CB - IX - Eng - Subject Verb Concord

Subject: English
Topic: Subject Verb Concord
Grade: IX
CB/IX/18 19 Subject Verb Concord 1 of 12

Rule 1
Subject and verb in a sentence must AGREE with one
another in number (singular or plural).
Thus, if a subject is singular, its verb must also be

singular;
if a subject is plural, its verb must also be plural.
Example:
• The boxes are kept in the room.
• The room is full of boxes

Exception
A plural verb is always required after ‘YOU’ even when
it is used in singular, referring to one person.
Example:
You were going to wash the car today?

Rule 2
‘s’ at the end of noun and verb
The ‘s’ added after a noun indicates plural.

But an ‘s’ after a verb indicates THIRD PERSON
SINGULAR i.e. the sentence is in third person and the
subject is singular. For e.g:
Example:
• She goes to the library every single day.
• They go to the park for a walk every morning.

Rule 3
The verb has to agree only with the true, main subject. Not with
the intervening words or phrases .
Example:
The box of Nestle’s chocolates is missing.
(Here, the main subject is box, not chocolates. Hence, we use ‘is’
instead of ‘are’)
More Examples:
• His experience as a teacher to young children gives him a lot of
understanding.
• The prices of the electronic gadgets vary from country to
country.

Rule 4
Subjects joined by ‘AND’ are usually plural and take plural verbs.
Examples:
• His laptop and my were stolen from the desk.
• Chennai and Kolkata have a hot climate.
EXCEPTIONS to this rule:

If the subject has two singular nouns connected by AND; and both are about
the same person / thing, then the verb remains singular.
• My best friend and roommate is going to America for a vacation.

• Soup and bread is our dinner every night.
When two subjects connected by AND are preceded by ‘each, every or many’, a
singular verb is used.
• Every chair, table and sofa, every single piece of furniture in the house is up
for auction.
• Every man and woman in the store is requested to go through the security
check.

Rule 5
Words like ‘with, together with, along with,
besides, as well as, including,
in addition to, etc. ………
do not affect the number of the verb.
If the main subject is singular, the verb has to be singular;

if the subject is plural, the verb has to be plural.
Examples:
• The television, along with the cabinet, is to be sold.
• The decoration of the room, including all the paintings on the
walls, is most pleasing.

Rule 6
If the subject is made up of both singular and plural words

connected by …
or, nor, either – or, neither – nor, not only- but also
then the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
Example:
• Either the packaging or the prices of the items have to be changed.
• Either the prices or the packaging of the items has to be changed.
• Neither the salesman nor the buyers are in favour of the system of
management.
• Neither the buyers nor the salesman is in favour of the system of the
management

Rule 7
If the subject consists of two singular words connected by ‘or,

neither- nor, either – or’, the subject is singular and requires a
singular verb.
Examples:
• Neither the laptop nor the phone was in working order.
• Either January or February is going to be her wedding month.

Rule 7
Nouns that are plural in form but singular in meaning such as…
news, measles, mumps, physics, electronics, tactics, economics ….. and
so on usually take singular verbs.
• News is traveling faster than ever before.

• Physics has fascinated my hostel mate for months.
Some nouns ending in ‘-ics’ such as …

athletics, statistic and politics
are considered singular when referring to an organized body of
knowledge and plural when referring to individual facts, qualities or
activities.
• Athletics provide good recreation. (i.e. various games)

• Economics is an important subject for every field of study.

Rule 9
A linking verb usually agrees with its subject, not with its
compliment.
Excessive absences were the reason for his failure.

The reason of his failure was excessive absences.

Rule 10
Plural verbs are required for many nouns that have no singular
form, such as proceeds, goods, ashes, remains, credentials,
premises etc.
• The proceeds of the magic show are to be given to the

Soldier’s welfare Fund.
• The goods are being dispatched today by train.

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Subject: English

Topic: Subject Verb Concord

CB/IX/18 19 Subject Verb Concord 1 of 12

Thus, if a subject is singular, its verb must also be

CB/IX/18 19 Subject Verb Concord 2 of 12

CB/IX/18 19 Subject Verb Concord 3 of 12

The ‘s’ added after a noun indicates plural.

CB/IX/18 19 Subject Verb Concord 4 of 12

CB/IX/18 19 Subject Verb Concord 5 of 12

EXCEPTIONS to this rule:

• My best friend and roommate is going to America for a vacation.

CB/IX/18 19 Subject Verb Concord 6 of 12

If the main subject is singular, the verb has to be singular;

CB/IX/18 19 Subject Verb Concord 7 of 12

If the subject is made up of both singular and plural words

CB/IX/18 19 Subject Verb Concord 8 of 12

If the subject consists of two singular words connected by ‘or,

CB/IX/18 19 Subject Verb Concord 9 of 12

• News is traveling faster than ever before.

Some nouns ending in ‘-ics’ such as …

• Athletics provide good recreation. (i.e. various games)

CB/IX/18 19 Subject Verb Concord 10 of 12

Excessive absences were the reason for his failure.

CB/IX/18 19 Subject Verb Concord 11 of 12

• The proceeds of the magic show are to be given to the

CB/IX/18 19 Subject Verb Concord 12 of 12

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