SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT (EXPLAINED IN HINDI & ENGLISH)

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What is subject-verb agreement?

Subject-verb agreement is the grammatical rule that the verb or verbs in a sentence should be used according to the number, person, and gender of the subject; in English, the verb needs to be used according to only the number and sometimes the person. English doesn’t use grammatical gender (except for pronouns), and only the verb BE (is/am/are/was/were, etc.) changes based on whether it’s in the first, second, or third person. It means if the subject is singular, the verb must be singular; if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.

It can be difficult to learn the rules for subject-verb agreement  at first, but with adequate practice, you’ll start to feel comfortable with them. Below, we have tried most to explain them in a very lucid manner for the readers. After you’ve gone through them well you shouldn’t find any difficulty in answering to the exam questions based on Subject-verb Agreement.

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT EXPLAINED IN ENGLISH

1. Subject-verb Agreement with AND
Two or more singular nouns or pronouns joined by ‘and’ require a plural verb, and pronouns/possessive adjectives are in the plural also; e.g.

INCORRECT: Rahul and Rohit does his homework daily.
CORRECT: Rahul and Rohit do their homework daily.

NOTE-I: If the nouns joined by ‘and’ suggest one idea to the mind or refer to the same person or thing, we use the verb in the singular; e.g.

a) Age and experience brings wisdom to man.
b) Bread and butter is his only food. (‘Bread and butter’ suggest one idea)
c) Truth and honesty is the best policy.
d) Slow and steady wins the race.
e) A horse and carriage was seen there.
f) The crown and glory of life is character.
g) The long and short of the story is well known.
h) All coming and going was forbidden.
i) Screaming and shouting was heard from the hall.

NOTE-II: If two uncountable nouns are joined by ‘and’, and referring to the whole class, they take plural verbs even if they are not preceded by an article or a possessive adjective; e.g.

a) Bread and butter are made from wheat and milk respectively.
b) Only paper and pencil do not make a person a writer.
c) Fear and horror were all on my face.
d) Poverty and misery come together.

NOTE-III: If two singular nouns are joined by ‘and’, and they are referring to one single person, they take a singular verb. In such a case the second noun is without an article or Possessive Adjective. But if each of them is preceded by an article or Possessive Adjective, we use the verb in the plural; e.g.

1. a) The Chief Minister and Finance Minister is going to Delhi today.
b) The Chief Minister and the Finance Minister are going to Delhi today.

2. a) My uncle and guardian wants me to join a gym.
b) My uncle and my guardian want me to join a gym.

3. a) My friend and colleague has advised me not to use the bike for travelling.
b) My friend and my colleague have advised me not to use the bike for travelling.

NOTE-IV: If two singular nouns are joined by ‘and’, and one or both of them are preceded by ‘each’ or ‘every’ or ‘no’, they take a singular verb and pronouns and possessives for the subjects are also singular. If the genders of the nouns are different we use the gender in the masculine (not ‘feminine’); e.g.

INCORRECT: Each boy and each girl has submitted their assignments.
CORRECT: Each boy and each girl has submitted his assignments.

INCORRECT: Every boy and every girl was given her bag back.
CORRECT: Every boy and every girl was given his bag back.

a) Each boy and each girl of this class is sincere enough.
b) Every boy and every girl was given an apple.
c) No boy and no girl is present.
d) Every Tom, Dick and Harry wants to become a cricketer.
e) Every bench and chair is occupied.

NOTE-V: If two infinitives (TO + V¹) or gerunds (ing form) are joined by ‘and’ they take plural verb; e.g.

a) To sing and to play are two contrary activities.
b) Remembering and forgetting are inevitable attributes of any personality.

2. Subject-verb Agreement with EACH & EVERY

A) Both ‘each’ and ‘every’ are used with singular verbs, and convey singular meaning; e.g.

a) Every chair was occupied.
b) Each one of these apples is rotten.

NOTE-I: When the subject consists of two or more singular nouns, and any of them is followed by ‘each’ we use the verb in the plural; e.g.

INCORRECT: My uncle and my father each takes the Employment News.
CORRECT: My uncle and my father each take the Employment News.

NOTE-II: When a noun or pronoun is followed by ‘each’ then also the verb is in the plural, also pronouns or possessive adjectives that come later in the sentence are in the plural; e.g.

We each enjoy parties.

INCORRECT: The workers each has his set of problems to say to the owners.
CORRECT: The workers each have their set of problems to say to the owners.

INCORRECT: The ten captains each had an achievement of his own.
CORRECT: The ten captains each had an achievement of their own.

B) If a sentence has a relative pronoun, in the relative clause we use pronouns in the plural for ‘each’. Also we use plural pronouns for ‘each’ if it is used just after a noun/pronoun; e.g.

