Name: __________________________________________ Some pronouns are always plural and indefinite

Yr. & Sec.: _________________ such as both, few, many, others, several. When
these pronouns become the subjects, they always
Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement take plural verbs.
Rule 1:
Singular subjects need singular verbs, while plural Some pronouns are either singular or plural such as
subjects require plural verbs. ‘Be’ verbs change the all, any, more, most, none, such, some, and such.
most according to the number and person of the
subject. Other verbs do not change much on the *Note: Either and neither are singular if they are
basis of the subjects except the verbs of the simple not used with or and nor.
present tense. If the subjects are a third person Example:
singular number, the verbs are used with s/es when Everybody wants to live happily.
they are in simple present tense. The verbs Something is bothering him.
with s/es in the sentence are called singular verbs. No human being lives in that house.
‘Be’ verbs according to number and person of the Neither of you is responsible enough to handle it.
subject. Each student has to submit a separate assignment.
Person/Number Singular Plural Rule 6:
Some nouns are always plural. These nouns have
First am are two parts.
Scissors, shorts, eyeglasses,
Second are are pants, thongs, jeans, trousers, etc.
Example:
Third is are My pants are in the drawer.
Your eyeglasses are dirty.
Rule 2: These scissors are useless.
When the prepositional phrases separate the Note: If these words are preceded by the phrase a
subjects from the verbs, they have no effect on the pair of, they will be regarded as singular subjects.
verbs. Example:
Example: A pair of pants is needed.
A study (singular subject) on African This pair of trousers is ugly.
countries shows (singular verb) that 80% of the
people (plural subject) of this continent live (plural Rule 7:
verb) below the poverty line. None is a singular subject when it is used alone.
The perspective of different people varies from time When it is used with a prepositional phrase starting
to time. with of, the subject can be both plural and singular.
The fear of terrorists and militants has made them None + of the + singular noun + singular verb
flee the city.
None + of the + plural noun + plural verb
Rule 3: Example:
Nouns connected by the conjunction and in the None of the money has been used.
subject work as the plural subject and take a plural None of the teacher wants failure for students.
verb. None of the students want to fail.
Example: None of the bottles are clean enough to keep water.
Alex and Murphy are coming here. Note: No + plural noun takes plural verbs.
Robin and his friends want to go on a tour. Example: no men are hungry now.
Apples and mangoes are my favorite fruits.
Rule 8:
Rule 4: Either . . . or, neither . . . nor, or, and nor take two
If the conjunction ‘and’ is replaced by together nouns before and after them. The nouns placed after
with/ along with/ accompanied by/ as well as, the these conjunctions are regarded as the subjects of
verb will have no effect for the later part of these the sentence. The nouns placed prior to the
expressions. The words prior to these expressions words or and nor have no effect on the verbs.
are the subjects. Example:
Example: Neither Alex nor his brothers are going to the party.
Tom, along with his brothers is going to the city. Either John and Alex or I am doing it.
(‘His brothers’ is not the subject of this sentence.) I or Robert opens the door when someone comes.
Alex, as well as his parents, is coming to the party. Neither the boys nor we are responsible for it.
The boys, accompanied by their teacher Mr.
Robbins are planning a tour. Rule 9:
The sentences beginning with here/there are
Note: If these expressions are replaced by ‘and’, the different in structure. In this case, the subject
subjects will be regarded as plurals, and so the comes after the verb.
verbs have to be plural. Here/There + verb + subject . . . . . .
Example: Tom and his brothers are going to the city. Example:
Here comes(verb) the lion(subject).
Rule 5: There is a pond near the house.
Some pronouns are always singular and indefinite. There are some candies on the table.
When these pronouns become the subjects, they Here is the document for your car.
always take singular verbs. Some examples are
anybody, anyone, anything, nobody, no one, nothing, Rule 10:
somebody, someone, something, everybody, Collective nouns are usually regarded as singular
everyone, everything, each, either*, and neither* subjects.
Examples: Quiz 1.2
The committee has decided to postpone the game. Underline the verb(s) in each sentence.
The family was ecstatic by the news. 1. Chimpanzees live and travel in social groups.
The crowd enjoys the excitement in the game. 2. They spend more time in the trees than on the
Twenty dollars is not a lot of money. (Here, the noun ground.
is plural, but the subject is regarded as a collective 3. Sometimes a proud male will beat on his chest.
noun.) 4. Chimpanzees are violent at times but usually live
peacefully.
Note: The following phrases are also regarded as 5. Chimp tools, such as leaf sponges and sticks, are
collective nouns and thus singular subjects. primitive.
Flock of birds/sheep, herd of cattle, pack of
dogs/wolves, school of fish, pride of lions Quiz 1.3
Example: Encircle the subject(s) in each sentence.
A flock of sheep always moves together. 1. Into the court stumbled the defendant.
A pack of wolves is approaching towards the herd of 2. From tiny acorns grown mighty oaks.
cattle. 3. There was little support for her in the audience.
A school of fish always hides from the big fishes. 4. Here are your books and your papers.
5. Read this exercise and learn about the Aztec
Rule 11: empire in Mexico.
A number of + noun is a plural subject, and it takes
a plural verb. The number of + noun is a singular
subject, and it takes a singular verb. * What question(s) do you have in mind about
Example: this lesson?
A number of dancers are coming to the party.
(Indefinite number of dancers – plural)
The number of dancers coming to the party is 12. * What rules do you need more elaboration or
(Definite number of dancers – singular) examples?
A number of people prefer cricket to football.
The number of days in this month is 28.

Rule 12:
If a gerund or an infinitive comes as a subject, the
verb will always be singular.
Example:
Swimming is a good exercise.
Walking is a good habit.
Eating healthy food makes you healthy.
To err is human.

Rule 13:
If the + an adjective appears as the subject of a
sentence, it will be plural.
Example:
The pious are loved by God.
The industrious are always not successful.
The best do not lack integrity.

Published By LearnGrammar.Net
Quiz 1.1
1. Your friendship over the years and your support
(has/have) meant a great deal to us.
2. Sisters of Mary Family Center, a shelter for
teenage runaways in Minglanilla, (offers/offer) a
wide variety of services.
3. The main source of income for Soledad (is/are)
online selling.
4. The chances of your promotion (is/are) excellent.
5. There (was/were) a Pokémon card stuck to the
refrigerator.
6. Neither the professor nor his assistants (was/were)
able to solve the mystery of the eerie glow in the
laboratory.
7. Many hours at the driving range (has/have) led us
to design golf balls with GPS locators in them.
8. Discovered in the soil of our city garden
(was/were) a button dating from the Civil War dating
from the turn of the century.
9. Every year, during the midsummer festival, the
smoke of village bonfires (fills/fill) the sky.
10. The dance performers (was/were) surrounded by
excited audience.