English Grammar for Placements
Subject-Verb Agreement
Master agreement with compound subjects, collective nouns, quantities, relative clauses, and confusing intervening phrases.
Introduction
Agreement errors often occur because another noun appears between the true subject and the verb. Remove prepositional phrases and modifiers temporarily to locate the head of the subject.
Meaning also matters. Collective nouns, quantities, titles, and words such as none can take forms based on how the speaker conceptualizes them.
Definition
Subject-verb agreement means that a finite verb matches its grammatical subject in person and number.
The definition should be applied through meaning and context. In objective examinations, two forms may appear structurally possible, but only one expresses the intended relationship accurately.
Formula and structure
Singular subject + singular finite verb
Plural subject + plural finite verb
Subject-Verb Agreement rules
- Ignore nouns inside intervening prepositional phrases when identifying the subject.
- Subjects joined by and are normally plural.
- With either/or and neither/nor, the verb commonly agrees with the nearer subject.
- Each, every, either, and neither take singular verbs when used as subjects.
- A quantity treated as one unit takes a singular verb.
- In there is/are constructions, agreement follows the real subject after the verb.
Examples with explanation
The quality of the components is important.
This example demonstrates rule 1: Ignore nouns inside intervening prepositional phrases when identifying the subject.
Neither the students nor the teacher is ready.
This example demonstrates rule 2: Subjects joined by and are normally plural.
Neither the teacher nor the students are ready.
This example demonstrates rule 3: With either/or and neither/nor, the verb commonly agrees with the nearer subject.
Ten kilometres is a long distance to walk.
This example demonstrates rule 4: Each, every, either, and neither take singular verbs when used as subjects.
Common mistakes
The list of items are ready → The list ... is ready.
Each of the students have → Each ... has.
There is many reasons → There are many reasons.
The teacher as well as the students are → ... is.
Subject-Verb Agreement practice questions
Answer each question before opening the solution. These initial questions demonstrate the practice format; the bank is designed to expand without changing the page URL.
Multiple-choice questions
1. Each of the students ___ ready.
- are
- is
- were
- have
Answer: is
2. The quality of the parts ___ important.
- are
- were
- is
- have
Answer: is
3. Which statement about subject-verb agreement is correct?
- Ignore nouns inside intervening prepositional phrases when identifying the subject.
- The list of items are ready → The list ... is ready.
- The rule depends only on sentence length.
- No grammatical context is required.
Answer: Ignore nouns inside intervening prepositional phrases when identifying the subject.
4. Which statement about subject-verb agreement is correct?
- Subjects joined by and are normally plural.
- Each of the students have → Each ... has.
- The rule depends only on sentence length.
- No grammatical context is required.
Answer: Subjects joined by and are normally plural.
5. Which statement about subject-verb agreement is correct?
- With either/or and neither/nor, the verb commonly agrees with the nearer subject.
- There is many reasons → There are many reasons.
- The rule depends only on sentence length.
- No grammatical context is required.
Answer: With either/or and neither/nor, the verb commonly agrees with the nearer subject.
6. Which statement about subject-verb agreement is correct?
- Each, every, either, and neither take singular verbs when used as subjects.
- The teacher as well as the students are → ... is.
- The rule depends only on sentence length.
- No grammatical context is required.
Answer: Each, every, either, and neither take singular verbs when used as subjects.
Fill in the blanks
1. Study this example and identify the rule used: “The quality of the components is important.”
Answer: Ignore nouns inside intervening prepositional phrases when identifying the subject.
2. Study this example and identify the rule used: “Neither the students nor the teacher is ready.”
Answer: Subjects joined by and are normally plural.
3. Study this example and identify the rule used: “Neither the teacher nor the students are ready.”
Answer: With either/or and neither/nor, the verb commonly agrees with the nearer subject.
4. Study this example and identify the rule used: “Ten kilometres is a long distance to walk.”
Answer: Each, every, either, and neither take singular verbs when used as subjects.
Error detection
1. Find or correct the error: The list of items are ready → The list ... is ready.
Explanation: Review rule: Ignore nouns inside intervening prepositional phrases when identifying the subject.
2. Find or correct the error: Each of the students have → Each ... has.
Explanation: Review rule: Subjects joined by and are normally plural.
3. Find or correct the error: There is many reasons → There are many reasons.
Explanation: Review rule: With either/or and neither/nor, the verb commonly agrees with the nearer subject.
4. Find or correct the error: The teacher as well as the students are → ... is.
Explanation: Review rule: Each, every, either, and neither take singular verbs when used as subjects.
Subject-Verb Agreement interview questions
- Explain subject-verb agreement in your own words.
- What is the most important rule in subject-verb agreement?
- Give a correct workplace example involving subject-verb agreement.
- Which subject-verb agreement mistake do candidates make most often?
- How would you correct an unclear sentence involving this topic?
PDF notes
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Frequently asked questions
What is Subject-Verb Agreement?
Subject-verb agreement means that a finite verb matches its grammatical subject in person and number.
Why is subject-verb agreement important for placement exams?
It is commonly tested through sentence correction, error detection, fill-in-the-blank, verbal ability, and interview communication tasks.
How should I study subject-verb agreement?
Understand the underlying meaning, learn the core rules, compare correct and incorrect examples, and then practise questions with explanations.
Can I save these subject-verb agreement notes as a PDF?
Yes. Use the Save PDF notes button and select Save as PDF in your browser's print dialog.