Subject-Verb Concord

From Sarkari Service Prep - RBSE Class 10 English Grammar Series

Basic Principle

The core rule of Subject-Verb Concord is simple:

Understanding Singular and Plural Verbs:

Subject Type	Verb Form	Example
Singular (He, She, It, Name)	Verb + s/es (goes, plays, watches)	Ram plays cricket.
Plural (They, We, You, Names)	Verb without s/es (go, play, watch)	Boys play cricket.
I	Verb without s/es	I play cricket.

Important Note: In verbs, adding 's/es' makes it singular (opposite of nouns where 's' makes plural).

Rule 1: Singular and Plural Subjects

Examples:

• The boy plays in the garden. ✓ (Singular)
• The boys play in the garden. ✓ (Plural)
• She writes a letter. ✓ (Singular)
• They write letters. ✓ (Plural)
• The dog barks loudly. ✓ (Singular)
• The dogs bark loudly. ✓ (Plural)

With 'is/are', 'was/were', 'has/have':

Singular Subject	Plural Subject
is, was, has	are, were, have
He is a doctor.	They are doctors.
She was singing.	They were singing.
Ram has a car.	Boys have cars.

Rule 2: Subjects Joined by 'And'

Rule 2A Examples (Different persons/things = Plural Verb):

• Ram and Shyam are friends. ✓
• The teacher and the students have arrived. ✓
• My mother and father work in an office. ✓
• Bread and butter are kept on the table. ✓
• The boy and the girl were playing. ✓

Rule 2B Examples (Same person/thing = Singular Verb):

• The poet and singer has come. ✓ (One person who is both poet and singer)
• Bread and butter is my breakfast. ✓ (Considered as one unit/dish)
• Rice and curry is my favourite food. ✓ (One combination)
• The headmaster and principal is on leave. ✓ (Same person)
• Slow and steady wins the race. ✓ (One concept)

Rule 3: Either...Or / Neither...Nor / Or / Nor

Examples:

• Either Ram or his brothers are guilty. ✓ (brothers = nearest, plural)
• Either his brothers or Ram is guilty. ✓ (Ram = nearest, singular)
• Neither the teacher nor the students were present. ✓
• Neither the students nor the teacher was present. ✓
• Either you or I am wrong. ✓ (I = nearest)
• Either I or you are wrong. ✓ (you = nearest)

Same Rule Applies to:

• Not only...but also
• Or
• Nor

More Examples:

• Not only the players but also the coach was disappointed. ✓
• Not only the coach but also the players were disappointed. ✓
• Neither he nor they have done it. ✓
• Neither they nor he has done it. ✓

Rule 4: Collective Nouns

As One Unit (Singular Verb):

• The team is playing well. ✓ (Team acting together)
• The committee has decided. ✓
• The class is quiet. ✓
• The jury has given its verdict. ✓
• The army is marching. ✓

As Individual Members (Plural Verb):

• The team are wearing their jerseys. ✓ (Each member wearing own jersey)
• The committee are divided in their opinions. ✓
• The class have submitted their assignments. ✓
• The jury are arguing among themselves. ✓
• The family have gone to their respective rooms. ✓

Rule 5: Uncountable Nouns

Common Uncountable Nouns: water, milk, oil, money, furniture, luggage, baggage, information, news, advice, knowledge, hair, bread, rice, sugar, work, homework, equipment, machinery, scenery, poetry, jewellery, stationary

Examples:

• The news is good. ✓
• The information was useful. ✓
• His luggage has arrived. ✓
• The furniture is expensive. ✓
• The advice was helpful. ✓
• The scenery is beautiful. ✓
• The machinery needs repair. ✓
• His hair is black. ✓

Common Mistakes:

• The news are → The news is ✓
• The furniture are → The furniture is ✓
• The information were → The information was ✓

Rule 6: Titles and Names

Examples:

• "The Arabian Nights" is an interesting book. ✓
• "Gulliver's Travels" was written by Jonathan Swift. ✓
• The United States is a powerful country. ✓
• The United Nations has its headquarters in New York. ✓
• "Three Idiots" is a popular movie. ✓
• Mathematics is my favourite subject. ✓
• Physics requires practice. ✓
• Economics deals with money matters. ✓

