Theory

3.1 The Basic Rule

A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb. In the present tense, the singular third-person verb usually ends in -s/-es, while the plural verb does not.

1. The boy plays in the field every evening.
2. The boys play in the field every evening.
3. My sister has finished her homework.
4. Those flowers smell lovely.
5. This machine works very quietly.

Note: A plural verb has no -s; a singular verb takes the -s. Remember the rocking rule — the -s goes on either the noun or the verb, rarely both: dog runs / dogs run.

3.2 Subjects Joined by "and"

Two or more subjects joined by and normally take a plural verb.

1. Ram and Shyam are good friends.
2. The teacher and the students were present.
3. Gold and silver are precious metals.
4. My pen and my pencil have been lost.
5. Honesty and hard work lead to success.

Exception — single idea / one unit: When the two nouns joined by and describe one person, one thing or one combined idea, the verb is singular.

1. Bread and butter is a wholesome breakfast.
2. The horse and carriage is at the door.
3. Slow and steady wins the race.
4. Rice and curry is my favourite dish.
5. The poet and statesman has arrived. (one person — note the single article the)

Note: If the article (or a possessive) is repeated before each noun — The poet and the statesman have arrived — two different persons are meant, so the verb becomes plural.

3.3 Each, Every, Either of, Neither of, One of

Each, every, each of, either of, neither of, one of, every one of are followed by a singular verb, even when a plural noun stands in between.

1. Each of the boys has a book.
2. Every student was given a prize.
3. Either of the answers is correct.
4. Neither of the two roads leads to the station.
5. One of my friends lives in Lucknow.

Note: Every + noun + and + every + noun still takes a singular verb: Every man and every woman was questioned.

3.4 Either…or / Neither…nor / Not only…but also — the Nearer-Subject Rule

When subjects are joined by either…or, neither…nor, not only…but also, or simply or, the verb agrees with the subject nearer to it.

1. Either the manager or his clerks are responsible. (nearer = clerks, plural)
2. Neither the players nor the captain was ready. (nearer = captain, singular)
3. Not only the students but also the teacher was tired.
4. Either you or he is mistaken.
5. Neither the principal nor the teachers have agreed.

Note: Good style places the plural subject second, so the plural verb sounds natural: write Neither the captain nor the players are ready rather than the awkward reverse.

3.5 With / As well as / Along with — the First-Subject Rule

The phrases with, along with, as well as, together with, in addition to, accompanied by, no less than, like, besides are parenthetical. They do not add a new subject; the verb agrees with the first (real) subject. Such phrases are usually set off by commas.

1. The teacher, along with the students, was present.
2. Ram, as well as his brothers, has gone home.
3. The captain, together with his men, was rewarded.
4. The minister, accompanied by his guards, has arrived.
5. The house, with its furniture, was sold.

Trick: Mentally delete the comma-bound phrase. The teacher … was present. The verb must match what remains.

3.6 Collective Nouns

Collective nouns (team, jury, committee, family, government, crowd, audience, class, herd) take a singular verb when the group acts as one unit, and a plural verb when its members act individually.

1. The committee has taken its decision. (one unit)
2. The committee were divided in their opinions. (individuals)
3. The jury was unanimous in its verdict.
4. The jury were unable to agree among themselves.
5. The team is playing well today.

3.7 "The number of" vs "A number of"

The number of + plural noun → singular verb (the subject is number).
A number of + plural noun → plural verb (it means many).

1. The number of students is increasing.
2. A number of students are absent today.
3. The number of accidents has fallen.
4. A number of books were stolen.
5. The number of applicants was very large.

3.8 Plural in Form, Singular in Meaning

Some nouns end in -s but are singular in sense and take a singular verb: subjects of study and certain diseases — news, mathematics, physics, economics, politics, statistics (the subject), ethics, athletics, measles, mumps, rickets, billiards.

1. No news is good news.
2. Mathematics is my favourite subject.
3. Physics deals with matter and energy.
4. Politics is a dirty game.
5. Measles is a contagious disease.

Note: When statistics, politics, economics mean data/activities rather than the subject, they take a plural verb: The statistics of the report are alarming.

3.9 Plural in Form, Plural in Use (Pair Nouns)

Nouns naming things made of two joined parts take a plural verb: scissors, trousers, spectacles, pliers, tongs, shorts, jeans, pants, scales, premises.

1. These scissors are blunt.
2. My trousers are torn.
3. Where are my spectacles?
4. The pliers were on the table.
5. His jeans were faded.

