Lecture #3 – Subject–Verb Agreement | Functional English

 Lecture #3 – Subject–Verb Agreement


Definition:

Subject–Verb Agreement is a grammatical rule stating that the verb must agree with its subject in number (singular or plural) and person.



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Rule #1: Singular and Plural Subjects


If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular.

If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.


Examples:


The boy is playing.


The boys are playing.


She plays the piano.


He works very hard.


My friends like movies.


The class studies together.


We work in the same office.




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Rule #2: Two Singular Subjects Joined by "and"


When two singular subjects are connected by and, the verb becomes plural.


Examples:


Ali and Ahmed are playing.


The teacher and supervisor are attending the class.


The dog and the cat are having lunch.


My brother and I live in Karachi.


Honesty and kindness make a person great.



Exceptions:

If two nouns refer to the same person or idea, the verb remains singular.


Bread and butter is my favourite breakfast.


My friend and guide is here.


The principal teacher is on leave today.




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Rule #3: Subjects Joined by "Either/Or" or "Neither/Nor"


When two subjects are joined by either...or or neither...nor, the verb agrees with the nearest subject.


Examples:


Ali or Ahmed plays football every evening.


Neither the teacher nor the student knows the answer.


A pen or a pencil is needed to write this test.


Either the cat or the dog is making that noise.


Either my brother or my cousins visit us every weekend.




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Rule #4: Mixed Singular and Plural Subjects


If one subject is singular and the other plural, the verb agrees with the subject closer to it.


Examples:


The Johnsons or Sue is coming for dinner.


Sue or the Johnsons are coming for dinner.


Either the students or the teacher has to arrange the books.


Either the teacher or the students have to arrange the books.


Neither the girl nor the boys are late.




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Rule #5: Phrase Between Subject and Verb


The verb agrees with the main subject, not the phrase in between.


Examples:


One of the students is missing.


The students who read that story are few.


The president, as well as the members of parliament, is ready for the elections.


The man in brown shoes is running.



More Examples:


The teacher, along with the students, is going on a trip.


My brother, as well as his friends, loves football.


The students, along with the teacher, are visiting the museum.




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Rule #6: Indefinite Pronouns


Words like everyone, each, someone, anyone, nobody take singular verbs.


Examples:


Everyone loves a good story.


Each of the students is ready for the test.


Somebody has left their bag here.


Nobody knows the answer.


Anyone is welcome to join the club.




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Rule #7: Nouns Ending in "s" but Singular


Some nouns end with "s" but are singular in meaning (e.g. mathematics, news, measles, phonetics).


Examples:


The news is bad for all the family members.


Phonetics is the study of sounds.




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Rule #8: Nouns Always Plural


Some nouns are always plural, like trousers, pants, glasses, scissors, sunglasses.


Examples:


His glasses are cool.


Sally’s trousers are made in Turkey.


Your sunglasses are perfect on you.




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Rule #9: Collective Nouns


When a collective noun refers to the group as a whole, use a singular verb.

When it refers to individual members, use a plural verb.


Examples:


The flock is migrating to the south.


The orchestra plays only on special days.


The orchestra are leaving the party.




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Exercise


1. She (writes) letters every week.



2. The boys (play) football in the park.



3. My mother (cooks) delicious food.



4. Either Ali or his friends (are) coming to the party.



5. Neither the teacher nor the students (were) late.





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✅ Submitted by: Saif Ullah

BBA – 1st Semester

Karakoram International University (KIU)

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