Verb: Subject Verb agreement Top 10 Rules for Bank PO/SSC exams Part 1

Subject Verb agreement Top 10 Rules

Hey Aspirants, We know English section is a bottleneck for many aspirants and because of this weakness they did not able to crack the competitive exams like BANK PO/Clerk, SBI PO/ Clerk, SSC CGL/ CHSL etc. So from today, we are providing lectures on English Grammar in Text Format. This is the Verb Part 1 on Subject Verb Agreement.

RULE NO. #1: 

In a sentence a verb should agree with the Number & Person of the Subject.

Ex-

• She goes to school. (Correct)
• They go to school. (Correct)
• My pets is missing. (Incorrect)
• My pets are missing. (Correct)

RULE NO. #2: 

When the subject of the sentence is a singular noun then verb must be singular.

Ex-

• Ram is coming from the school. (Correct)
• Rakesh is thinking to buy a new Mobile. (Correct)

RULE NO. #3: 

When two or more singular subjects are joined by and then verb must be plural. BUT…

Ex-

• Ram and Rakesh is thinking to buy a new Mobile. (Incorrect)
• Ram and Rakesh are thinking to buy a new Mobile. (Correct)

RULE NO. #4: 

When two or more singular subjects are joined by and & referring to the same(one) person, thing or idea then verb must be singular.

Ex-

• The Head of Department and professor of Computer Science have gone to the convocation. (Incorrect)
• The Head of Department and professor of Computer Science has gone to the convocation. (Correct)
• Rice and curry are very popular in India. (Incorrect)
• Rice and curry is very popular in India. (Correct)

*NOTE: Bread and butter, Rice and curry, Horse and carriage, Hammer and sickle, Crown and glory etc. when referring single unit then we should use Singular Verb but when they refer different units then we must use Plural Verb. 

RULE NO. #5: 

When two or more singular subjects are joined by and & Each or Every comes before the subject/subjects then verb must be in Singular

Ex-

• Each Teacher and  each student are going to the tour this year. (Incorrect)
• Each Teacher and  each student is going to the tour this year. (Correct)
• Each Teacher and student is going to the tour this year.  (Correct)

RULE NO. #6: 

When two or more singular subjects are joined by Either…or, Neither…nor, or  then verb must be in Singular.

Ex-

• Either Rishabh or his friend are spreading this rumor. (Incorrect)
• Either Rishabh or his friend is spreading this rumor. (Correct)
• Neither Rishabh nor his friend have the courage to stand against this unjust. (Incorrect)
• Neither Rishabh nor his friend has the courage to stand against this unjust. (Correct)

RULE NO. #7: 

When two or more subjects joined by Either…or, Neither…nor, or  are of different numbers then verb must be in Plural.

Ex-

• Either Rishabh or his friends is spreading this rumor.  (Incorrect)
• Either Rishabh or his friends are spreading this rumor. (Correct)
• Neither my friends nor his friend has the courage to stand against this unjust. (Incorrect)
• Neither my friends nor his friend have the courage to stand against this unjust. (Correct)

RULE NO. #8: 

When two or more subjects are joined by Either…or, Neither…nor, or  are of different person then verb must be according to the nearest subject.

Ex-

• Either she or you is spreading this rumor. (Incorrect)
• Either she or you are spreading this rumor. (Correct)
• Neither Ashish nor I will go for the party. (Incorrect)
• Neither Ashish nor I shall go for the party. (Correct)

RULE NO. #9: 

When two or more subjects are joined by as well as, besides, like, unlike, with, along with, in addition to, rather than , together with, accompanied by, led by, headed by, guided by, controlled by, governed by then verb must be according to the first Subject.

Ex-

• Rakesh along with his friends are protesting against new Policy. (Incorrect)
• Rakesh along with his friends is protesting against new Policy. (Correct)
• My friends and my brother has some misunderstanding towards me. (Incorrect)
• My friends and my brother have some misunderstanding towards me. (Correct)

RULE NO. #10: 

We must use Singular verb with Each, Every, Either, Neither, everyone, many a, someone, none, one, any, nobody, somebody.

Ex-

• Either of these pens are used to write this letter. (Incorrect)
• Either of these pens is used to write this letter. (Correct)
• Many a man have supported this plan. (Incorrect)
• Many a man has supported this plan. (Correct)

If you have any problem or did not understand any rule or example of subject verb agreement then you can watch this video on subject verb agreement rules where it was explained thoroughly and in Hindi.

Here are some more useful links:
Click here to Watch All Parts of Speech Videos
To attempt Quizzes on English Language Click Here
For More Study Material Click Here.