Rule 7: Distances, Money, Time as a Single Unit

Examples:

• Ten kilometers is a long distance. ✓
• Five hundred rupees is not a big amount. ✓
• Two years is a long time to wait. ✓
• Fifty kilograms is too heavy. ✓
• Three hours was spent on this project. ✓
• Twenty dollars is enough for lunch. ✓

But when considered separately:

• Three hours have passed one by one. ✓ (Considered separately)
• The last two years have been difficult. ✓ (Each year separately)

Rule 8: 'Each', 'Every', 'Everyone', 'Everybody', 'Everything', 'Anyone', 'Anybody', 'Someone', 'Somebody'

Examples:

• Each of the boys has a book. ✓
• Every student is present. ✓
• Everyone was happy. ✓
• Everybody knows the answer. ✓
• Everything is fine. ✓
• Anyone is welcome. ✓
• Anybody can do this. ✓
• Someone has stolen my pen. ✓
• Somebody is at the door. ✓
• Each boy and each girl was given a prize. ✓

Rule 9: 'None', 'No one', 'Nobody'

Examples:

• No one knows the answer. ✓
• Nobody was there. ✓
• None of the water is clean. ✓ (Uncountable = Singular)
• None of the students are present. ✓ (Countable = Plural often used)
• None of the students is present. ✓ (Also acceptable)

Rule 10: Words Between Subject and Verb (Intervening Words)

Key Phrases to Ignore: along with, together with, as well as, in addition to, accompanied by, besides, except, with, including, rather than, no less than, nothing but

Examples:

• The box of chocolates is on the table. ✓ (Subject = box)
• The books on the shelf are new. ✓ (Subject = books)
• Ram, along with his friends, is coming. ✓ (Subject = Ram)
• The teacher, as well as the students, was present. ✓ (Subject = teacher)
• The players, together with their coach, are practicing. ✗ → is ✓
• The captain, accompanied by his team, has arrived. ✓
• My friend, besides his brothers, is helping me. ✓
• The leader, with all his followers, was arrested. ✓

Rule 11: Sentences Starting with 'There' or 'Here'

Examples:

• There is a book on the table. ✓ (Subject = a book)
• There are many books on the table. ✓ (Subject = many books)
• Here comes the bus. ✓ (Subject = the bus)
• Here come the children. ✓ (Subject = the children)
• There was a man waiting. ✓
• There were many people waiting. ✓

Rule 12: Plural Form but Singular Meaning

Common Examples:

Category	Words (Singular)
Subjects	Mathematics, Physics, Economics, Politics, Statistics, Linguistics, Ethics
Diseases	Measles, Mumps, Rabies, Diabetes, Rickets
Games	Billiards, Darts, Dominoes, Draughts
Other	News, Innings, Series, Gallows, Summons

Examples:

• Mathematics is difficult. ✓
• Physics requires logical thinking. ✓
• The news is shocking. ✓
• Measles is a contagious disease. ✓
• Billiards is played on a table. ✓
• This innings was excellent. ✓

Note: 'Statistics' can be plural when meaning 'data/figures': "The statistics show an increase."

Rule 13: 'The + Adjective' as Subject

Examples:

• The poor are suffering. ✓ (= Poor people)
• The rich have many luxuries. ✓ (= Rich people)
• The old need care. ✓ (= Old people)
• The young are energetic. ✓ (= Young people)
• The blind face many difficulties. ✓
• The deaf require special attention. ✓
• The unemployed are looking for jobs. ✓

Rule 14: Relative Pronouns (Who, Which, That)

Examples:

• It is I who am responsible. ✓ (who refers to 'I')
• It is he who is responsible. ✓ (who refers to 'he')
• It is they who are responsible. ✓ (who refers to 'they')
• The boy who is standing there is my brother. ✓
• The boys who are standing there are my friends. ✓
• This is one of the books that have won awards. ✓ (that refers to 'books')
• He is one of those students who work hard. ✓ (who refers to 'students')

