Subject Verb Agreement Rules for Sentences

Hello kids, we have Subject Verb Agreement Rules in which good learning about nouns has been given. Nouns are an important step in developing language skills because they are used in all forms of communication, whether written or spoken. Reading this will help you a lot.

We have written this English Grammar for you which will help you a lot in your studies. Subject Verb Agreement Rules for kids have tried to understand each and every point which will make it easy for you to read.

Subject Verb Agreement Rules

Subject-verb agreement: means that the subject of the sentence matches the verb describing its action. This helps your reader understand who or what is doing something and makes your writing easier to read.

First, identify the subject (the person or thing doing the action) and the verb (the action word) in a sentence. If the subject is singular, the verb describing its action should be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb should be plural.

Verb	Singular subject + verb	Plural subject + verb
Be	The result is significant.	The results are significant.
Do	The student does her best.	The students do their best.
Become	The child becomes happier.	The children become happier.
Cause	That tree causes hay fever.	Those trees cause hay fever.
Analyze	The author analyzes the text.	The authors analyze the text.

Definition: (Rules of subject-verb agreement) In a sentence, the verb must agree with the subject. In other words, we can say that the verb used depends on the person and number. This is called subject-verb agreement. For example:

1. He comes. (If the subject is singular the verb must also be singular.)
2. They come. (If the subject is plural the verb must also be plural.)

(Check more examples, Subject-verb agreement examples).

We need to be familiar with singular and plural verbs.

Singular Verb	Plural Verb
is	are
has	have
was	were
V1 + s/es (plays, goes etc.)	V1 (play, go etc.)

Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement with examples

To go Subject-Verb agreement Rules first you have to know the basic difference between verb and noun.

Noun + s/es = Plural noun (Noun become plural when es/s is added)

Verb + s/es = Singular Noun (Verb becomes singular with s/es is added)

Rule 1

If two subjects are joined by ‘and‘, the plural verb will be used.

Example: Ram and Shyam are coming.

Rule 2

If two or more nouns are joined by the adjective ‘and’ but only the person or thing or idea is discussed then the singular verb will be used.

Examples:

• My friend, philosopher and guide have come. (change ‘have‘ to ‘has‘)
• Slow and steady win the race. (change ‘win‘ into ‘wins‘)
• Fish and chips is my favourite dish. (no error)

If two uncountable nouns are joined by ‘and’ and if two different subjects are discussed, the plural verb will be used.

Example: Poverty and misery come together.

Rule 3

If the subject is joined by ‘with’, ‘with’, ‘with’, ‘together’, ‘and not’, ‘besides’, ‘but’, ‘besides’, ‘except’, ‘rather’ From’, ‘with’, ‘like’, ‘equally’, ‘no less than’, ‘nothing but’, the verb will agree with the first subject.

Examples:

• Ram, as well as his parents, is coming.
• The captain along with the sailors was drowned.
• My father, unlike my uncles, is very strict.

Rule 4

If an article is placed immediately before the first subject, it means that the person/idea is the same for which the two nouns are used. Hence singular verb will be used.

Examples:

• A white and black gown was bought by her.
• Churchil was a great orator and a great politician of his time. (wrong)
• Churchil was a great orator and politician of his time. (right)

But if an article is used before every subject, it refers to different people/things.

Hence plural verb will be used.

Example: The director and the producer have come.

Rule 5

If two subjects are joined by ‘neither…nor’, ‘either…or’, ‘not only’, …’but’, ‘neither’, ‘or’, ‘none-but’ goes, the verb will agree with the nearest subject.

Examples:

• Neither Ram nor Shyam has come.
• Either Ram or his friends have come.
• Has Ram or Shyam come?

Rule 6

‘Neither of‘ means ‘not either of the two things or people‘.

Neither of the judges of the division bench knew about the facts of the case. (Correct)

• ‘None of‘ means ‘not one of the groups of things or people‘.

1. Neither of his four sons looked after him. (incorrect)
2. None of his four sons looked after him.

• ‘Either of‘ means ‘one of the two things or people‘.

Examples:

1. Either of the five members is at fault. (incorrect)
2. One of the five members is at fault. (correct)
3. Either of the twins will be made the trustee. (correct)

Note: ‘Not’ is not used with ‘both‘. For this purpose ‘neither of‘ is used.

1. Both of them did not take the exam.
2. Neither of them took the exam.

Rule 7

Certain nouns are plural in form but singular in meaning. Hence they take singular verb.

