23 RULES OF

SUBJECT-VERB
AGREEMENT

PRESENT TENSE VERB FORMS

Rule

1.A present tense of verb form agrees

with the subject noun pronoun of the

sentence. Use a singular verb form with
singular noun subjects and with the pronoun
subjects he, she, and it.

Rule 2. Use a plural verb form with

plural noun subjects and with the
pronoun subjects I, you, we, and they
Example: They went to market
yesterday.

INDEFINITE PRONOUN SUBJECT

Rule 3.The indefinite pronouns in the box below

are singular. When one of these indefinite pronoun is
the subject of the sentence, use a singular verb form.
Example: 1. Everybody participates in class.
2. Either pamphlets is available

Another
each
everything
nothing
someone
Anybody
either
neither
one
something
Anyone
everybody
nobody
other
Anything everyone
no
one
somebody

Rule 4.The indefinite pronoun in the box below are

plural. When one of these indefinite pronoun is the
subject of the sentence, use a plural verb form.
Example: Many of them are bring pencil.

Both
several

few

many

Rule 5. The indefinite pronouns in the box below may be singular

or plural. Use a singular verb form if the indefinite pronoun refers
to a singular noun. Use a plural verb form if the indefinite pronoun
refers to a singular noun. Use a plural verb form if the indefinite
pronoun refers to a plural noun.
Example :1. All of the book was fascinating.
2. All of the book were fascinating.
all any most none some such

COLLECTIVE NOUN SUBJECTS

Rule 6.Usually a collective noun is used as singular
noun. It refer to a group as a singular verb form.
Example:1. The family upstairs is never quite.
2.The public is on the match.

Rule 7. Sometimes a collective noun used as a plural

noun. It refers to the individual members of a group.
When a collective noun with tis meaning is the
subject of a sentence, use a plural verb form.
Example: 1. The family were quarrelling as
usual.
2. The audience disagree with one
another.

I N T E RV E N I N G W O R D S A N D P H RA S E S
Rule 8. A verb form agrees with the subject
whether the verb comes next to the subject or is
separated from it by other words. Such words in
phrases do not change the number of the subject,
not with some word in the intervening phrase.
Example: Radio, not newspaper is my
source of info.

COMPOUND SUBJECT

Rule 9. Use a plural verb with most compound

subject connected by and.
Example: 1.Good company and good
discourse are the powers of virtue all
were could w/ mud.

and I

Rule 10 . Use a singular verb with a compound

subject that refers to one person or one thing that is
generally considered as unit-that is ,plural in form
but singular in meaning.

Example: My new friend is generous and

intelligent.