Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject: English | Topic: Subject-Verb Agreement
For TLT, ECT, PST, JEST & All Competitive Exams
After Punctuation Rules, another topic that quietly decides whether a sentence is "correct" or "incorrect" is Subject-Verb Agreement. A sentence can have perfect punctuation and still be wrong if the subject and verb do not match. This is one of the most frequently tested grammar rules in the English section of TLT, ECT, PST, and JEST exams, often appearing as sentence correction or fill-in-the-blank questions.
What is Subject-Verb Agreement?
Subject-Verb Agreement means that the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number — a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. Number agreement is the basic rule behind every sentence you write or speak correctly.
Examples: The boy plays cricket. (singular subject, singular verb) / The boys play cricket. (plural subject, plural verb)
Singular vs Plural Agreement
1. Basic Rule
A singular subject takes a singular verb (usually ending in -s or -es in the present tense), and a plural subject takes a plural verb (base form, no -s).
Examples: She writes a letter. / They write letters.
2. Subjects Joined by "And"
When two or more subjects are joined by "and," they usually take a plural verb, since together they form a compound subject.
Examples: Ali and Ahmed are good friends. / Bread and butter is a common breakfast. (treated as a single idea)
3. Subjects Joined by "Or" / "Nor"
When two subjects are joined by "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the subject that is closer to it.
Examples: Either the teacher or the students are wrong. / Neither the students nor the teacher is wrong.
4. Collective Nouns
A collective noun (team, family, class, committee, jury) refers to a group and is usually treated as singular when the group acts as one unit, but can take a plural verb when members are acting individually.
Examples: The team is playing well. (acting as one unit) / The team are arguing among themselves. (acting as individuals)
5. Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns such as each, every, either, neither, everyone, someone, nobody, anybody are always treated as singular and take a singular verb.
Examples: Everyone is ready for the exam. / Each of the students has submitted the assignment.
6. Phrases Between Subject and Verb
Phrases such as "as well as," "along with," "together with," "in addition to" do not change the number of the subject. The verb still agrees with the original subject, not the noun in the phrase.
Examples: The manager, along with his staff, is attending the meeting. / The player, as well as his teammates, was praised.
7. Inverted Sentences
In sentences that begin with "there," "here," or a prepositional phrase, the verb still agrees with the subject that follows it, not with the word that comes first.
Examples: There is a book on the table. / There are many books on the table.
Quick Rules Summary
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| Singular subject → singular verb | She writes a letter. |
| Plural subject → plural verb | They write letters. |
| Subjects joined by "and" → plural verb | Ali and Ahmed are friends. |
| Subjects joined by "or"/"nor" → verb agrees with nearer subject | Neither the students nor the teacher is wrong. |
| Collective noun (as one unit) → singular verb | The team is playing well. |
| Indefinite pronoun (each, everyone) → singular verb | Everyone is ready. |
| "As well as," "along with" → ignored for agreement | The manager, along with his staff, is attending. |
Why This Topic Matters
Subject-Verb Agreement errors are among the most common mistakes tested in sentence correction and error identification questions. Since TLT, ECT, PST, and JEST exams regularly test this rule, mastering it can directly improve accuracy and save time in the English section.
Practice MCQs
1. Choose the correct sentence:
a) The boy play cricket. b) The boy plays cricket. c) The boy playing cricket. d) The boy played cricketing.
2. Ali and Ahmed ______ good friends.
a) is b) was c) are d) has been
3. Neither the students nor the teacher ______ wrong.
a) are b) is c) were d) have been
4. Everyone ______ ready for the exam.
a) are b) is c) were d) have
5. The manager, along with his staff, ______ attending the meeting.
a) are b) is c) were d) have been
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