury" is the collective noun, but it emphasizes the individual members who are deliberating. Thus, it takes the plural verb "are."

Trick 2

Some words, such as news, measles, physics, etc. are extremely deceptive. They end in -s and appear to be plural but are really singular and require singular verbs.

• The reason behind this is that these words represent concepts, diseases, or academic subjects that are considered as single entities. Here's how the trick works:
  • The news is interesting:  In this sentence, "news" appears to be plural, but it is considered a singular noun. Therefore, it takes the singular verb "is."
  • Measles is a contagious disease: Even though "measles" looks like a plural form, it is treated as a singular noun. Hence, it takes the singular verb "is."
• It is crucial to remember that these words, ending in -s but functioning as singular nouns, require singular verbs. The trick lies in recognizing that they represent singular concepts, diseases, or subjects, rather than plural entities.

Trick 3

After many/a great many/a good many, etc., the noun is always plural, which is followed by a plural verb.

• Many students are attending the lecture: In this sentence, "many" is used to indicate a large number of students. It is followed by the plural noun "students" and requires a plural verb "are."
• A great many books have been borrowed from the library: Here, "a great many" emphasizes a large number of books. It is followed by the plural noun "books" and requires a plural verb "have been."

Trick 4

Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc., when considered as a unit.

• Five miles is a long distance to walk: In this sentence, "five miles" is being treated as a singular unit of distance. It requires a singular verb "is" because we are considering it as a whole.

• Ten years is a significant period of time: Here, "ten years" is considered as a single unit representing a period of time. It takes a singular verb "is" because we are treating it as a whole.

Trick 5

In sentences beginning with here or there, the true subject follows the verb.

• Here is your coffee: In this sentence, "here" is the introductory word, but it is not the subject. The true subject, "your coffee," follows the verb "is." The verb agrees with the singular subject "coffee," so "is" is the correct verb form.

• There are many books on the shelf: n this sentence, "there" is the introductory word, but it is not the subject. The true subject, "many books," follows the verb "are." The verb agrees with the plural subject "books," so "are" is the correct verb form.

Trick 6

Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by such words as along with, as well as, besides, not, etc. These words and phrases are not part of the subject. Ignore them and use a singular verb when the subject is singular.

• The book, along with some pencils, is on the table: In this sentence, the phrase "along with some pencils" is not part of the subject. The true subject is "the book," which is singular. Therefore, the verb "is" agrees with the singular subject.
• John, as well as his friends, enjoys playing soccer: In this sentence, the phrase "as well as his friends" does not affect the subject-verb agreement. The true subject is "John," which is singular. Hence, the verb "enjoys" agrees with the singular subject.

Trick 7

As a general rule, use a plural verb with two or more subjects when they are connected by and.

• Correct: John and Mary are going to the party.
  • Explanation: In this sentence, "John" and "Mary" are two subjects connected by "and." Since they are acting together as a group, the plural verb "are" is used.
• Correct: The book, the pen, and the notebook are on the table.
  • Explanation: In this sentence, "the book," "the pen," and "the notebook" are three subjects connected by "and." Since they are all present on the table, the plural verb "are" is used.

Trick 8

The verb in an or, either/or, or neither/nor sentence agrees with the noun or pronoun closest to it.

• Either John or his friends _____ (is/are) responsible for the mess.
  • In this sentence, the verb should agree with the noun "friends," which is closer to the verb. Since "friends" is plural, the correct verb is "are." The sentence becomes: Either John or his friends are responsible for the mess.
• Neither the students nor the teacher _____ (has/have) arrived yet.
  • Here, the verb should agree with the noun "teacher," which is closer to the verb. Since "teacher" is singular, the correct verb is "has." The sentence becomes: Neither the students nor the teacher has arrived yet.

Some Sample Questions

Q.1. The cost of grocery these days ___ rose.
(a) Has
(b) Have
(c) Is
(d) Are

Correct Answer is option (a)
The subject is singular that is a cost which is why “has” is the right answer.

Q.2. He and his sister were carried by his father on his shoulders.
(a) His father carried his sister and him on his shoulders.
(b) On his father’s shoulders, he and his sister were carried.
(c) His father carried him and his sister on his shoulders.
(d) No change

Correct Answer is option (a)
The sentence is correct as the subject comes before the verb (father carried), also it uses “his sister and him” which is grammatically the right form.

Q.3. Choose the right sentence:
(a) Each one of the pants have a pocket.
(b) Each one of the pants has a pocket

Correct Answer is option (b)
‘Each one’ is an appositive that always takes singular form with it. Therefore, has is the correct choice.

Q.4. Identify the error in the sentence:
This artist, along with some other, plays the guitar on stage.
(a) This artist
(b) Along with
(c) Other
(d) Plays

Correct Answer is option (c)
The subject does not agree with the verb here as the sentence use ‘along with’ where “others” should be used instead of “other.”

Q.5.The woman and her husband ____ to the same tribe.

(a)Belong

(b)Belongs

(c)Belonging

(d)are belong

Correct Answer: A

Since the two subjects are joined by ‘and’ the verb will be plural – Belong.

Q.6.Detect error in the below sentence:

Everyone _____ to stand up when the Principal comes.

(a)Needs

(b)Need

(c)Needing

(d)None of the above

Correct Answer: A

According to the rules, if a sentence has a word like ‘everyone;, ;each; etc, it will be considered singular. Hence, needs.

Q.7.Replace the underlined word by choosing the correct option:

A large amount of money were deducted from the account.

(a)has

(b)have

(c)was

(d)none

Correct Answer: C

The noun here is uncountable, as we are not sure how much money is deducted. Therefore, “was” should be used instead of “were.”

Q.8.Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject

His pants ____ torn during the match.

(a)was

(b)is

(c)were

(d)are

Correct Answer: were

Some nouns are always considered as a plural noun like ‘pants’ in this sentence and the main verb here is in past form, so the auxiliary verb should be in plural and past form.

Q.9.Tweezers ____ always useful to handle small objects.

(a)may

(b)is

(c)will

(d)are

Correct Answer: are

Some nouns are always considered as a plural noun like ‘tweezers’ in this sentence.

Q.10.A number of soldiers ____ injured during the war.

(a)is

(b)were

(c)was

(d)might

Correct Answer: were

The subject ‘soldier’ is accompanied by ‘A number of’ which makes it plural.