Subject Verb Agreement Rules for CBSE English

Subject verb agreement rules for CBSE english

1. SUBJECT- VERB AGREEMENT A VERB MUST ALWAYS AGREE WITH ITS SUBJECT IN NUMBER AND PERSON Singular Verbs- is, was, has, does makes, likes , etc. Plural Verbs- are, were, have, do, make, like, etc.

2. NOUNS THAT HAVE PLURAL FORMS ATHLETICS, POLITICS, MATHEMATICS, PHYSICS,NEWS, MEASLES, HEADQUARTERS, ROBOTICS, etc . EXAMPLES – The news is untrue. Measles is on the rise. Politics does not interest me. Mathematics is an interesting subject.

3. SOMETIMES TWO SUBJECTS ARE REGARDED AS REPRESENTING ONE IDEA. EXAMPLES: Slow and steady wins the race. Fish and chips is my favourite . Bread and butter is a wholesome food. Time and tide waits for none.

4. IF TWO SINGULAR NOUNS REFER TO THE SAME PERSON OR THING. The poet and philosopher is dead. The secretary and manager has been arrested. My mentor and guide is going to arrive soon. My neighbour and friend has been a magician for many years . NOTE: If the article is used only once, then the two nouns refer to the same person. If the article is used twice, then two distinct people are intended . The secretary and the manager have been arrested.

5. EACH, EVERYONE, EITHER , NEITHER MUST BE FOLLOWED BY SINGULAR VERBS EXAMPLES- Neither of you is telling the truth. Each of these boys has done his best. Everyone likes to relax. Either Mohan or Sohan is absent.

6. IF A NOUN IS PRECEDED BY EACH AND EVERY EXAMPLES- Each and every person was hiding the fact. Each and every girl has participated in the dance. Each and every man likes to drive. Each and every woman in my family is independent.

7. WHEN TWO SUBJECTS ARE JOINED BY AS WELL AS OR WITH , THE VERB AGREES WITH THE FIRST SUBJECT IN NUMBER AND PERSON EXAMPLE- The King, with all his ministers , was sent to prison. Iron as well as gold is found in India. James, with his friends, was going to perform on the stage. The father, as well as his sons, is hard working and sincere. 5. The cats, as well as the dog , are fighting for the ball.

8. WHEN TWO SUBJECTS ARE JOINED BY OR, EITHER…OR, NEITHER…… NOR, THE VERB AGREES WITH THE SUBJECT CLOSEST TO IT. EXAMPLES- Neither Arun nor his sister speaks English. Either you or your friends have broken the class. Neither my sisters nor my mother is singing. Either Nikhil or his brothers are going abroad.