Subject-Verb Agreement

Introduction

Subject-verb agreement means the verb must match its subject in number. A singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb. The rule looks easy, but examiners hide the real subject behind long phrases and use nouns whose form is misleading. Two or three questions in every NTRCA paper test this topic.

The core rules

Rule 1: Each, every, either, neither, one, everyone, anyone, no one, somebody are singular

Each of the boys is present. Everyone has to obey the law.

Rule 2: One of + plural noun takes a singular verb

One of my friends is a doctor. The subject is one, not friends.

Rule 3: The number of and a number of

• The number of + plural noun + singular verb: The number of students is increasing.
• A number of + plural noun + plural verb: A number of students are absent.

Rule 4: Two subjects joined by and

• Usually plural: Rahim and Karim are friends.
• Singular when the two nouns form one idea or one person: Bread and butter is my breakfast. Slow and steady wins the race.
• If each noun has its own article, there are two people: A poet and a singer are present.

Rule 5: Either...or, neither...nor, not only...but also

The verb agrees with the nearer subject. Neither the teacher nor the students were present. Neither the students nor the teacher was present.

Rule 6: With, along with, together with, as well as, in addition to

The verb agrees with the first subject. The minister, along with his secretaries, has arrived.

Rule 7: Plural in form but singular in meaning

• School subjects: mathematics, physics, economics, politics, ethics, statistics (as a subject).
• Diseases: measles, mumps, diabetes.
• Places and organisations: the United States, the Netherlands, the United Nations.
• News is always singular: The news is true.

Rule 8: Always plural

• police, cattle, people, poultry, peasantry, clergy, gentry: The police have arrested the thief.
• Pair nouns such as scissors, trousers, spectacles and jeans: My trousers are new. But a pair of scissors is on the table.

Rule 9: Money, distance, time and weight as one unit are singular

Ten kilometres is a long distance. Fifty taka is enough. Two years is a long time.

Rule 10: Many a and more than one take a singular noun and verb

Many a student has failed. More than one boy was absent. But a great many students are absent.

Rule 11: The + adjective means a group of people and is plural

The rich are not always happy. The poor need help.

Rule 12: Collective nouns

• A group seen as one unit takes a singular verb: The committee has decided.
• Members seen individually take a plural verb: The committee are divided in their opinions.

Rule 13: There is and there are

The verb agrees with the noun that follows. There is a pen and a book. There are two books on the table.

Rule 14: Relative pronouns

• He is one of those men who work hard. The antecedent is those men, which is plural.
• He is the only one of the boys who works hard. The antecedent is the only one, which is singular.

Rule 15: Half of, all of, some of, most of, a lot of

The verb follows the noun after of. Half of the apple is rotten. Half of the apples are rotten.

Rule 16: A gerund or an infinitive as subject is singular

Walking in the morning is good for health. To err is human.

Common exam traps

• The number of students are increasing. Wrong. The number of takes is.
• Each of the boys are present. Wrong. Each takes is.
• The teacher along with the students were present. Wrong. The first subject is teacher, so use was.
• The news are true. Wrong. News takes is.
• A long phrase between subject and verb (of the boys, in the room) does not change the subject. Find the real subject first.

Memory tips

• Singular group: each, every, either, neither, one, everyone, no one, many a. All take a singular verb.
• Nearest rule: either...or, neither...nor and not only...but also agree with the nearer subject.
• Along-with rule: with, along with, as well as and together with agree with the first subject.
• Always plural: police, cattle, people, poultry, peasantry.
• Singular despite the s: mathematics, economics, news, politics, physics.

Solved examples

Example 1. One of the books on the shelf (is / are) missing. The subject is one, not books, so the answer is is.

Example 2. Neither the manager nor his assistants (was / were) informed. The nearer subject is assistants, so the answer is were.

Example 3. The captain with all his players (has / have) arrived. With does not make the subject plural. The answer is has.

Example 4. Three hundred taka (is / are) not enough. This is one sum of money, so the answer is is.

Example 5. She is the only one of my cousins who (live / lives) abroad. The antecedent is the only one, so the answer is lives.

Practice problems

1. A number of applicants (has / have) been selected.
2. The Arabian Nights (is / are) an interesting book.
3. Either you or I (am / are) to blame.
4. The poor (deserves / deserve) our help.
5. Physics (is / are) a difficult subject.
6. Bread and jam (is / are) a simple breakfast.

Answers: 1. have. 2. is. 3. am (the nearer subject is I). 4. deserve. 5. is. 6. is (one dish).

Practice MCQs with solutions

Note: these are practice questions written in the style of past NTRCA/BCS preliminary papers. Please cross-check with the official question bank.

Question 1. Each of the players ____ given a medal.

• (a) were
• (b) was
• (c) have been
• (d) are

Correct answer: (b) was

Explanation: Each is singular.

Question 2. The number of unemployed youths ____ rising.

• (a) is
• (b) are
• (c) were
• (d) have been

Correct answer: (a) is

Explanation: The number of takes a singular verb.

Question 3. Neither the teachers nor the principal ____ present.

• (a) were
• (b) are
• (c) was
• (d) have been

Correct answer: (c) was

Explanation: The nearer subject principal is singular.

Question 4. Ten miles ____ a long way to walk.

• (a) are
• (b) is
• (c) were
• (d) have been

Correct answer: (b) is

Explanation: A distance treated as one unit is singular.

Question 5. Many a man ____ tried and failed.

• (a) have
• (b) has
• (c) are
• (d) were

Correct answer: (b) has

Explanation: Many a is followed by a singular noun and verb.

Question 6. The rich ____ not always happy.

• (a) is
• (b) are
• (c) was
• (d) has been

Correct answer: (b) are

Explanation: The + adjective names a group and is plural.

Question 7. The police ____ looking for the thief.

• (a) is
• (b) was
• (c) are
• (d) has been

Correct answer: (c) are

Explanation: Police is always plural.

Question 8. Economics ____ my favourite subject.

• (a) are
• (b) is
• (c) were
• (d) have been

Correct answer: (b) is

Explanation: A school subject ending in -ics is singular.

Key takeaways

• Find the real subject and ignore phrases that come between the subject and the verb.
• Each, every, either, neither and one are always singular.
• With either...or, and neither...nor, follow the nearer subject. With along with, follow the first subject.
• The number of is singular. A number of is plural.
• Subjects such as mathematics and news look plural but are singular.