Subject-Verb Agreement - Revision Notes
Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental grammar rule that ensures verbs match their subjects in number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third). This concept is crucial for CSE Professional examinations and effective communication. Understanding these rules will help you identify correct verb forms in both written and spoken English, making your communication clearer and more professional.
Basic Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement
Formulas
Singular Subject + Singular Verb (-s form)
Example
The student studies hard. / She walks to school.
Variables
Subject = one person/thing; Verb = base + s
Application
Use with he, she, it, or singular nouns
Plural Subject + Plural Verb (base form)
Example
The students study hard. / They walk to school.
Variables
Subject = multiple persons/things; Verb = base form
Application
Use with they, we, you, or plural nouns
Exam tips
- Cross out prepositional phrases to identify the simple subject clearly
- Remember: 'Does' goes with singular subjects, 'Do' goes with plural subjects
- For compound subjects with 'or/nor', the verb agrees with the nearer subject
Key points
- A singular subject takes a singular verb (with -s ending), while a plural subject takes a plural verb (base form)
- The simple subject, not words in between, determines the verb form
- Present tense verbs change form based on the subject, while past tense verbs (except 'was/were') remain the same
- Third person singular subjects (he, she, it) take verbs with -s endings
- First person (I), second person (you), and plural subjects take base form verbs
Definitions
Simple Subject
The main noun or pronoun that performs the action in a sentence, excluding modifiers
Importance
Only the simple subject determines verb agreement, not intervening phrases or clauses
Compound Subject
Two or more subjects joined by conjunctions like 'and', 'or', or 'nor'
Importance
Rules vary depending on the conjunction used to join the subjects
Common mistakes
- Letting intervening phrases affect verb choice: 'The box of pencils belong' (wrong) vs 'The box of pencils belongs' (correct)
- Confusing compound subjects joined by 'and' with those joined by 'or': subjects with 'and' are usually plural
- Forgetting that collective nouns can be singular or plural depending on context
Tricky Subject Constructions
Exam tips
- For 'there is/are' sentences, look at what comes after the verb to determine singular/plural
- Convert questions to statements to easily identify subjects
- In inverted sentences, mentally rearrange to normal word order
Key points
- Expletive constructions (there is/are, here is/are) - the subject comes after the verb
- Interrogative sentences - find the subject by converting to statement form
- Inverted sentences - rearrange to find the true subject-verb relationship
- Passive voice - the subject receives the action rather than performing it
- Imperative sentences have an understood subject 'you'
Definitions
Expletive Construction
Sentences beginning with 'there' or 'here' where the real subject follows the verb
Importance
Common in CSE exams; remember that 'there/here' are not the subjects
Inverted Word Order
Sentences where the subject comes after the verb, often for emphasis or style
Importance
Requires careful identification of the true subject to ensure proper agreement
Common mistakes
- Thinking 'there' or 'here' is the subject: 'There are five books' not 'There is five books'
- In questions, forgetting to identify the actual subject: 'Do you understand?' (subject: you)
- In passive voice, confusing the doer with the receiver of action
Special Subject Types
Formulas
The number of + plural noun = singular verb
Example
The number of students is increasing.
Variables
Fixed expression taking singular verb
Application
When referring to a specific quantity
A number of + plural noun = plural verb
Example
A number of students are absent today.
Variables
Expression meaning 'several' or 'many'
Application
When meaning 'several' or 'some'
Exam tips
- Memorize always-singular pronouns: each, every, either, neither, one, someone, anyone, everyone, nobody
- Memorize always-plural pronouns: both, few, many, several
- For collective nouns, decide if the group acts as one unit (singular) or as individuals (plural)
Key points
- Indefinite pronouns: some are always singular, some always plural, some depend on context
- Collective nouns can be singular (acting as one unit) or plural (individual actions)
- Expressions of quantity, time, money, and measurement are usually singular
- Titles of books, movies, and works are singular regardless of plural-sounding words
- Some nouns ending in -s are singular (news, mathematics, physics)
Definitions
Collective Noun
A noun representing a group (team, family, class, jury, committee)
Importance
Can take singular or plural verbs depending on whether the group acts as one unit or as individuals
Indefinite Pronoun
Pronouns that refer to unspecified persons or things (everyone, somebody, few, many)
Importance
Each has specific agreement rules that must be memorized for exams
Common mistakes
- Treating 'everyone' as plural: 'Everyone are happy' (wrong) vs 'Everyone is happy' (correct)
- Using singular verbs with 'few', 'many', 'several': these are always plural
- Confusing 'the number of' (singular) with 'a number of' (plural)
Compound Subjects and Conjunctions
Formulas
Subject A and Subject B = plural verb
Example
John and Mary are coming to dinner.