Quick Reference Chart

Subject Type	Verb	Example
Singular noun	Singular	The boy plays.
Plural noun	Plural	The boys play.
Two subjects joined by 'and'	Plural	Ram and Shyam are friends.
Same person with 'and'	Singular	The poet and singer has come.
Either...or / Neither...nor	Agrees with nearest	Neither he nor they have come.
Collective noun (as unit)	Singular	The team is ready.
Uncountable nouns	Singular	The news is good.
Each, Every, Everyone	Singular	Each student has a book.
Along with, As well as	Agrees with first subject	Ram, with his friends, is coming.
The + Adjective (class)	Plural	The poor are suffering.
Money/Time/Distance (as unit)	Singular	Ten rupees is enough.

Practice Exercises (35 Questions)

Instructions: Choose the correct verb form from the options given in brackets.

Section A: Basic Agreement (Questions 1-10)

Section B: Either/Or, Neither/Nor (Questions 11-17)

Section C: Along with, As well as (Questions 18-24)

Section D: Collective Nouns & Special Cases (Questions 25-35)

Answer Key with Explanations

Section A Answers

Q. No.	Answer	Explanation (Rule Applied)
1	is	Subject is 'quality' (singular). 'Of these mangoes' is a prepositional phrase - ignore it. (Rule 10)
2	is	Mathematics - looks plural but is singular (subject name). (Rule 12)
3	was	News is uncountable, always singular. (Rule 5)
4	is	Bread and butter = one food item/combination. (Rule 2B)
5	has	Same person is poet and novelist (one 'the'). (Rule 2B)
6	have	Two different people (two 'the's). (Rule 2A)
7	has	'Each' always takes singular verb. (Rule 8)
8	was	'Every' with each subject = singular verb. (Rule 8)
9	is	Money as a single unit. (Rule 7)
10	is	Book title = one entity. (Rule 6)

Section B Answers

Q. No.	Answer	Explanation (Rule Applied)
11	are	Nearest subject 'friends' is plural. (Rule 3 - Proximity)
12	is	Nearest subject 'Ram' is singular. (Rule 3 - Proximity)
13	were	Nearest subject 'students' is plural. (Rule 3)
14	was	Nearest subject 'teacher' is singular. (Rule 3)
15	was	Nearest subject 'captain' is singular. (Rule 3)
16	am	Nearest subject 'I' takes 'am'. (Rule 3)
17	have	Nearest subject 'sisters' is plural. (Rule 3)

Section C Answers

Q. No.	Answer	Explanation (Rule Applied)
18	is	Main subject 'teacher' is singular. Ignore 'along with the students'. (Rule 10)
19	was	Main subject 'Ram' is singular. Ignore 'as well as his brothers'. (Rule 10)
20	has	Main subject 'captain' is singular. (Rule 10)
21	is	Main subject 'manager' is singular. (Rule 10)
22	were	Main subject 'students' is plural. (Rule 10)
23	has	Main subject 'brother' is singular. (Rule 10)
24	are	Main subject 'boys' is plural. (Rule 10)

Section D Answers

Q. No.	Answer	Explanation (Rule Applied)
25	has	Committee acting as one unit ('its' = singular). (Rule 4)
26	are	Jury members acting individually ('their' = plural). (Rule 4)
27	are	The poor = poor people (class). (Rule 13)
28	are	Subject 'books' (after There) is plural. (Rule 11)
29	is	Furniture is uncountable. (Rule 5)
30	knows	'No one' always takes singular verb. (Rule 9)
31	is	Country name = one entity. (Rule 6)
32	am	'Who' refers to 'I'. (Rule 14)
33	work	'Who' refers to 'students' (plural). (Rule 14)
34	wins	'Slow and steady' = one concept/proverb. (Rule 2B)
35	has	Water is uncountable. (Rule 5)

Board Examination Tips

See Also

• Tenses - Complete Guide
• Active and Passive Voice
• Reported Speech (Direct and Indirect)
• Complex Sentences