INCORRECT: Each girl was awarded with a nice present which pleased her very much.
CORRECT: Each girl was awarded with a nice present which pleased them very much.

C) If ‘every’ is followed by two or more nouns, the verbs and pronouns are in the singular; e.g.

INCORRECT: Every cow, pig and horse have lost their life in the fire.
CORRECT: Every cow, pig and horse has lost its life in the fire.

D) ‘Each of’ takes ‘plural pronoun’ or ‘determiner + plural noun’; and the verb is singular; e.g. 

a) Each of you is intelligent.
b) Each of us was ready to take part in the play.
c) Each of the students was quite when the teacher entered. (‘The’ is determiner and ‘students’ is a plural noun)

NOTE: ’Each of’ and ‘Every one of’ are the same thing. ‘Every one of’ and ‘Everyone of’ are different as ‘everyone’ (one word) is a pronoun equivalent to everybody. ‘Every one one’ (two words) = each.

3. Subject-verb Agreement with OR/NOR

A) When we join two or more singular subjects by ‘or’ or ‘nor’, we use a singular verb, and the possessive adjectives (my, our, your, his, her, their) are also in the singular; e.g.

INCORRECT: Sonika or Rekha are going to join the club.
CORRECT: Sonika or Rekha is going to join the club.

INCORRECT: Neither Rahul nor Rohit respect their parents.
CORRECT: Neither Rahul nor Rohit respects his parents.

NOTE: However, when one of the subjects joined by ‘or’ or ‘nor’ is plural the verb must agree with the noun or pronoun nearest to the verb. In such a case the possessive adjectives (my, our, your, his, her, their) are also in the plural; e.g.

a-i) Neither the dogs nor the cat is going outside.
ii) Neither the cat nor the dogs are going outside

INCORRECT: Neither the Principal nor the teachers is present in the room.
CORRECT: Neither the Principal nor the teachers are present in the room.

INCORRECT: Neither the director nor the actors did his jobs well.
CORRECT: Neither the director nor the actors did their jobs well.

B) When the subjects joined by ‘or’ or ‘nor’ are of different persons, the verb agrees with the subject which is near the verb: e.g.

a) Either he or I am responsible.
b) Neither you nor he is responsible.
c) Neither my friend nor you are to blame.

4. When a verb is there after As, So, Neither, Nor the verb is according to the subject that appears after these words; e.g.

a) He behaves well, as does his father.
b) She always goes for a walk, as do her parents.
c) He likes singing, so do his children.

5. Subject-verb agreement with Both, A Few, Few
The following take plural verbs. Nouns/pronouns after them are plural:

Both

Both of

A few

A few of

Few

Few of

a) There are two clubs in the town. Both are described as expensive.
b) Both of my sons are very naughty.
c) Both those chairs are occupied.
d) Many were invited but a few have come.

6. If the following expressions are followed by a plural noun/pronoun, the verb is plural. If they are followed by a singular or an uncountable noun/pronoun, the verb is singular:

Most	Most of	Some	Some of	Half	Half of
Enough	Enough of	Not enough of	Plenty of	A lot of	Lots of

a) Some people dislike movies.
b) Some of the people dislike movies.
c) Half her property belongs to him. (‘Property’ is a singular noun.)
d) Half of it was destroyed in a fire. (‘IT’ is a singular pronoun.)
e) Half of the candidates have not taken the exam.
f) Half my friends have children.
g) Half of them were still married.
h) Lots of milk is available here. (‘Milk’ is uncountable noun)

7. Subject-verb Agreement with ‘Not only — but also’, ‘Either — or’, ‘Neither — nor’, ‘Not – but’

When two nouns/pronouns are joined by Not only — but Also, Either — or, Neither — nor, the verb agrees with the second noun/pronoun: e.g.

a) Not only the officer but also six soldiers were killed.
b) Not only the team mates but also the captain was blamed for the defeat.
c) Neither you nor I am interested in it.
d) Neither you nor he is intelligent.
e) Not only proteins but also vitamin C is essential for small children.

INCORRECT: Not she but her friends is guilty.
CORRECT: Not she but her friends are guilty.

8. Aren’t I

If contracted form of ‘be  ‘be + not’ is used with I in the Present Simple Tense, we use ‘aren’t I’ in interrogative sentences. You cannot say ‘amn’t I’; e.g.

Aren’t I clever?

NOTE: This form is used only in questions; therefore you can’t say I AREN’T.

INCORRECT: I aren’t clever.
CORRECT: I amn’t clever.