Variables
Two subjects joined by 'and'
Application
Most compound subjects with 'and'
Subject A or Subject B = verb agrees with nearer subject
Example
Either the teacher or the students are responsible.
Variables
Proximity rule applies
Application
Compound subjects with or/nor
Exam tips
- Cross out intervening phrases to see the true subject clearly
- For or/nor constructions, cover the first subject and see what verb fits the second
- Watch for compound subjects that represent one concept (peanut butter and jelly, law and order)
Key points
- Subjects joined by 'and' are usually plural and take plural verbs
- Subjects joined by 'or', 'nor', 'either...or', 'neither...nor' follow the proximity rule
- Intervening expressions (with, along with, as well as, together with) do not create compound subjects
- When one subject is positive and one negative, the verb agrees with the positive subject
- Some compound subjects represent single units and take singular verbs
Definitions
Proximity Rule
When subjects are joined by or/nor, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it
Importance
Essential for handling either...or and neither...nor constructions in exams
Intervening Expression
Phrases that come between subjects and verbs but don't affect agreement
Importance
These phrases are distractors in exams; ignore them when determining verb form
Common mistakes
- Treating intervening phrases as additional subjects: 'The teacher, along with students, are...' (wrong)
- Forgetting the proximity rule: 'Either John or his friends is...' should be 'Either John or his friends are...'
- Not recognizing single-unit compounds: 'Bacon and eggs are' vs 'Bacon and eggs is' (as one meal)
Connections
- Subject-verb agreement connects to verb tenses - ensuring consistency across time frames
- Links to pronoun agreement - maintaining consistency between subjects, verbs, and pronouns
- Relates to sentence structure analysis - identifying subjects and predicates correctly
- Connects to formal writing skills - professional communication requires proper agreement
- Essential for other grammar topics like passive voice and complex sentence construction
Quick review questions
Which is correct: 'The team is playing well' or 'The team are playing well'?
Answer
Both can be correct depending on context
If the team acts as one unit, use 'is'. If emphasizing individual players' actions, use 'are'. Context determines the choice.
Complete: 'Neither the students nor the teacher ___ ready for the exam.'
Answer
is
With neither...nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject. 'Teacher' is singular and nearer to the verb, so use 'is'.
Which is correct: 'There is many problems' or 'There are many problems'?
Answer
There are many problems
In expletive constructions, the verb agrees with what follows. 'Problems' is plural, so use 'are'.
Complete: 'Everyone in the class ___ submitted their assignment.'
Answer
has
'Everyone' is always singular, so use 'has'. Note: The pronoun 'their' is acceptable in modern usage for gender-neutral reference.
Which is correct: 'A number of books is missing' or 'A number of books are missing'?
Answer
A number of books are missing
'A number of' means 'several' and takes a plural verb. Compare with 'The number of books is increasing' (singular).
Diagrams
Subject-Verb Agreement Overview
Comprehensive overview of all major subject-verb agreement rules and concepts, showing how different types of subjects and constructions relate to each other.
Subject-Verb Agreement Decision Process
Step-by-step decision tree for determining correct verb agreement in any sentence, covering simple subjects, compound subjects, and special cases.
Common CSE Exam Patterns
Common question patterns found in CSE Professional exams and the systematic approach to solve them quickly and accurately.
Exam strategy
For CSE Professional exams, master the core rules first: singular subjects with singular verbs, plural subjects with plural verbs. Practice identifying simple subjects by crossing out intervening phrases. Memorize the always-singular pronouns (everyone, somebody, each, either, neither) and always-plural pronouns (both, few, many, several). Pay special attention to tricky constructions like 'there is/are', compound subjects with or/nor, and collective nouns. When in doubt, convert questions to statements and rearrange inverted sentences to find the true subject-verb relationship. Focus on common CSE question patterns involving indefinite pronouns, the number/a number expressions, and compound subjects.