Agreement of Subject and Verb

Index Agreement in Person Agreement in Number Plural Nouns and Singular Verb Either, neither, each, none, every Either… or Neither… nor Index page

The verb agrees with its subject in person. Agreement in Person The verb agrees with its subject in person. E.g Singular Plural First Person : I love We love Second Person : You love You love Third Person : He, She, It loves They Love

A singular/plural subjects are followed by singular/plural verbs. Agreement in Number A singular/plural subjects are followed by singular/plural verbs. E.g. There is an apple on the table. E.g. There are three apples on the table.

(b) A compound subject takes a plural verb. Agreement in Number (b) A compound subject takes a plural verb. E.g. Peter and I are going for a walk. (c) A Subject plural in form but singular in meaning takes a singular verb. E.g. Electronics is a science. E.g. Also, news, mathematics take a singular verb.

E.g. A black and a white horses have been offered for sale. Agreement in Number (d) A collective noun takes a singular or a plural verb, depending on the way is understood. E.g. A black and a white horses have been offered for sale. It means that there are two horses for sale. E.g. A black and white horse has been offered for sale. It means that there is only one horse for sale.

Plural Nouns and Singular Verb The title of books and the name of countries are always followed by a singular verb. E.g. Skills Building is my English textbook. E.g. Australia is a great country.

Plural Nouns and Singular Verb The expressions in the following sentences are regarded as a unit, a single quantity, and is therefore followed by singular verb. E.g. Three months is the maximum time we can allow you for this work. E.g. Three-quarters of his talent lies in sport.

Either, neither, each, none, every Either, neither and each used as pronouns take a singular verb. E.g. Either of these methods is satisfactory. E.g. Neither of workmen has any reason for complaint.

Either, neither, each, none, every (b) None may be followed either by a singular verb or by a plural verb according to the sense. E.g. Of all the days in the week none is more pleasant to me than Sunday. (Here none is equivalent to “no one”of the days.)

Either, neither, each, none, every (c) Either, neither, each, every When the subject is one of these four words followed by a noun(i.e. when they are used as adjectives), the verb is in the singular. E.g. Each boy is responsible for himself alone. E.g. Neither program gives me much pleasure. E.g. Every boy and every girl was tested for physical fitness.

Either… or Neither… nor When two singular subjects are joined by either… or or by neither …nor , the verb is in the singular. When there are two plural subjects, the verb is in the plural. E.g. Either Peter or I am knocking at the door. E.g. Neither the manufacturers nor the wholesalers have explained for the reason for the delay.

Either… or Neither… nor (b)When the two subjects are not of the same person, the verb agrees in person and number with the second subject. E.g. Either you or Mary is listening. E.g. Neither John nor I am listening.

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