Subject-Verb Concord Or Agreement of the Verb with the

Subject

1. Read the following sentences:

(i) He is a good speaker.

(ii) They are good speakers.

In the sentence (i) the Subject 'he' is in the Singular Number; the Verb 'is' is
also in the Singular. But in the sentence (ii) the Subject 'they' is in the Plural
Number; the Verb 'are' is also in the plural.

Examples:

(a) Sham is reciting a poem.

My brother does not speak the truth.

He likes milk but his sister does not.

(b) Boys are taking a test.

Women were weeping bitterly.

They have not finished their work.

2. Now study these sentences:

He learns his lesson daily.

You have not replied to my letter.

I am sure to win a scholarship.

In the above sentences, the Verbs have changed according to the persons of
the Sub- jects. Thus we know that the Verb agrees with the Subject in Number
and Person. This is also known as Subject-Verb concord/relationship in
Grammar,
We use 'is' and 'was' when the subject is 'he', 'she' or 'it'; 'am' and 'was' when
the subject is 'T' while 'are' and 'were' when the subject is 'we' 'you' or 'they'. In
all other tenses we use a Plural Verb with T' and 'you'.

Examples:

She/he is in the wrong. You too are mistaken.

It was very hot yesterday. Were you present in the meeting?

I am also ready to go. I respect my elders.

Do you also approve of this decision?

3. (a) Two or more Singular Subjects joined by 'and' take a Plural Verb; as-

Shashi and Indu are sisters.

Two and two make four.

You, he and I play together.

(b) When two Subjects are joined by 'as well as' the Verb agrees with the first Subject:

as-

I as well as you am in the wrong.

His parents as well as he, are illiterate..

(c) When two or more Singular Subjects are connected by 'or', 'nor', 'either-or',
'neither-nor', they take a Verb which agrees with the latter subject as-

Either you or he has stolen the watch.

Neither he nor his friend is guilty,

She or her sister is present here.

But when there are two subjects of different persons joined by Neither-nor' or 'Either-
or' the Verb agrees in person with the subject nearest to it; as-

Either he or his companions were guilty.

Either she or her parents are mistaken. Either his companions or he was guilty.
 Either her parents or she is mistaken.

(d) Either, neither, each, every and everyone are followed by a Singular Verb; as-

Either of the two brothers is at fault.

Neither of these two roads leads to the hospital.

Each of them is honest.

Every Scout honours the Scout Law.

Everyone of the girls likes her dress.

4. (a) When two Singular Nouns refer to the same person or thing, the Verb must be
Singular. The Article is then not repeated; as-

The poet and philosopher is dead.

My friend and colleague has come.

(b) If two Subjects together express one idea, the Verb may be in the Singular; as-

Slow and steady wins the race.

Rice and curry is my favourite dish.

(c) When a Plural Noun expresses some specific quantity or amount considered as a
whole, the Verb is in Singular; as-

Nine hundred rupees is not much for this cow.

Twenty kilometres is a long distance.

5. When two or more Singular Subjects are connected by with, together with, and not,
besides, no less than, the Verb is in Singular; as-

The suitcase with all its contents was stolen.

Kamal together with her sisters, is present.

No one besides the nurse knows this secret.

He, and not you, is to blame.

He no less than you is guilty.

6. The Verbs agree with the number of the Nouns that follow the Verb when a sentence
starts with there:

There is no leaf on the tree.

There were many players present there.

There are six boys in the classroom.

7. (a) Some Nouns which are Plural in form but Singular in meaning, take a Singu- lar
Verb; as-

Mathematics is my favourite subject.

This news is false.

Economics has no charm for him.

The wages of sin is death.

(b) A Plural Noun which is the name of a country or province or the title of a book, is
followed by a Singular Verb; as-

The United States has a fine navy.

The Arabian Nights, contains interesting stories.

Great Expectations, is an interesting novel.

8. A Collective Noun generally takes a Singular Verb when the subject stands for the
collection as a whole and a Plural Verb when the subject stands for the individuals of
which it is composed; as-

as-

(1) The whole class is absent.

The mob has dispersed.

The gentry is sitting on the chairs.

(ii) The jury has four members.

The jury have different opinions.

The crew were arrested.

9. A Relative Pronoun must agree with its antecedent in Gender, Number and Person;
It is he who is to blame.

It is they who are to blame.