Note — "a pair of": When preceded by a pair of, the subject becomes the singular pair, so the verb is singular: A pair of scissors is on the table.

3.10 None / Some / All / Most / Half / Majority + of

These quantifiers agree with the noun after "of": singular noun → singular verb; plural noun → plural verb.

1. Some of the milk is spoiled.
2. Some of the apples are rotten.
3. All of the cake was eaten.
4. All of the boys were present.
5. Most of the work is done.

Note: None may take a singular or plural verb. With an uncountable/singular sense it is singular (None of the money is left); with countable plurals modern usage allows plural (None of the students were ready). For exams, prefer the verb that matches the noun after of. The majority of + plural noun usually takes a plural verb.

3.11 Indefinite Pronouns

The indefinite pronouns ending in -one, -body, -thing — everyone, someone, anyone, no one, everybody, somebody, anybody, nobody, everything, something, anything, nothing — together with each, either, neither as pronouns, are singular.

1. Everyone has arrived.
2. Somebody is knocking at the door.
3. Nobody knows the answer.
4. Each of us has a duty.
5. Nothing was left in the box.

3.12 Titles, Money, Distance, Time, Weight as a Single Unit

The title of a book, film or organisation, even if plural in form, takes a singular verb. Likewise a stated amount of money, distance, time or weight regarded as one whole takes a singular verb.

1. "Great Expectations" is a novel by Dickens.
2. The United Nations is meeting today.
3. Ten rupees is not a big amount.
4. Twenty kilometres is a long walk.
5. Five years is a long time to wait.

3.13 "There is / There are" and Introductory Constructions

In sentences beginning with there or here, the verb agrees with the real subject that follows it.

1. There is a book on the table.
2. There are many books on the table.
3. Here comes the bus.
4. There was no reason to worry.
5. There are two reasons for this.

3.14 Relative Pronoun — Antecedent Agreement

A verb after a relative pronoun (who, which, that) agrees with the antecedent of that pronoun.

1. This is one of the books that are on the shelf. (that = books, plural)
2. He is one of those men who are never satisfied.
3. She is the only one of the girls who has passed. (who = only one, singular)
4. It is I who am responsible.
5. It is you who are at fault.

Key contrast: "one of those who are" (plural antecedent) vs "the only one of those who is" (the word only makes the antecedent one, hence singular).

3.15 "Many a", "More than one", Percentages and Fractions

Many a / Many an + singular noun → singular verb. More than one + singular noun → singular verb (despite the plural sense).

1. Many a man has tried and failed.
2. Many a flower is born to blush unseen.
3. More than one student was punished.
4. More than one house has been built here.
5. Many a time has she warned him.

Percentages and fractions of: The verb agrees with the noun after of — singular noun → singular verb, plural noun → plural verb.

1. Fifty per cent of the work is finished.
2. Fifty per cent of the workers are absent.
3. Two-thirds of the land is barren.
4. Two-thirds of the students have passed.
5. Three-quarters of the cake was eaten.

3.16 Consolidated Rules Table

Common Exam Errors

Exam Tricks

• Ignore the phrase between commas. Strike out any group set off by commas (as well as, along with, together with, accompanied by, including, like, no less than) and match the verb to what remains. The captain, with his men, ___ here → The captain … is here.
• Look for the nearer subject with either…or / neither…nor / not only…but also. The verb hugs the subject closest to it.
• Spot "the" vs "a" before number of: The = singular verb; A = plural verb. A classic distractor.
• Beware fake plurals. Words ending in -s such as news, physics, measles, politics, mumps are singular.
• Find the real subject after "there/here". The expletive there is never the subject.
• Underline the head noun in one of / each of / either of structures — the verb obeys one / each / either, not the plural that follows.
• Watch the "only one" switch: "one of those who are" but "the only one of those who is".
• Treat money, time, distance, weight stated as one quantity as singular: Ten rupees is…, Five years is…
• Distractor pattern: examiners insert a long plural phrase between a singular subject and its verb to tempt you into a plural verb. Resist it.