Names	list
Names of diseases	Measles, Mumps, Rickets, Shingles etc.
Names of games	Billiards, Darts, Draughts etc.
Names of Countries	The United States, The West Indies etc.
Names of books	The Arabian Nights, Three Musketeers etc.
Names of subjects	Physics, Economics, Civics, Statistics, Politics, Linguistics.

1. Mathematics is an interesting subject
2. Politics is not my cup of tea.

Note: If ‘Statics‘ means ‘data‘, Mathematics‘ means ‘Calculation‘ and ‘Politics‘ means ‘Political thought‘, plural verb is used.

Example: Statics have revealed multiple scams in the organisation of the Commonwealth Games.

Rule 8

Usually we match the verb to the nearest subject but this is wrong. Match the verb with the main subject of the sentence.

Examples:

1. The quality of apples is good.
2. He and not his parents is guilty.
3. The appeal of the victims for the transfer of the cases related to riots to some other states has been accepted.

Rule 9

Collective noun always takes a singular verb.

Examples:

• The herd of cows is grazing in the field.
• The committee has unanimously taken its decision.

If there is division between the members of a collective noun or if we talk about the members of a collective noun, then plural verbs and plural pronouns are used.

• The jury are divided in their opinion.
• The audience have taken their seats.

Rule 10

The plural number will always take a plural verb.

Hundred boys are in my class.

Note: If the plural noun is followed by a cardinal adjective (one, two, three, four etc.) and if the plural noun denotes a definite amount, weight, height or duration, the singular verb will be used.

In other words, we can say that the plural numbers used as a singular unit will take a singular verb.

Examples:

• Hundred rupees is in my pocket.
• Ten miles is a long distance to cover on foot.

Rule 11

Scenery, poetry, furniture, advice, information, hair, business, mischief, bread, stationery, crockery, furnishings, goods, dak, knowledge, extravagance, ornament, wear and tear, equipment, evidence, work (work means literary piece) , news, cent, dirt, dust, traffic, electricity, music, confectionary, pottery, bakery, treats, the words (when used in the sense of discussion) fuel and cost are uncountable nouns and will therefore take singular verbs. These nouns will not take articles. ‘a/n’, ‘many’, ‘some’, ‘number’ and ‘plural form’.

Examples:

1. The scenery of Kashmir has enchanted us.
2. I passed the exam but the percentage of marks was not good.
3. The mischief committed by him is unpardonable.
4. His hair is black.
5. I have some equipment that I needed for the project.

Such nouns do not have any plural form but sometimes we need singular/plural form of some of these nouns. Singular/plural forms are formed by adding the first few words of uncountable nouns.

Examples:

1. He gave me a piece of information.
2. All pieces of information given by her were reliable.
3. Many kinds of furniture are available in that shop.
4. I want a few articles of jewellery.
5. He ate two slices of bread.
6. Please show me some items of office stationery.
7. The police have found a strand of hair in the car.

Note: Monies is the plural for of money which means amounts of money.

Monies have been collected and handed to the women’s welfare society.

Rule 12

Some nouns only exist in the plural form. Therefore, by removing ‘s’ from such nouns, they cannot be made singular. They carry plural verbs with them.

Scissors, tongs, pliers, bellows, trousers, pants, pajamas, shorts, Spectacles, goggles, binoculars, sunglasses, gallows, fangs, alms, amends, archives, arrears, auspices, congratulations, embers, fireworks, lodgings, outskirts, particulars, proceeds, regards, riches, remains, savings, shambles, surroundings, tidings, troops, tactics, thanks, valuables, wages, belongings, braces, etc.

Examples:

1. Where are my pants?
2. Where are the tongs?
3. The proceeds were deposited in the bank.
4. All his assets were seized.
5. Alms were give to the beggars.
6. The embers of the fire were still burnings.

Note: Wages can be used in both singular & plural form. See the following sentences

• subject verb agreement
• Subject-verb Agreement Rules

Rule 13

When the subject refers to a period of time, distance or a sum of money, use a singular verb.

Example:

• 1267 kilometres is too long for us to travel in half a day.
• 10 years is not considered optimum to go on the water slide.
• Don’t you think 1000 rupees is a little too much for a portrait?

Rule 14

The next rule is based on the use of collective nouns as subjects. Remember that when you have a collective noun as the subject of a sentence, the verb can be singular or plural depending on the sentence and context.

Example:

• My family is settled in Australia.
• All groups of participants have arrived.

Rule 15

In sentences that contain an adjective such as ‘all’, ‘many’, ‘many’ or ‘some’, they are used to form a phrase with a noun that acts as the subject of the sentence, a verb Is used according to the noun immediately before it.

Example:

• All of my dresses have become tight.
• A lot of food is left out.
• Some of the books are torn and damaged.