9. Unfulfilled desire/wish/condition

To express unfulfilled Desire/Wish/Condition in present tense we use ‘were’ form of ‘be’ if the subject of ‘be’ is used after the following:

If

As if

As though

If only

Suppose

I wish

We wish

He wishes

INCORRECT: If I was the bird I would fly.
CORRECT: If I were a bird, I would fly.

INCORRECT: Sita talks to me as if she was the P.M. of India.
CORRECT: Sita talks to me as if she were the P.M. of India.

INCORRECT: I wish that she was a queen.
CORRECT: I wish that she were a queen.

NOTE: But to express a real situation in the present we use present tense form of the verb even after If/As if/As though; e.g.

a) If you are ready, you can go.
b) If she comes here, ask her to wait for me.
c) You look as if you know each other.
d) She looks as though she has been dancing.

10. Subject-verb Agreement with WISHES
In wishes we use the verb in the plural

INCORRECT: May he passes his exam this time!
CORRECT: May he pass his exam this time!

INCORRECT: Long lives your mother!
CORRECT: Long live your mother!

11. Following take a singular verb

Either	Neither	Each	Each of	Every	Everyone	Everybody
Everything	Someone	Somebody	Anybody	No one	Nobody	Nothing

a) Either of my parents doesn’t know I’ve lost my job.
b) There are two proposals, and either is acceptable.
c) I have two jackets, but neither is washed.
d) Neither of them was suitable for the job.
e) Each of these pens is mine.
f) Nobody knows when she will come back.

12. The following expressions take plural verbs:

A majority of	The majority of	A minority of	The minority of
A number of	A large number of	A great number of	Large numbers of
A handful of	Many of	A great/good many

a) A number of students were late for class.
b) A great number of students volunteer each year for environmental projects.
c) Large number of books are available here.
d) Many of the terrorists have been arrested by the army.
e) A great many of you have got good marks.
f) A good many of us respect elders.

NOTE: ‘The majority’ (without ‘of’) can be used either with a singular verb or with a plural verb; means it’s optional; e.g.

The majority is against you.
= The majority are against you.

13. With ‘The number of’ we use a singular verb; e.g.

a) The number of employees in the office is fifteen.
b) The number of visitors has increased suddenly.

14. The following expressions take uncountable nouns and singular verbs:

The amount of

A large amount of

A great deal of

A good deal of

a) A large amount of goods is yet to be sold.
b) A great deal of courage is needed to execute this plan.
c) A good deal of money is needed to equip the entire office with CCTV cameras.
d) The amount of money collected is not well sufficient for the project.

15. Subject-verb Agreement with ‘MANY’
A) The following take plural verbs. All can be used as pronouns as well as adjectives. When used as adjectives they take plural nouns:

Many

A great many

A good many

a) Many have applied for the job. (as pronoun)
b) There are one thousand students in the school a good many are fairly intelligent. (as pronoun)
c) Many workers have been sent notices. (as adjective)
d) A great many actors are coming to the party. (as adjective)
e) A good many students were given uniforms. (as adjective)
f) The following take plural verbs and are always followed by plural nouns and plural pronouns:

B) The following take plural verbs and are always followed by plural nouns and plural pronouns; e.g.

Many of

A great many of

A good many of

a) Many of the terrorists have been arrested by the army.
b) A great many of you have got good marks.
c) A good many of us respect elders.

C) ‘Many A/An’ is followed by a singular countable noun and takes a singular verb, and the pronouns and possessive adjectives also are in the singular; e.g.

INCORRECT: Many a girl wish they could sing like Lata Mangeshkar.
CORRECT: Many a girl wishes she could sing like Lata Mangeshkar.

a) Many a leader has come to attend the function.
b) Many an orange is rotten.

16. Subject-verb Agreement with:

No

All

All of

Not all of

None

None of

A) ‘No’ can follow a singular/plural/uncountable noun. The verb after ‘no’ is according to the number of that noun; e.g.

a) No worker has submitted his papers.
b) No workers have submitted their papers.
c) No work has been completed.

B) We can use ‘all’ for both things and persons; when for things it takes a singular verb, when for persons it takes a plural verb; e.g.

Compare:
a) All is well. (As the verb is singular, here ‘all’ means things)
b) All are well. (As the verb is plural, here ‘all’ means persons)

C) All, All of, Not all of when followed by uncountable nouns take singular verbs but when followed by countable nouns take plural verbs; e.g.

a) All the furniture has been polished.
b) All of the milk was spilt by the cat.
c) Not all of the paper has been printed.
d) All the boys are playing.
e) Not all of the dogs are for sale.

D) Verb after ‘none’ is either singular or plural depending on what it is referring to; e.g.

a) I’m always looking for inspiration. None ever comes. (‘Inspiration’ is singular, so the verb is also singular)
b) She’s always looking for ideas. None ever come. (‘Ideas’ is plural, so the verb is also plural)

E) Verb after ‘none of’ is optional, means it’s our wish whether we use it singular or plural; e.g.