Frequently Confused Pairs

Exceptions — Important, Rare and Advanced

• Collective noun shift: The same collective noun can be singular or plural in one passage depending on whether the group acts as a body or as individuals — keep the pronouns consistent (its with singular, their with plural).
• Statistics / Economics / Politics: Singular as a field of study, but plural when meaning data or activities (The economics of the plan are sound).
• "A great many" / "The majority of": Both take a plural verb (A great many people were there; The majority of voters were satisfied). But a majority of one meaning a margin can be singular.
• "The rich / the poor / the wounded": Adjectives used as nouns for a whole class take a plural verb (The poor are always with us).
• Cattle, police, people, gentry, vermin, poultry, clergy: These are treated as plural (The police have caught the thief).
• "What" as subject: agrees with its complement — What we need is money (singular) vs What we need are good books (plural).
• Distributive after "every … and every …": still singular — Every boy and every girl was given a seat.
• Two infinitives/clauses + and: often felt as one combined idea, taking a singular verb (To eat well and to sleep well is essential) — but plural is also accepted when treated as two acts.
• "Means": singular or plural by sense — This means is effective (a method) / His means are limited (wealth).
• Proximity vs notional agreement: Modern British usage sometimes favours notional plural after collective nouns even with a singular form; UPESSC keys, however, follow the classic unit-rule.

50 MCQs

Easy (1–15)

1. Each of the students ___ a textbook.

(a) have (b) has (c) are having (d) were having
Answer: (b) has
Explanation: Each of takes a singular verb.

2. The boys ___ playing in the ground.

(a) is (b) was (c) are (d) has
Answer: (c) are
Explanation: Plural subject boys takes a plural verb.

3. No news ___ good news.

(a) are (b) is (c) were (d) have
Answer: (b) is
Explanation: News is singular in meaning.

4. My trousers ___ torn.

(a) is (b) was (c) are (d) has
Answer: (c) are
Explanation: Pair noun trousers takes a plural verb.

5. Mathematics ___ my favourite subject.

(a) are (b) is (c) were (d) have
Answer: (b) is
Explanation: Name of a subject is singular.

6. There ___ many books on the shelf.

(a) is (b) was (c) are (d) has
Answer: (c) are
Explanation: Verb agrees with the real subject books.

7. Everyone ___ welcome to the party.

(a) are (b) is (c) were (d) have
Answer: (b) is
Explanation: Everyone is a singular indefinite pronoun.

8. One of my friends ___ in Delhi.

(a) live (b) lives (c) are living (d) have lived
Answer: (b) lives
Explanation: One of takes a singular verb.

9. The committee ___ taken its decision.

(a) have (b) has (c) are (d) were
Answer: (b) has
Explanation: Acting as one unit, the collective noun is singular.

10. Bread and butter ___ a healthy breakfast.

(a) are (b) were (c) is (d) have
Answer: (c) is
Explanation: A single combined idea takes a singular verb.

11. A number of students ___ absent today.

(a) is (b) was (c) are (d) has
Answer: (c) are
Explanation: A number of means many → plural verb.

12. The number of accidents ___ falling.

(a) are (b) is (c) were (d) have
Answer: (b) is
Explanation: The subject is number → singular.

13. Neither of the boys ___ guilty.

(a) are (b) were (c) is (d) have
Answer: (c) is
Explanation: Neither of takes a singular verb.

14. Ten rupees ___ not much these days.

(a) are (b) is (c) were (d) have
Answer: (b) is
Explanation: Money as one unit is singular.

15. Many a man ___ tried and failed.

(a) have (b) has (c) are (d) were
Answer: (b) has
Explanation: Many a + singular noun → singular verb.

Moderate (16–35)

16. The teacher, along with the students, ___ present.

(a) were (b) are (c) was (d) have
Answer: (c) was
Explanation: Along with is parenthetical; verb agrees with teacher.

17. Neither the principal nor the teachers ___ agreed.

(a) has (b) have (c) was (d) is
Answer: (b) have
Explanation: Nearer subject teachers is plural.

18. Either the manager or his clerks ___ responsible.

(a) is (b) was (c) are (d) has
Answer: (c) are
Explanation: Nearer subject clerks is plural.

19. A pair of scissors ___ on the table.

(a) are (b) were (c) is (d) have
Answer: (c) is
Explanation: The subject is pair → singular.

20. Some of the milk ___ gone bad.

(a) have (b) has (c) are (d) were
Answer: (b) has
Explanation: Noun after of (milk) is singular.

21. Some of the apples ___ rotten.

(a) is (b) was (c) are (d) has
Answer: (c) are
Explanation: Noun after of (apples) is plural.

22. He is one of those men who ___ never satisfied.

(a) is (b) was (c) are (d) has
Answer: (c) are
Explanation: Antecedent of who is men (plural).

