SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
Like the pronoun, the verb also has three persons: First person, Second person. Third person.
In any sentence. the person of the verb must agree with the person of the subject.
First person: I am I drink.
Second person: You are You drink.
Third person: He is drink. He drinks.
Like the noun and the pronoun the verb also has two numbers, Singular and Plural. And the verb must agree with the subject in number also.
Singular: 1. He drinks.
Plural: 2. They drink.
therefore the verb is also singular. In the second sentence the In the first sentence the subject is(third person) singuli subject is (third person) plural, therefore the verb is also plural In other words, the form of the finite verb and of the auxiliary verbs be, do,have depends on the person and the number of the subject.
Present Tense
First person Singular Plural
I drink we drink
have have
do do
Second person you drink you drink
have have
do do
Third person he drinks they drink
she has have
it does do
Be is an exceptional verb. It has different forms for the first, second and third persons singular.
I am
He is
You are
Also agrees with the subject number in the past tense.
I was
He was
They were
(a) Two or more singular nouns or pronouns joined by "and"take plural verb
George and Alice study in this school.
He and I have finished our work.
His father and mother were against his marriage.
(b) If two nouns together express a single idea, the verb may be in the singular form.
1. Bread and butter is her main food.
2. Slow and steady wins the race.
3.Time and tide waits for none.
4.Board and lodging is free.
(c) when two or more nouns refer to the same person orthing the verb is always singular
1. The great saint and poet is here.
(c) when two or more nouns refer to the same person orthing the verb is always singular
1. The great saint and poet is here.
2. An important politician and administrator has died.
3. A famous singer and actor is directing this film.
4. His stenographer and secretary is on leave.
Remember that the nouns must refer to the same person or thing.
Remember that the nouns must refer to the same person or thing.
When they refer to two different persons or things the sentence takes a plural verb.
An important politician and an administrator are dead.
(the politician and the administrator are two different persons)
(the politician and the administrator are two different persons)
(d) If the nouns/ pronouns are joined by "either or ,nor," the verb must agree with the subject nearest to it.
1. Neither she nor her brother is at home.
2. Either George or Alice has broken the glass.
3. Netiher he nor his parents are in town.
4. Either John or his friends are responsible for this mistake.
Notes
1. If one of the subjects joined by either/or etc. is singular and the other plural, the plural subjects should be placed the verb so that the verb becomes plural. See sentences 3 and 4. nearer
We cannot say,
* Neither his parents nor he is in town.
2. If the two subjects joined by or/nor etc. are of different with persons the verb agrees person of the subject nearest to it.
Neither he nor I am responsible.
Either she or you are wrong.
But it is better to say:
Neither he is responsible nor I (am).
Either she is wrong or you (are).
(e) Nouns preceded by each, every, one, either, neither, many, take a singular verb
(e) Nouns preceded by each, every, one, either, neither, many a
take a singular verb
We cannot say,
* Neither his parents nor he is in town.
2. If the two subjects joined by or/nor etc. are of different with persons the verb agrees person of the subject nearest to it.
Neither he nor I am responsible.
Either she or you are wrong.
But it is better to say:
Neither he is responsible nor I (am).
Either she is wrong or you (are).
(e) Nouns preceded by each, every, one, either, neither, many, take a singular verb
(e) Nouns preceded by each, every, one, either, neither, many a
take a singular verb
1. Each of you is getting a prize.
2. Everyone of them was absent.
3. One of my class fellows lives near my house.
4. One of us has to go.
5. Either of these two players is to be the captain.
6. Either of these books is interesting.
7. Many a soldier was killed in the battle.
(f) Nouns preceded by 'each', 'every', 'though', joined by 'and' take a singular verb.
1. Each man and each woman has to work for this country.
W. Every boy and girl was given a prize.
(f) Nouns preceded by 'each', 'every', 'though', joined by 'and' take a singular verb.
1. Each man and each woman has to work for this country.
W. Every boy and girl was given a prize.
(g) Words connected to a singular subject 'by with', 'together with', 'along with', 'in addition to', do not affect the number of the verb and, therefore, take a singular verb.
1. The mother along with her children is waiting outside.
2. The President with his party has landed.
3. This rule together with the four sub-rules is important.
(h) When two subjects are joined by 'as well as' the verb agrees with the first subject.
1. The robbers as well as their leader were arrested.
But this sentence is better written as,
The leader was arrested and so were the robbers.
(i) When a plural noun denoting distance,weight, heightor amount of money is spoken of as a single unit, it takes a singular verb.
1.Fifty dollars is a lot of money.
2. Forty miles is a long distance to cover on foot.
3. Three thousand metres is a big height to climb.
4. A hundred kilograms was a heavy weight to carry.
(j) Titles of literary works etc even if plural, take a singular verb
1. The Arabian Nights contains interesting stories.
2. Tales from Shaskespeare was written by Charles and Mary Lamb.
(k) When the sentence begins with There or Here the verb agrees with the real subject that comes after it.
1.There is a boy outside.
2. There are fifty students here.
3.There were many candidates in the hall.
4.Here is your room.