None of these suggestions is very helpful.
= None of these suggestions are very helpful.

17. Subject-verb Agreement with NUMBERS & QUANTITIES

A) If the following expressions are followed by singular countable, or uncountable nouns we use singular verbs. If they are followed by plural countable nouns we use plural verbs:

One third of	Two thirds of	Three fourths of, etc.	The rest of
A quarter of	Part of

a) Three fourths of the wheat has been consumed.
b) One third of the house is yet to be repaired.
c) One third of the students have passed.

B) One/two/three, etc. percent (%) if referring to uncountable nouns/singular nouns take singular verbs; and if referring to plural nouns they take plural verbs; e.g.

a) Around ten percent of the wheat is still available.
b) At least 50% of the houses need repairs. (Here 50% is referring to ‘houses’ that is plural)
c) Of those met, only 10% admit to drinking. (Here the verb is plural because 10% is referring to ‘people’ that is plural.)

NOTE: But if the singular noun is such that it can be thought of either as a whole unit or individuals separately, it’s optional whether we use a singular verb or a plural verb; e.g.

Some 60% of the electorate is expected to vote.
= Some 60% of the electorate are expected to vote.

C) The word ‘percentage’ always take a singular verb; e.g.

a) The percentage of success is expected to be good.
b) The percentage of sincere students is not big.

D) A Plural noun in the form of some specific quantity/amount that is considered as a whole takes a singular verb. However if it refers to separate units it takes a plural verb; e.g.

a) Five kilometers for daily is a good walk.
b) Three parts of the bread has been consumed.
c) Fifty rupees is too much for this work.
d) Fifty rupees were given to me by my father today. (separate units)
e) Two years have passed since my marriage. (separate units)

E) When the subject is a proposition in arithmetic, we can use either a singular verb or a plural verb; means it’s optional; e.g.

a) Two and two is four.
= Two and two are four.

b) Two times three is six.
= Two times three are six.

c) Five from ten is five.
= Five from ten are five.

F) ‘Amount of’ and quantity of’ are used with only uncountable nouns and we use a singular verb after them; e.g.

INCORRECT: This amount of money are well sufficient for the project.
CORRECT: This amount of money is well sufficient for the project.

18. Subject-verb Agreement with ‘MORE THAN ONE’

A) /More than one’ if followed by a singular noun takes singular verb, if followed by a plural noun takes plural verb; e.g.

a) More than one person is present.
b) More than one persons are present.

B) ‘More + plural noun + than one’ takes a plural verb; e.g.

More pencils than one are mine.

19. Subject-verb Agreement with ‘ONE OF’

‘One of’ is followed by a plural noun/pronoun and takes verb in the singular; e.g.

INCORRECT: One of the candidates have not appeared to take the exam.
CORRECT: One of the candidates has not appeared to take the exam.

INCORRECT: One of them have not finished their work yet.
CORRECT: One of them has not finished his work yet.

NOTE-I: However, if ‘one of + noun’ is followed by a relative pronoun, the verb after the relative pronoun is plural. But if there is another verb after the relative-clause it’s in the singular; e.g.

INCORRECT: One of the candidates who has appeared to take the exam has not come.
CORRECT: One of the candidates who have appeared to take the exam has not come.

INCORRECT: One of the boys who always gives the correct answer are Samuel.
CORRECT: One of the boys who always give the correct answer is Samuel.

NOTE-II: And if the word ‘only’ is in front of  ‘one of’, the antecedent of the relative pronoun becomes ‘one’, not the ‘noun’ itself, hence the verb here is singular; e.g.

This is only one of his poems that is worth reading.

NOTE-III: But if  noun is there before ‘one of’, the relative pronoun is according to the noun that appears after the phrase ‘one of’, but if a collective noun is before ‘of’ the relative pronoun is according to that collective noun.

Compare these sentences:

1. Rahul is one of those players who are going to England.
[In this sentence you see the structure is ‘one of + noun’, so the relative pronoun will be according to ‘players’ (not ‘one’.]

2. The team of those players which is going to England leaves on Sunday.
[Here the structure is ‘collective noun of + noun’ so the relative pronoun will be according to ‘team’ (not ‘players’.]

20. Subject-verb Agreement with THERE & IT

A) ‘There’ as introductory subject takes a singular verb if it’s following a singular or uncountable noun, but if that noun is plural the verb is also plural; e.g.

a) There is a book on the table.
b) There are two books on the table.
c) There is a lot of sugar in the pot.

NOTE-I: However, if there is a plural noun/pronoun referring to a fix amount or unit after ‘there’, we use the verb in the singular; e.g.

a) There is fifty rupees to pay to the plumber.
b) There is only another twenty kilometers to go.