Subject Verb Agreement Anchor Chart

1. If the SUBJECT is singular, add ‘s’ to the verb.Eg., The horse walks down the street.	2. If the SUBJECT is plural, don’t add ‘s’ to the verb.Eg., The horses walk down the street.
3. If the SUBJECT is I or You, do not add ‘s’ to the verb.Eg., I ride the bicycle.You ride the bicycle.	4. Linking Verbs:Singular Subject- was, has, is, does, amPlural Subject- were, have, are, do

Subject Verb Agreement rules Examples with Answers

Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject:

1. The amenities of the farmhouse ___________ quite impressive. (is/are)
2. Man and woman ___________ complementary to each other. (is/are)
3. The leader as well as his supporters ___________ to the same tribe. (belong/belongs)
4. The students accompanied by their professor ___________ gone on a trip. (has/have)
5. A large sum of money ___________ stolen. (was/were)
6. A lot of buildings ___________ collapsed in the storm. (has/have)
7. The government ___________ criticised by the High Court for their actions. (was/were)
8. Many a people ___________ tried hard to climb the treacherous mountain range. (have/has)
9. All the tourists ___________ excited to visit the museum. (is/are)
10. Somebody ___________ waiting at the restaurant for you. (is/are)
11. The carpenter, along with his helper ___________ , expected to come soon. (is/are)
12. Neither Danny nor Emily ___________ went to work. (has/have)

Answers:

1. The amenities of the farmhouse are quite impressive.
2. Man and woman are complementary to each other.
3. The leader as well as his supporters belongs to the same tribe.
4. The students accompanied by their professor have gone on a trip.
5. A large sum of money was stolen.
6. A lot of buildings have collapsed in the storm.
7. The government was criticised by the High Court for their actions.
8. Many a people has tried hard to climb the treacherous mountain range.
9. All the tourists were excited to visit the museum.
10. Somebody is waiting at the restaurant for you.
11. The carpenter, along with his helper is, expected to come soon.
12. Neither Danny nor Emily has gone to work.

Fill in the blanks with suitable form of verb.

1. We __________ here yesterday. (arrive)
2. My brother __________ back from college. (be)
3. Dogs sometimes __________ their tails when angry. (wag)
4. I __________ not think it is a good idea. (does/do)
5. There ___________ a pen in his pocket. (be)
6. The committee is investigating the case and __________ three retired judges. (comprise)
7. How often __________ you __________ gymnasium? (go)
8. Riches __________ wings. (has/have)
9. A large number of cattle __________ grazing (was/were)
10. The goods in godown __________ expensive. (is/are)

Answers:

1. arrived
2. is
3. wag
4. do
5. is
6. comprise
7. do, go
8. has
9. were
10. are

In each of the lines below, one verb does not agree with the subject. Underline the wrong verb and write it correctly.

• Gauri and Tamanna is visiting the Jaisalmer Fort. 1. ………………………………
• The Jaisalmer Fort are one of the largest forts 2. ………………………………
• in the world. The fort stand in the middle of the 3. ………………………………
• Thar Desert. Several tales of valour is attached 4. ………………………………
• to this fort. Many warriors has tried to capture 5. ………………………………
• this fort. A few has succeeded. 6. ………………………………

Answer:

1. are
2. is
3. stands
4. are
5. have
6. have

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

1. Annie and her brothers (is, are) at school.
2. Either my mother or my father (is, are) coming to the meeting.
3. The dog or the cats (is, are) outside.
4. Either my shoes or your coat (is, are) always on the floor.
5. George and Tamara (doesn’t, don’t) want to see that movie.
6. Benito (doesn’t, don’t) know the answer.
7. One of my sisters (is, are) going on a trip to France.
8. The man with all the birds (live, lives) on my street.
9. The movie, including all the previews, (take, takes) about two hours to watch.
10. The players, as well as the captain, (want, wants) to win.

Answer :

1. Annie and her brothers are at school.
2. Either my mother or my father is coming to the meeting.
3. The dog or the cats are outside.
4. Either my shoes or your coat is always on the floor.
5. George and Tamara don’t want to see that movie.
6. Benito doesn’t know the answer.
7. One of my sisters is going on a trip to France.
8. The man with all the birds lives on my street.
9. The movie, including all the previews, takes about two hours to watch.
10. The players, as well as the captain, want to win.

Subject Verb Agreement Rules pdf Download

Subject Verb Agreement Rules Here you will get the PDF of the complete worksheet, go to this link.

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Also Read:-

• Adverb in Simple Words
• Verbs in English Grammar for Class 5

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FAQ Subject Verb Agreement Rules