It is you who are to blame.

10. Study the following sentences:

Two thirds of this book is easy.

Many people live in slums.

It is I who am to blame.

He has sold the cow which gives milk.

A pair of shoes is lying under the table

A large number is expected at the match.

Ill news spreads fast.

One of my friends has not come.

The quality of the mangoes was not good.

Not only he but all his companions were arrested.

Not only you but also I am to blame.

11. Common Errors in the Use of Verbs

Incorrect Correct

1. Two thousand rupees are a good sum. Two thousand rupees is a good sum.

2. The king and poet are here. The king and poet is here.

3. The father with his sons were present there. The father with his sons was present there.

4. He as well as his parents are illiterate. He as well as his parents is illiterate.

5. Bread and butter are my only food. Bread and Butter is my only food.

6. Either you or your brother have done this. Either you or your brother has done this.
7. Either of these two boys are guilty. Either of these two boys is guilty.

8. The jury were of one mind. The jury was of one mind.

9. Gulliver's Travels are an interesting book. 'Gulliver's Travels' is an interesting book.

10. Neither you came here nor your brother Neither you came here nor did your
did. brother.

11. A large number of people was present A large number of people were present
there. there.

12. The majority of the applicants is girls. The majority of the applicants are girls.

13. The news from the War front are not The news from the War front is not
encouraging. encouraging.

14. None of them are right. None of them is right.

15. What I say and do is none of his What I say and do are none of his
business. business.

EXERCISE

(Unsolved)

I. Fill in the blanks with one of the two words given in brackets:

1. Politics...... a dirty game. (is/are)

2. No news...... good news.. (is/are)

3. Neither you nor I....... invited. (am/is)

4. The master of these shops…… very rich. (are/is)

5. Fire and water……. not agree. (do/does)

6. All the girls of this class....... absent. (is/are)

7. The clothes of this beggar………. torn. (is/are)

8. The United Nations....... the only hope in these days of cold wars. (is/are)
9. Either he or they...... mistaken. (is/are)

10. Time and tide....... for none. (wait/waits)

11. The quality of the oranges...... not good. (is/are)

12. All work and no play………. Jack a dull boy. (make/mahes)

13. The poet and dramatist ...... dead. (is/are)

14. The poet and the dramatist………….. dead. (is/are)

15. One of the boys in the camp...... fallen ill. (has/have)

II. Correct the following sentences:

1. He and not you deserve this favour.

2. The Principal with all the members of his staff have come.

3. One of these mangoes are sour.

4. Many a student have failed in this test.

5. The horse and the carriage are at the gate.

6. My spectacles is very costly.

7. Rice and curry are not agreeable to me.

8. None of them is right.

9. Our only guide were the stars.

10. Neither of these two boys have stolen the pen.

11. It is you who is to blame for this.

12. Asha, and not you, deserve the prize.

EXAM-TYPE EXERCISES

(As per new CBSE Sample Papers)

EXERCISE 1

(Solved)
Choose the most appropriate option from the brackets to complete each of the
following sentences.

1: Each of the girls (a)_______ (has/have/had/will have) (b)_______ (his/her/my/their) seat.

2. Neither of the charges_________(has/am/was/were) correct.

3. I_________(live/lived/have lived/had lived) in Delhi since 2004.

4. I_________(am/was/has been/have been) ill for four days.

5. The murderer was_________ (hang/hanged/hung/hanging).

6. Four weeks _________(is/are/am/were) a long holiday.

7. The hen has _________(lay/lain/laid/lie) eggs.

8. I think he_________ (shall/will/has/have) pass.

9. No news _________(has/had/is/are) good news.

10. Ram as well as Mohan _________(deserve/deserves/deserved/deserving) the sweets.

11. Forty miles_________ (is/am/was/were) a long distance.

12. He is one of those persons who_________ (was/were/is/are) certain to be great.

13. One of these boys _________(run/was run/runs/running) very fast.

14. A poet and patriot _________(has/have/is/are) passed away.

15. The jury _________(has/have/was/were) divided in their opinion.

Answers

1. (a) has (b) her 2. was 3. have lived 4. have been

5. hanged 6. is 7. laid 8. will

9. is 10. deserves 11. is 12. is

13. runs 14. has 15. were

 EXERCISE 2
(For Practice)

Choose the most appropriate options to complete the sentences. The options are
given in the brackets.