NOTE-II: If it’s combination of two or more nouns giving one single idea/thought after ‘there’, we use the verb in the singular; e.g.

There is enough bread and butter in the refrigerator.

B) ‘It’ as introductory subject always takes a singular verb; e.g.

a) It is I at the door.
b) It was they who were at fault.
c) It is these boys that came late today.

21. Subject-verb Agreement with ‘THE + ADJECTIVE’

If the article ‘the is placed in front of an adjective describing the human character or condition, it represents the class of persons. Some of these adjectives are:

Blind	Deaf	Disabled	Healthy	Sick	Living	Dead
Rich	Poor	Unemployed	Old	Young

NOTE-I: When used like this the expressions have a plural meaning; they take a plural verb and the pronoun for them is ‘they’; e.g.

The poor get poorer, the rich get richer.

NOTE-II: ‘The + adjective’ such as The accused, The unexpected can sometimes have a singular meaning; e.g.

The accused of the murder case has fled.

22. Subject-verb Agreement with CLAUSES

If a clause is the subject it takes a singular verb; e.g.

a) That those are my friends is true. (‘That those are my friends’ is a clause.)
b) What they say is unknown to me. (‘What they say’ is a clause.)
c) To keep these young people in prison is inhuman.
d) Having overall responsibility for the course means that I have a lot of meetings.
e) Whoever took them remains a mystery.
f) That India won both the matches was a great achievement.

NOTE: But two clauses if joined by ‘and’ take plural verb; e.g.

What he says and what he does are always different.

23. Subject-verb Agreement with WHAT

A) When ‘what’ is the subject of a clause we use a singular verb after that clause; e.g.

a) What I want is your books.
b) What she wants to buy is a car.

B)) When ‘what’ refers to a singular noun, it takes a singular verb. When ‘what’ refers to a plural noun, it takes a plural verb; e.g.

a) I don’t need any more bread; what I have is quite sufficient.
b) You need not buy notebooks; what we have are in good number.

24. Subject-verb Agreement with ‘With’, ‘Along with’, ‘As well as’, etc.

When two nouns/pronouns in the subjects are joined by the following, the verb agrees with the first noun/pronoun. Also pronouns after the verb are used according to the first noun/pronoun. Though such a group of words appears to be the part of the subject, but it’s not like that:

With	Together with	As well as	Accompanied by	Headed by
Guided by	Governed by	Controlled by	Led by	Dominated by
Run by	In addition to	Like	Unlike	And not
Rather than	But	Besides	Except	No less than
Along with

INCORRECT: He, and not his friends, are guilty.
CORRECT: He, and not his friends, is guilty.

INCORRECT: He together with his friends are coming today.
CORRECT: He together with his friends is coming today.

INCORRECT: All the teachers as well the principal has decided to meet the M.L.A. of the area today.
CORRECT: All the teachers as well the principal have decided to meet the M.L.A. of the area today.

INCORRECT: Nothing but cars are sold here.
CORRECT: Nothing but cars is sold here.

INCORRECT: Everyone but you do work regularly.
CORRECT: Everyone but you does work regularly.

INCORRECT: She and not her friends are guilty.
CORRECT: She and not her friends is guilty.

25. Subject-verb Agreement with REPETITION OF SAME NOUNS

If the same noun repeats after ‘singular noun + preposition’ we use singular verb; e.g.

INCORRECT: Day after day have passed.
CORRECT: Day after day has passed.

INCORRECT: Man after man are going to see him in the hospital.
CORRECT: Man after man is going to see him in the hospital.

26. Subject-verb Agreement with NOUNS HAVING TWO PARTS

A thing having two parts (scissors, trousers, binoculars, spectacles, glasses, scales, tongs, pincers, pants, pajamas, etc.) takes a plural verb; e.g.

a) Your scissors are not working well at all.
b) The binoculars you have are very beautiful.
c) The spectacles that you bear are not sold here.

27. Subject-verb Agreement with words ending in ‘ics’

Such words take singular verbs; e.g.

a) Mathematics is not an easy subject.
b) Mathematics is his favourite study.
c) Economics is one of the oldest of the social sciences.
d) Politics plays a big role in village life.

NOTE: But when these nouns are preceded by ‘the’ or any Possessive Adjective (my, our, your, his, her, etc.) they take plural verbs; e.g.

a) Her mathematics are weak.
b) Your mathematics are not very good.
c) What are his politics? (means his political views)
d) The economics of the situation have yet to be explored. (means the economic facts)

28. Subject-verb Agreement with main ‘word of the subject’ 

A subject many a time has several words, and in such a case it’s generally seen that the verb is made agreed to its nearest part of the subject, that may not always be correct. Therefore, we must see what the real subject/main word of the subject is, and the verb should only be used according to that; e.g.

