Subject-Verb Agreement Correction
Formula
Isolate the actual subject of the clause ➡️ Disregard intervening prepositional phrases ➡️ Align verb number (singular/plural) to the subject.
When to Use
- To correct agreement errors involving collective nouns and compound subjects.
- When solving sentence correction drills featuring parenthetical phrases (as well as, along with).
- To choose correct singular/plural verb forms in error detection exercises.
- When polishing sentences with indefinite pronouns (each, everyone, neither).
Memory Tip
Think of subject and verb as a MARRIED COUPLE. They must agree in number: if the husband is singular, the wife (verb) must be singular; if plural, the verb must be plural. No external family (intervening phrases) can change this contract!
Explanation
Subject-verb agreement is the foundational rule of English grammar: a singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a plural verb. While this sounds simple, competitive exams frequently test sentences where the subject is separated from the verb by intervening phrases, causing confusion.
For example, in the sentence 'The quality of these mangoes is good,' the subject is 'quality' (singular), not 'mangoes' (plural). Therefore, the verb must be 'is,' not 'are.' Similarly, when subjects are connected by phrases like 'along with,' 'as well as,' or 'in addition to,' the verb agrees with the first subject. Indefinite pronouns like 'each,' 'neither,' 'either,' and 'everyone' are always singular and require singular verbs.
Examples
- Incorrect: The quality of these apples are not good. ➡️ Correct: The quality of these apples is not good. (Why: The subject is 'quality' (singular), not 'apples' (plural))
- Incorrect: Ravi, along with his friends, are going to Hyderabad. ➡️ Correct: Ravi, along with his friends, is going to Hyderabad. (Why: Intervening phrase 'along with' does not change the singular subject 'Ravi')
- Incorrect: Each of the candidates have submitted their profile. ➡️ Correct: Each of the candidates has submitted his profile. (Why: 'Each' is a singular pronoun taking the singular verb 'has')
- Incorrect: Neither Suresh nor Arjun were selected for the project. ➡️ Correct: Neither Suresh nor Arjun was selected for the project. (Why: When subjects are connected by 'neither... nor,' the verb agrees with the nearest subject 'Arjun' (singular))
- Incorrect: The committee have submitted its report to the ministry. ➡️ Correct: The committee has submitted its report to the ministry. (Why: Collective noun acting as a single unit takes a singular verb)
- Incorrect: Many a student have failed the qualifying round. ➡️ Correct: Many a student has failed the qualifying round. (Why: The phrase 'Many a' is followed by a singular noun and singular verb)
- Incorrect: Two miles are a long distance to walk daily. ➡️ Correct: Two miles is a long distance to walk daily. (Why: Units of distance, time, or money representing a single quantity take singular verbs)
- Incorrect: The teacher, as well as the students, were present in the hall. ➡️ Correct: The teacher, as well as the students, was present in the hall. (Why: Agreement matches the first subject 'The teacher' (singular))
- Incorrect: Bread and butter are my favorite breakfast. ➡️ Correct: Bread and butter is my favorite breakfast. (Why: Compound subject representing a single food combination takes a singular verb)
- Incorrect: Either the manager or the developers is responsible for the error. ➡️ Correct: Either the manager or the developers are responsible for the error. (Why: Verb agrees with the nearest subject 'developers' (plural))
- Incorrect: There is many challenges to overcome in this project. ➡️ Correct: There are many challenges to overcome in this project. (Why: In 'there is/are' sentences, the verb agrees with the subsequent plural subject 'challenges')
- Incorrect: The news regarding the bank merger are spreading fast. ➡️ Correct: The news regarding the bank merger is spreading fast. (Why: 'News' is an uncountable noun and is always singular)
- Incorrect: A group of students are protesting outside the office. ➡️ Correct: A group of students is protesting outside the office. (Why: The subject is 'A group' (singular collective noun))
- Incorrect: Everyone of the employees have completed the training. ➡️ Correct: Everyone of the employees has completed the training. (Why: 'Everyone' is singular)
- Incorrect: Physics are my favorite subject in college. ➡️ Correct: Physics is my favorite subject in college. (Why: Names of academic subjects ending in -ics are singular)
Common Mistakes
- ❌ Matching the verb to the nearest noun in prepositional phrases. ➡️ ✅ Identify and align the verb to the actual main subject.
- ❌ Using a plural verb when subjects are connected by 'as well as' or 'along with' with a singular first subject. ➡️ ✅ Agree the verb with the first subject.
- ❌ Treating collective nouns (e.g. panel) as plural when they act as a single unit. ➡️ ✅ Use a singular verb for unified collective actions.
- ❌ Using plural verbs after indefinite pronouns like 'each' or 'neither'. ➡️ ✅ Treat indefinite pronouns as always singular.
Quick Quiz
Q1. Choose the correct verb form: 'The panel of judges ___ announced the winner.'
- a) have
- b) has ✓
- c) are
- d) were
Q2. Fill in the blank: 'Either my sister or my parents ___ coming.'
- a) is
- b) are ✓
- c) was
- d) has been
Q3. Identify the error: 'Politics are a dirty game.'
- a) Politics is a dirty game. ✓
- b) Politics were a dirty game.
- c) Politic is a dirty game.
- d) No error