1. Each of the boys _________clever. (is/are/am/has)

2. Neither the father nor his sons _________ hurt. (has/have/was/were)

3. The citizens of India_________ very proud of Gandhiji. (are/am/is/were)

4. Our Prime Minister _________a learned person. (is/was/am/being)

5. The branches of this company_________ all over the country.(is located/was located/are
located/are locating)

6. The commander along with the soldiers_________ killed. (has/am/was/were)

7. I, who_________ your brother, will not deceive you. (is/am/being/are)

8. Mohan as well as his brothers passed. (is/are/has/have)

wholesome food. (are/were/is/was) 9. Bread and milk

thirty chairs in this room. (is/am/are/was) 10. There

11. There _________idli and sambhar for breakfast. (is/am/are/were)

12. Ten pounds a lot of money. (are/is/am/has)

13. Two pounds of tea one hundred rupees. (cost/costs/costing/to cost).

14. One of the players from my village. (come/coming/comes/had come).

15. The tallest of the boys next door. (live/lives/living/was living).

EXERCISE 3

(Solved)

Choose the most appropriate options from the brackets to complete the following
passage.

Whenever I go to my village, I (a).......... (has/have/had/am) plenty to do. Early in the morning

I(b).......... (feed/fed/feeding/having fed) the cows. After I (c)……… (has/have/was/am)
finished that, I (d)............. (play/played/playing/playful)in the village. My grandmother (e)
………..(cook/cooks/cooking/cooked)relish a lot. She asks me(f)...............
(lie/lay/laid/lain)down on the bed for a while after every meal. She (g)..............
(think/thought/thinks/thinking)with the children lunch which I that it was good for health.

Answers

(a) have (b) feed (c) have (d) play

(e) cooks (f)lie (g) thinks.

EXERCISE 4

(For Practice)

Choose the most appropriate options from the brackets to complete the following
passages.

1. Sanjeev was a policeman. He (a)................(serve/serving/served/to serve) in the Nicobar

group of islands. He somehow (b)..............(manage/managing/managed/manager) to save
himself and his family. Then he heard a voice which(c)…………… (call/calling/is calling/ was
calling) for help. Sanjeev (d).............. (jump/jumping/jumped/was jumped) into the waves to
rescue the lady. But both of them (e).............(sweep/swept/were swept/had swept) away.

2. When the tremors came, the family (a).............. (sleep/slept/was sleeping/were sleeping).
Alma's father (b).............. (see/saw/was seeing/had seen) the water recede. He knew that
the water (c)…………… (can/could/should/would) rush back with great force. He (d)
…………….(wake/woke/woken/awaken) everybody. As they ran, Alma's grandfather
(e)........... (is/was/being/been) hit on the head by something. He fell down. Her father
(f)...............(rush/rushed/rushing/was rushing) to help him. Then came the first giant wave
that (g) ………………(sweep/sweeping/swept/was sweeping) away both of them. They were
not seen again.

3. Tilly was a ten-year-old school girl. Her family on that occasion, (a)................. (celebrate/
celebrated/was celebrating/were celebrating) Christmas in Southern Thailand. Deadly
tsunami waves (b)................... (was/were/being/been) already on their way. They (c)
……………..(has/have/has been/had been) triggered by a massive earthquake earlier that
morning. "The water (d) …………..(is/am/was/were) swelling and kept coming in," Penny
remembered. The beach (e) ……………..(is/am/was/were) getting smaller and smaller. I
didn't know what (f)....................(happen/happened/was happening/were happening).

PRACTICE TIME

(As per new CBSE Sample Papers)

EXERCISE 5
The passages given below have an error in each line. The error has been underlined.
Choose the most appropriate word from the options and write it in your answer sheet.

1. The poor children had now nowhere to play. They (a) try to play on the road, but the
road (b) being very dusty and full of stones and they (e) do not like it. They used to
play round the high walls when their lessons (d) was over. "How happy we (e) am
there!" they said to each other. Then the spring comes.

(a) (i) tried (ii) trying (iii) to try (iv) having tried

(b) (i) is (ii) was (iii) were (iv) are

(c) (i) did (ii) done (iii) doing (iv) to do

(d) (i) is (ii) was (iii) were (iv) being

(e) (i) is (ii) am (iii) was (iv) were

(f)(i) come (ii) came (iii) to come (iv) coming.