INCORRECT: Workers of our factory is hard working.
CORRECT: Workers of our factory are hard working.

[Before deciding the correct form of verb, one must see what the sentence is telling about the subject of the sentence. Of course it’s being ‘hard working’ of someone. Our subject is ‘workers of our factory’ a factory can’t be hard working. So the real subject/main word is not ‘factory’. If you see the real subject/main word of this subject is ‘workers’. Therefore the verb should be ‘are’, not ‘is’.]

INCORRECT: The quality of these mangoes are not good.
CORRECT: The quality of these mangoes is not good.

INCORRECT: The students of the class has been quiet all day long.
CORRECT: The students of this class have been quiet all day long.

INCORRECT: All the teachers as well the principal has decided to meet the M.L.A. of the area today.
CORRECT: All the teachers as well the principal have decided to meet the M.L.A. of the area today.

29. If two different subjects are qualified by the same expression, verb is singular; e.g.

INCORRECT: A rise in prices and salaries are seen to go together.
CORRECT: A rise in prices and salaries is seen to go together. (Here the phrase ‘a rise in’ is qualifying two subjects ‘prices’ and ‘salaries’, so the verb must be in the singular)

NOTE: When the phrase ‘a rise in’ or some other similar word/phrase is repeated before each subject, verb is plural; e.g.

INCORRECT: A rise in prices and a rise in salaries is seen to go together.
CORRECT: A rise in prices and a rise in salaries are seen to go together.

30. Subject-verb Agreement with COLLECTIVE NOUNS
Some of the collective nouns are:

Army	Audience	Crew	Committee	Class	Crowd
Congregation	Administration	Government	Herd	Jury	Mob
Team	Personnel	Public	Staff	Team	Poultry

We can use either a singular verb or a plural verb with a Collective Noun, means it’s optional. However, if it’s clear from  the context that the collective noun is referring to a single group or unit we use a singular verb, and if the collective noun is referring to a number of individuals separately we use a plural verb. When the verb is plural, the pronouns/adjectives are also in the plural; e.g.

1. a) The crew has not come yet.
b) The crew were occupied in repairing the ship.

2. a) A committee has been set up to look into the demands of the striking employees.
b) The committee are considering your proposal.

3. a) The government has cleared the bill.
b) The government are thinking about the issue.

4. a) The public consists of you and me.
b) The public were fighting among themselves.

INCORRECT: The Management Committee were divided in its opinion.
CORRECT: The Management Committee were divided in their opinion.

NOTE-I: Many of the above nouns have plural forms also (Committees, audiences, congregations, armies, etc.), these plural forms take plural verbs and plural pronouns of course.

NOTE-II: When ‘people’ means ‘a number of persons’ it’s plural and takes a plural verb, but when ‘people’ means ‘nation/race/tribe’ it’s then singular countable noun and we form its plural by adding ‘s’; e.g.

a) The old people in the village still observe the local traditions. (Here ‘people’ = persons)
b) The Japanese are a hard-working people. (Here ‘people’ = nation)
c) There are many different peoples in Asia. (Here ‘peoples’ = races)

NOTE-III: When noun ‘poultry’ refers to food, we use singular verb with this; e.g.

a) Poultry is very expensive here in this town. (referring to food)
b) These poultry are not hers. (Here you see ‘poultry’ is not referring to food, so the verb is plural.)

NOTE-IV: Certain collective nouns (cattle, vermin, people, gentry, peasantry, clergy, cavalry, police etc.) are always used as plurals; e.g.

a) The peasantry of India are very hard working.
b) The clergy are opposed to the plan.
c) Are these cattle yours?
d) Vermin are badly destroying the garden.
e) Who are those people always quarrelling?
f) The local gentry own all of the land here.
g) The police have arrested the murderer.

31. Subject-verb Agreement with UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS
Some of the uncountable nouns are:

Advice	Dust	Grass	Machinery	Stationery
Baggage	Drapery	Hair	Mischief	Scenery
Breakage	Electricity	Information	Percentage	Stone
Bread	Equipment	Iron	Poetry	Traffic
Chalk	Evidence	Imagery	Postage	Wood
Confectionery	Food	Jewellery	Pottery	Work
Crockery	Furniture	Knowledge	Paper	Wastage
Dirt	Glass	Luggage	Rubbish	News

A) Uncountable nouns are always singular and therefore take singular verbs. They are not used with A/AN, Few, Many, Number of; e.g.

INCORRECT: She doesn’t want an advice or help.
CORRECT: She doesn’t want advice or help.

