Grammar : Verb and Subject
Verb and Subject should agree with each other.
The verb in every sentence must agree with the subject in person and in number.
Let us see how the subjects modify the verbs.
1. When two or more subjects are connected by “and", the verb is plural.
Examples:
• He and I are good friends.
• Oxygen and Hydrogen combine to produce water.
• Peter, Raja and Harry are classmates.
In these sentences, you can see how perfectly "Verb and Subject" agree with each other.
2. If two singular nouns refer to the same person, the verb must be singular.
Examples:
• The poet and novelist is dead. (That means that the same person is a poet and a novelist)
• The secretary and cashier was present. (That means the same person was a secretary and cashier)
Note: To find out whether the two words refer to the same person or two different persons, look at the article or
possessive adjective. If there are two articles or possessives, there are two different persons. In that case, the verb must be in plural.
3. If two singular subjects express one idea then the verb may be singular. (Plural verb also permitted)
Examples:
• Slow and steady wins the race.
• The long and short of the problem is this.
• The horse and carriage is waiting.
4. If we get the word “each" and “every" before singular subjects, the verb is singular.
Examples:
• Every member was ready to speak.
• Each day and each hour has its work to be done.
• Every man, woman and child has to be looked after.
In these sentences, you can see how perfectly "Verb and Subject" agree with each other.
5. Two or more singular subjects connected by or,nor, either…or, neither…nor take singular verb.
Examples:
• His gather or he is expected here.
• Either he or his brother might have done this.
• Neither he nor they were present.
• Neither they nor he was present.
• Neither laziness nor dishonest is going to help you.
6. When the subjects, connected by or, nor, either…or, neither…nor, are of different numbers.
The verb must be plural and the plural subject must be put just before the verb.
Examples:
• Mr. Gobi or his brothers have to do this.
• Neither the boy nor his parents were present.
• Either the principal or the Professors might have the decision.
• Neither the head clerk nor the assistant clerks have taken the matter to the manager.
In these sentences, you can see how perfectly "Verb and Subject" agree with each other.
7. When the subjects connected by or, nor, either…or, neither…nor are of different persons.
The verb agrees in person with the subject that comes just before it.
Examples:
• He or I have to be there.
• I or he has to be there. (Between this sentence and the above sentence, the above sentence is preferable)
• Either he or you are mistaken.
• Neither you nor I am to be blamed.
8. When subjects which are different in person or number or both are connected by ‘and’, the verb is plural.
Examples:
• He and I are friends.
• You and I are responsible for this.
• My father and I work in the same office.
• He and his friends have come.
• You and he are class-mates.
In these sentences, you can see how perfectly Verb and Subject agree with each other.
9. For a collective noun, usually a singular verb is used, but when the individuals in the group are taken into consideration, a plural verb is used.
Examples:
• The committee meets tomorrow.
• The committee was divided in its views.
• There is a large number of boys in this group.
• A number of boys have given their names to participate in this competition.
• The crew of ship was efficient.
• The crew were arrested.
10. Few nouns which are plural in forms but singular in meaning take singular verb.
Examples:
• The news was false.
• Mathematics is an interesting subject.
• The wages of sin is death.
In all the sentences given above, you can see how perfectly Verb and Subject agree with each other.
Go to the section on Noun-Types to continue.
Go to the Grammar Index Page
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