23. She is the only one of the girls who ___ passed.

(a) have (b) has (c) are (d) were
Answer: (b) has
Explanation: Only one makes the antecedent singular.

24. More than one candidate ___ been selected.

(a) have (b) has (c) are (d) were
Answer: (b) has
Explanation: More than one + singular noun → singular verb.

25. The poet and statesman ___ honoured by the nation.

(a) were (b) are (c) was (d) have
Answer: (c) was
Explanation: Single article = one person → singular verb.

26. Politics ___ never interested me.

(a) have (b) has (c) are (d) were
Answer: (b) has
Explanation: Politics as a field is singular.

27. The jury ___ divided in their opinions.

(a) is (b) was (c) were (d) has
Answer: (c) were
Explanation: Members acting individually → plural verb.

28. Fifty per cent of the work ___ been completed.

(a) have (b) has (c) are (d) were
Answer: (b) has
Explanation: Agrees with work (singular).

29. Fifty per cent of the workers ___ on strike.

(a) is (b) was (c) are (d) has
Answer: (c) are
Explanation: Agrees with workers (plural).

30. Not only the students but also the teacher ___ tired.

(a) were (b) are (c) was (d) have
Answer: (c) was
Explanation: Nearer subject teacher is singular.

31. The United Nations ___ in session now.

(a) are (b) is (c) were (d) have
Answer: (b) is
Explanation: A single organisation/title takes a singular verb.

32. Every man and every woman ___ counted.

(a) were (b) are (c) was (d) have
Answer: (c) was
Explanation: Every…and every… → singular verb.

33. Two-thirds of the land ___ barren.

(a) are (b) is (c) were (d) have
Answer: (b) is
Explanation: Fraction agrees with land (singular).

34. Ram, as well as his brothers, ___ gone home.

(a) have (b) has (c) are (d) were
Answer: (b) has
Explanation: As well as phrase ignored; agrees with Ram.

35. The horse and carriage ___ at the gate.

(a) are (b) were (c) is (d) have
Answer: (c) is
Explanation: One combined unit → singular verb.

Difficult (36–50)

36. None of the money ___ been recovered.

(a) have (b) has (c) are (d) were
Answer: (b) has
Explanation: Money after of is uncountable → singular.

37. The statistics of the survey ___ alarming.

(a) is (b) was (c) are (d) has
Answer: (c) are
Explanation: Here statistics means data → plural verb.

38. What we really need ___ more time.

(a) are (b) is (c) were (d) have
Answer: (b) is
Explanation: What-clause agrees with the complement time (singular).

39. The majority of the voters ___ in favour of the bill.

(a) is (b) was (c) are (d) has
Answer: (c) are
Explanation: The majority of + plural noun → plural verb.

40. The police ___ caught the culprit.

(a) has (b) have (c) is (d) was
Answer: (b) have
Explanation: Police is treated as plural.

41. It is I who ___ to blame.

(a) is (b) am (c) are (d) was
Answer: (b) am
Explanation: The verb after who agrees with the antecedent I.

42. Each boy and each girl ___ a prize.

(a) deserve (b) deserves (c) are deserving (d) have deserved
Answer: (b) deserves
Explanation: Each…and each… → singular verb.

43. A great many people ___ left already.

(a) has (b) is (c) have (d) was
Answer: (c) have
Explanation: A great many takes a plural verb.

44. Either you or he ___ mistaken.

(a) are (b) is (c) were (d) have
Answer: (b) is
Explanation: Nearer subject he is singular.

45. Neither the captain nor the players ___ ready.

(a) is (b) was (c) are (d) has
Answer: (c) are
Explanation: Nearer subject players is plural.

46. The wounded ___ being shifted to hospital.

(a) is (b) was (c) are (d) has
Answer: (c) are
Explanation: Adjective-as-noun for a class → plural verb.

47. Twenty kilometres ___ too far to walk.

(a) are (b) is (c) were (d) have
Answer: (b) is
Explanation: Distance as one unit → singular verb.

48. His means ___ quite limited.

(a) is (b) was (c) are (d) has
Answer: (c) are
Explanation: Means denoting wealth is plural.

49. "Gulliver's Travels" ___ a famous satire.

(a) are (b) were (c) is (d) have
Answer: (c) is
Explanation: A book title takes a singular verb.

50. The economics of the project ___ unsound.

(a) is (b) has (c) are (d) was
Answer: (c) are
Explanation: Here economics means financial aspects → plural verb.