INORRECT: She has had an experience in this type of work.
CORRECT: She has had experience in this type of work.

INCORRECT: What is a poetry?
CORRECT: What is poetry?

INCORRECT: The sceneries of Kashmir are beautiful.
CORRECT: The scenery of Kashmir is beautiful.

INCORRECT: The wall is made of a stone.
CORRECT: The wall is made of stone.

INCORRECT: These breads are fresh.
CORRECT: This bread is fresh.

INCORRECT: They smashed windows, tables, chairs, and crockeries.
CORRECT: They smashed windows, tables, chairs, and crockery.

INCORRECT: The police have found no evidences of a terrorist link with the murder.
CORRECT: The police have found no evidence of a terrorist link with the murder.

B) ‘Fish’ is normally an uncountable noun, though it sometimes is countable also. When we mean ‘Different species of fish’ we say ‘fishes’ (not ‘fish’); e.g.

a) There are so many fish in this pond. (here ‘fish’ does not mean ‘species of fish’)
b) There are so many fishes in this pond. (means ‘many types/species of fish’)

C) ‘Money’ is an uncountable noun when it’s used as a medium for exchange of goods and services. However, it’s a countable noun when it means ‘sum of money’, especially of a specified nature. When countable its plural is ‘moneys’ or ‘monies’; e.g.

INCORRECT: He made moneys/monies on the sale of his properties.
CORRECT: He made money on the sale of his properties.

INCORRECT: The money for the purpose is mainly derived from general taxation.
CORRECT: The moneys/monies for the purpose are mainly derived from general taxation.

D) These nouns in singular use take Some, Any, No, A little, etc. or by nouns such as ‘bit of, piece of, slice of’; e.g.

A bit of news	A pot of jam	A pane of glass	A drop of oil
A grain of sand	A cake of soap	A sheet of paper	A piece of advice

INCORRECT: They gave an information.
CORRECT: They gave some information.

INCORRECT: She doesn’t want an advice or help.
CORRECT: She doesn’t want any advice or help.

INCORRECT: She gave me an information in the morning.
CORRECT: She gave me an important piece of information in the morning.

E) Plurals of such nouns are made by adding ‘bits of, items of, articles of, pieces of, kinds of, fits of, etc.’; e.g.

Pieces/items of furniture	Pieces/kinds of information	Pieces/bits of advice	Pieces/blocks of ice
Blades of grass	Pieces of music	Piles of rubbish	Specs of dust
Flashes of lightening	Fits of anger	Bars of chocolate	Pieces of luggage
Articles of dress

F) Some of the uncountable nouns can be used in a particular sense and are then countable and can take A/AN in the singular; e.g.

hair (all the hair on one’s head or any other part of the body, etc.) is considered uncountable, but if we consider each hair separately we say one hair, two hairs, ten hairs, etc.; e.g.

a) Her hair is not black. (means all the hair)
b) Some of her hair is black. (means all the hair)
c) She is brushing her hair right now. (means all the hair)
d) Whenever she finds a white hair she pulls it out. (countable)
e) There is a hair in the tea. (countable)

INCORRECT: Several of her hairs is white.
CORRECT: Several of her hairs are white. (Because ‘hairs’ is countable here)

G) ‘Experience’ meaning ‘something which happened to someone’ is countable; e.g.

a) I had an exciting experience yesterday. (Experience = adventure)
b) I had some exciting experiences yesterday. (Experience = adventures)

H) The noun ‘work’ meaning ‘occupation/job/engagement’ is an uncountable noun and is only used in the singular. In this sense it’s uncountable it’s not preceded by A/AN. But the noun ‘work’ when refers to a factory, or moving parts of a machine, or musical/literary compositions, we use it in plural and add ‘s’ to make its form plural.

a) He is looking for work these days. (Here ‘work’ = employment)
b) She has urgent work today. (Here ‘work’ = engagement)
c) What type of work do you do? (Here ‘work’ = occupation)
d) I am fond of hard work. (Here ‘work’ = labour)
e) The museum’s collection includes works of art from all around the world. (countable)
f) The museum has many works by Picasso as well as other modern painters. (countable)

I) Some of the uncountable nouns look plural but in fact are singular and therefore we use singular verbs for them, also pronouns and adjectives for them are in the singular. Some of such nouns are:

1. NEWS
NEWS is a singular uncountable noun. Therefore we do not put A/AN before it, nor do we add ‘s’ to form its plural. We use singular verb with it; e.g.

INCORRECT: These news are really good
CORRECT: The news is really good.

INCORRECT: All the news were false.
CORRECT: All the news was false.

2. CERTAIN DISEASES

Diabetes

Measles

Mumps

Rabies

Rickets

Shingles

INCORRECT: Diabetes are not as serious as cancer.
CORRECT: Diabetes is not as serious as cancer.

