Subject-Verb Agreement

Overview

Subject-verb agreement (also called concord) is a fundamental grammar rule that ensures the verb in a sentence matches its subject in number and person. This topic appears consistently in JKTET Language II papers, typically carrying 2–4 marks through direct questions or error-spotting items. Mastery here is non-negotiable because agreement errors are among the most common mistakes in both written and spoken English.

For JKTET, you must identify whether a subject is singular or plural, recognize tricky subjects (collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, compound subjects), and select the correct verb form. The questions often test your ability to spot errors in sentences where intervening phrases, inverted structures, or special nouns create confusion. A solid grasp of these rules also strengthens your ability to teach grammar effectively at the upper primary level.

Key Concepts

• **Basic rule**: A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb. Example: *The boy runs* (singular) vs *The boys run* (plural).

• **Third-person singular marker**: In simple present tense, singular subjects (he, she, it, a noun) require verbs ending in -s/-es. Plural subjects and I/you/we/they use the base form.

• **Intervening phrases**: Words between subject and verb do not change agreement. The subject, not the phrase, controls the verb. *The list of items is ready* (subject = list, singular).

• **Compound subjects with "and"**: Two subjects joined by "and" usually take a plural verb. *Ram and Shyam are friends.* Exception: When they form a single unit (*Bread and butter is my breakfast*).

• **Either/or, neither/nor**: The verb agrees with the subject nearest to it. *Neither the teacher nor the students were present.*

• **Collective nouns**: Words like team, jury, committee, family take a singular verb when acting as one unit and a plural verb when members act individually.

• **Indefinite pronouns**: Each, every, everyone, someone, anybody, nobody, either, neither are singular. Some, few, many, both, several are plural. Some/all/none depend on the noun they refer to.

• **Inverted sentences**: In questions and sentences beginning with "there" or "here," identify the true subject. *There are many books on the table* (subject = books).

Formulas / Key Facts

| Rule | Singular Verb | Plural Verb | |------|---------------|-------------| | He/She/It/Singular noun | writes, is, has, does | — | | I/You/We/They/Plural noun | — | write, are, have, do | | Either...or / Neither...nor | Nearest subject decides | Nearest subject decides | | Each, Every, Everyone, Nobody | always singular | — | | Few, Many, Both, Several | — | always plural | | Collective noun (as unit) | The jury has decided | — | | Collective noun (as individuals) | — | The jury are divided | | Uncountable nouns (water, information, furniture) | always singular | — | | Titles, names of books, countries | singular even if plural-looking | — | | Mathematics, Physics, News, Economics | singular | — | | Scissors, trousers, spectacles | — | plural (pair of → singular) |

**Key fact**: "A number of" takes a plural verb; "The number of" takes a singular verb.

Worked Examples

**Example 1**: Choose the correct verb. *The quality of the mangoes ____ (was/were) excellent.*

**Solution**: Identify the subject. The main subject is "quality" (singular), not "mangoes." The phrase "of the mangoes" is a prepositional phrase that does not affect agreement. **Answer**: *was*

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**Example 2**: Spot the error. *Neither the principal nor the teachers was informed about the meeting.*

**Solution**: With "neither...nor," the verb agrees with the nearest subject. The nearest subject is "teachers" (plural). Therefore, the verb should be plural. **Corrected sentence**: *Neither the principal nor the teachers were informed about the meeting.*

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**Example 3**: Fill in the blank. *Each of the students ____ (has/have) submitted the assignment.*

**Solution**: "Each" is an indefinite pronoun that is always singular, regardless of what follows. The phrase "of the students" does not change this. **Answer**: *has*

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**Example 4**: Choose the correct option. *Bread and butter ____ (is/are) served for breakfast.*

**Solution**: When two nouns joined by "and" refer to a single entity or idea, they take a singular verb. "Bread and butter" is considered one dish here. **Answer**: *is*

Common Mistakes

• **Distracted by intervening phrases** → Students see "The box of chocolates are sweet" and pick "are" because "chocolates" is nearest. Fix: Always locate the true subject before the prepositional phrase. Subject = box (singular) → *is*.

• **Treating "news," "mathematics," "physics" as plural** → These look plural but are singular. Wrong: *The news are shocking.* Correct: *The news is shocking.*

• **Using plural verb with "everyone," "each," "nobody"** → Wrong: *Everyone have arrived.* Correct: *Everyone has arrived.* These indefinite pronouns are always singular.

• **Ignoring nearest-subject rule with or/nor** → Wrong: *Either the boys or the girl have to go.* Correct: *Either the boys or the girl has to go.* (Nearest subject = girl, singular.)

• **Confusing "a number of" with "the number of"** → "A number of students are absent" (plural). "The number of students is fifty" (singular). The article changes the meaning.

Quick Reference

• Singular subject + singular verb; plural subject + plural verb.
• Ignore phrases between subject and verb when determining agreement.
• Each, every, everyone, nobody, either, neither → always singular.
• Either/or, neither/nor → verb matches the nearest subject.
• Collective nouns → singular when united, plural when divided.
• News, mathematics, physics, economics → singular despite the -s ending.