Subject Verb Agreement Concepts

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title: ‘Subject Verb Agreement’ description: ‘Master Subject Verb Agreement for competitive exams.’ order: 1 isPremium: false tags: [‘Verbal Ability’, ‘Subject Verb Agreement’]

1. Compound Subjects

Concept: When two subjects are joined by and, they usually take a plural verb. With or/nor, the verb agrees with the subject closer to it.

Rule:

• A and B → plural verb
• Either A or B → verb agrees with the nearer subject
• Neither A nor B → verb agrees with the nearer subject

Example: Neither the manager nor his assistants ___ available. (was / were)

Answer: were

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2. Intervening Phrases

Concept: Words between the subject and verb do not change the subject’s number.

Rule: Ignore phrases such as of…, with…, in…, along with… when choosing the verb. Find the main subject first.

Example: A box of chocolates ___ on the table. (is / are)

Answer: is

The subject is box, not chocolates.

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3. Indefinite Pronouns

Concept: Some indefinite pronouns are always singular, while others are plural.

Rule:

Singular: each, everyone, someone, anybody, nobody, either, neither

Plural: both, few, many, several

Example: Each of the players ___ a uniform. (has / have)

Answer: has

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4. Collective Nouns

Concept: Words like team, family, committee, audience can take a singular or plural verb depending on the meaning.

Rule: Use a singular verb when the group acts as one unit. Use a plural verb when the members are acting separately.

Example: The committee ___ divided in their opinions. (is / are)

Answer: are

Here, the members have different opinions, so they are treated individually.

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5. Fractions, Percentages and Measurements

Concept: The verb depends on what the quantity represents.

Rule: A sum of money, period of time, or distance treated as one whole takes a singular verb.

Example: Fifty dollars ___ too much for that book. (is / are)

Answer: is

Here, fifty dollars is considered one total amount.

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6. Titles of Books, Movies and Songs

Concept: Titles are treated as singular, even if the words inside the title are plural.

Rule: A title of a book, movie, song, newspaper, etc. normally takes a singular verb.

Example: “The Chronicles of Narnia” ___ my favorite series. (is / are)

Answer: is

The entire title is treated as one name.

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7. Either/Or and Neither/Nor

Concept: When subjects are joined by either…or or neither…nor, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

Example: Either the teachers or the principal ___ attending the meeting. (is / are)

Answer: is

The nearer subject is the principal, which is singular.