3. CERTAIN GAMES

Billiards

Bowls

Darts

Dominoes

Draughts

INCORRECT: Billiards are played by women also.
CORRECT: Billiards is played by women also.

32. Subject-verb Agreement with NAMES OF COUNTRIES
When name of a country refers to a team of any sport, it takes a plural verb; e.g.

a) India have won the trophy.
b) The West Indies have not won any match this year.

33. Arms (अस्त्र–शस्त्र), damages, greens (साग–सब्जी), vegetables (साग–सब्जी), riches (धन–वैभव), savings, surroundings, valuables, etc. are treated to be plural and therefore take plural verbs; e.g.

a) The arms are not sold here.
b) Their riches are growing very fast.
c) Vegetables are not grown much here.
d) The greens that you have brought are not fresh.

34. Subject-verb Agreement with RELATIVE PRONOUNS
Verb of a relative pronoun like Who, Which, That is according to its antecedent; e.g.

INCORRECT: I, who is a doctor, will examine you.
CORRECT: I, who am a doctor, will examine him.

INCORRECT: The boys who lives here are always disturbing.
CORRECT: The boys who live here are always disturbing.

35. Subject-verb Agreement with the following words

Mankind

Summons

Wages

Youth

A) MANKIND
The noun /mankind’ is always used as a singular noun and takes a singular verb, singular pronoun and singular possessive; e.g.

a) Mankind has always been obsessed by power.
b) He worked for the benefit of all mankind.
c) Mankind has not changed.

​B) SUMMONS
‘Summons’ is singular countable noun. Therefore we put A/AN before it in its singular use; if ‘summons’ is not in its specific use, and form its plural by adding ‘es’; e.g.

a) The court issued him a summons yesterday.
b) A summons has been issued to you.
c) The summons made her tense. (specific use)
d) The court has issued five summonses today. (plural use)

C) WAGES
‘Wages’ when means ‘money earned’ takes plural verb only, but when means ‘outcome/result’ can take either of a singular verb and a plural verb; e.g.

INCORRECT: Wages is paid weekly here. (earning)
CORRECT: Wages are paid weekly here.

D) YOUTH
‘Youth’ can be used as an uncountable noun also. When an uncountable noun ‘youth’ means ‘the state or time of being young’. As an uncountable noun it takes a singular verb; e.g.

My youth was a mixture of both happiness and sadness.

NOTE: ‘Youth’ can also be used as a countable noun. When a countable noun ‘youth’ means ‘young man’. Its plural, then, is ‘youths’. The verb therefore depends on whether the use is in the singular or plural; e.g.

a) A youth is wants to meet you.
b) Two youths want to meet you.

36. ‘A Pair Of’ & ‘A Variety Of’

A) ‘A pair of’ things are two separate things of the same size and shape that are used together, such as shoes. When you use a pair of like this, you can use either a singular or a plural form of a verb; e.g.

a) A pair of shoes were stolen.
= A pair of shoes was stolen.

b) He wore a pair of shoes that were given to him by his father.
= He wore a pair of shoes that was given to him by his father.

NOTE: You also use ‘a pair of’ to refer to something that has two main parts of the same size and shape, such as trousers, glasses, or scissors. When we use ‘a pair of’ like this, we use the verb in the singular; e.g.

INCORRECT: A good pair of binoculars are essential for watching birds.
CORRECT: A good pair of binoculars is essential for watching birds.

INCORRECT: Who do this pair of jeans belong to?
CORRECT: Who does this pair of jeans belong to?

B) Noun ‘variety’, when preceded by the article ‘A’ is treated as plural and when preceded by the article ‘the’ is treated as singular; e.g.

INCORRECT: A variety of mobile phones is available with us.
CORRECT: A variety of mobile phones are available with us.

INCORRECT: The variety of shirts here are not small.
CORRECT: The variety of shirts here is not small.

37. PAINS & MEANS
‘Pains’ and ‘means’ take either the singular or plural verb, it depends on the context whether it’s singular or plural: e.g.

a) Great ‘pains’ have been taken. (Here the word ‘great’ is telling the number or quantity, hence plural verb is used.)
b) Much ‘pains’ has been taken. (Here the word ‘much’ is showing an amount. Even if ‘pains’ is much or less, amount is always single, hence singular verb.)
c) This means of transport is not very common these days. (‘This’ is singular)
d) Several means of transport are available here. (‘Several’ is plural)

NOTE: If the word ‘means’ is used in the sense of income/monetary resources. We use a plural verb; e.g.

a) My means are small, I cannot afford this luxury.
b) My means are not enough to support my family.

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT EXPLAINED IN HINDI

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