5. Here are the books for your son.
(l) Phrases like a lot of, a great deal of, some of, plenty of, are singular when they refer to quantity or amount and are plural when they refer to number.
1. A lot of money is needed.
2. A lot of books have been purchased.
3. There is a great deal of noise.
4. There are plenty of books on the subject.
5. Most of the money has been spent.
6. Most of the students have come.
(m) When a pair of is used for things ( shoes, socks, trousers, scissors etc) that are thought as one unit, the subject takes a singular verb.
1. A pair of new scissors has been found.
2. This pair of trousers has cost me a lot.
(n) When the subject begins with the phrase ' a number of ', it takes a plural verb,. But when it begins with "the number of" it takes a singular verb.
1. A number of candidates were interviewed.
(n) When the subject begins with the phrase ' a number of ', it takes a plural verb,. But when it begins with "the number of" it takes a singular verb.
1. A number of candidates were interviewed.
2. The number of candidates was small..
3. The number of people in the meeting was not very large.
3. The number of people in the meeting was not very large.
4. A large number of questions were asked.
MORE ABOUT SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
Agreement of the Verb with the Subject
Some Useful Hints
1. A Verb must agree with its Subject in Number and Person, i.e. when the Subject is singular, the verb must be singular; when the subject is plural, the verb must be plural, as,
He plays cricket.
They play cricket.
I am sad.
We are sad.
A boy is running.
Boys are running.
The verb must agree with the Subject properly; as,
A list of girls was prepared.
joined by 'and', it takes a Plural verb; as,
The attitude of the officers is really friendly.
One of my friends has gone to U.S.A.
2. If the Subject consists of two or more Singular Nouns or Pronouns
John and Jolly were two brothers.
The poet and the dramatist are being honoured. (two separate persons)
Lagos, Nairobi, Dakar, Cairo, Kigali and Rabat are the most
important cities of Africa.
Exceptions:
He and I were present.
(a) If the nouns refer to the same person or thing or express one idea, the verb is singular; as,
The poet and dramatist is being honoured, (one person only).
My friend, philosopher and guide was invited to preside over the function. (same person one only).
Rice and Curry is his favourite dish.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Bread and butter is a wholesome food.
(b) If two singular subjects joined by 'and' are qualified by each or every, they take a singular verb; as,
Everyman and every woman desires happiness.
Each hour and each minute is important.
3. Singular Subjects connected by or, either-or, neither-nor, are followed by a singular verb; as,
Neither Hari nor Ramesh has gone to school today.
No prize or trophy was given to him.
Either Ramesh or Ashoka has won the prize.
4. When the subjects connected by 'or' or 'nor' are of different numbers, the plural subject should be written last and it is followed by a plural verb.; as,
Either Ashok or his parents are to blame.
Neither he nor his friends have joined the college.
Neither the 'headmaster nor the teachers were present there.
5. When the subjects connected by 'nor' or 'or are of different persons, the verb agrees in person with the subject nearest to it; as,
Neither you nor Lucy is responsible for our defeat.
Neither you nor John seems to be interested in this plan. Neither he nor I have any money to buy a car.
6. When the subject consists of two nouns or pronouns joined by 'with' or 'as well as' the verb agrees with the first of them.
All the students, with their teacher, were present at the show.
He, with all his friends, was ready to do or die.
I, as well as they, am sick of his behaviour.
Good leaders, as well as a responsible public, are essential for the success of democracy.
7. When two subjects are connected by 'not only........but also; the verb agrees with the latter subject; as,
Not only the master but his servants also have been badly wounded.
Not only the soldiers but their captain also has been arrested.
8. When the subject is the formal 'there', the verb agrees with the real subject that follows it; as,
There is no hope of his success.
There were many difficulties to be removed.
9. Either, neither, each, everyone, one of the, take a singular verb; as,
Neither of the two books was interesting.
Everyone of these workers is an expert.
Either of these two boys is fit for this work.
One of these students is handicapped.
Each of these two girls is intelligent.
10. Nouns which are plural in form but singular in meaning should be followed by singular verbs; as,
Mathematics is my favourite subject.
Politics is a dirty game.
The wages of sin is death.
The news is too good to be true.
'Gulliver's Travels' is an interesting book.
11. Collective Noun (Crew, jury, committee) is followed by a singular verb when the group is thought of as a singular unit. But when individual members of the group are referred to, the plural verb is used; as,
A committee was appointed to suggest some reforms.
The committee were divided on the issue.
The jury was unanimous in its verdict.
The jury were divided in their opinions.
12. When the subject of a verb is a relative pronoun, the verb agrees in number and person with the antecedent of the relative pronoun; as,
The boy, who always stands first, is my son.
The time, which is lost, is lost for ever.
I, who am your friend, will certainly help you.
This is one of the most interesting books that have (not has) ever appeared.
13. When the subject is a sum of money considered as a whole, the singular verb is used, if the subject is a sum of money and it refers to the bills or coins considered separately, the plural verb is used; as,
A hundred rupees is not a small amount.
A hundred rupees were found in his purse.
Five hundred pounds is a good price for this tape-recorder.
There were fifty rupees in his pocket.
There are ten silver rupees in my box.
Tags:
Grammar