11. RULES OF VERBS
If the two subjects are joined by “AND”, the verb will
be plural.
1. Ram and Shyam are friends.
2. He and she were present in the function.
12. RULES OF VERBS
When two nouns refer to the same person or thing, it
takes singular verb.
1. The poet and painter has died.
2. The clerk and counsellor was present in the meeting.
13. RULES OF VERBS
When two nouns almost identical in meaning used in
a sentence, just for the sake of emphasis, we use
singular verb.
1. The scheme and plan of my life differs from that of
yours.
2. The authority and command is indeed great.
14. RULES OF VERBS
When two nouns are not identical in meaning but part
of the same idea and used as a phrase, the verb used
is singular.
1. Bread and butter is a good breakfast.
2. Slow and steady wins the race.
15. RULES OF VERBS
When two subjects are connected by ; or, either…or,
neither…nor, and not only…but also, the subject which
is closest to the verb determines whether the verb is
singular or plural. Usually the plural subject is placed
near the verb.
1. Ramesh or his friends are abusing him.
2. Either you or I am to go there.
16. RULES OF VERBS
With collective nouns, the verb used can be singular or
plural.
If the collective noun functions as a unit, the verb will be
singular, but if the collective noun functions dividedly, the
verb used will be plural.
1. The Parliament has passed the bill.
2. The audience were getting bored.
17. RULES OF VERBS
Some nouns ends with “s”, look like plurals, but
actually singular in meaning, singular verbs will be
used.
1. Physics is a good subject.
2. First innings was spoiled due to rain.
18. RULES OF VERBS
A plural noun denoting quantity or measurements of
time, money, distance and weight as a unit takes
singular verb.
1. Five kilograms is not a heavy weight.
2. Eight hours of sleep is enough.
19. RULES OF VERBS
Some nouns appear, singular but are plural in
meaning take plural verbs.
1. The cattle are grazing in the field.
2. Not less than a dozen were injured.
20. RULES OF VERBS
Sometimes a word that is actually an adjective is used
as a noun, it is preceded by “the” and means “people”.
1. The poor are trustworthy.
2. The rich are generally unkind to the poor.
21. RULES OF VERBS
“Each” and “Every” take singular noun and singular
verb.
1. Each boy and girl has to attend the function.
2. Every man, woman and child was happy to meet with
the President.
22. RULES OF VERBS
Usually singular verb is used in sentences showing
arithmetical calculations.
1. Four and four is eight.
2. Two times six is twelve.
23. RULES OF VERBS
“One of”, “Either of”, “Neither of”, “None of” always
take plural noun and singular verb.
1. One of my friends needs some help.
2. Neither of the girls is here.
24. RULES OF VERBS
Some nouns uncountable in nature can’t be pluralised
by adding “s”. Uncountable nouns take singular verbs.
1. Work is worship.
2. His behaviour was not proper.
25. RULES OF VERBS
When two nouns joined together by; besides, as well
as, and not, in addition to, like, with, together with,
including, accompanied by, the verb is governed by
the former noun.
1. Ram and not his friends was present there.
2. All the books including yours are in that rack.
26. RULES OF VERBS
Hair is used in singular and usually takes singular verb.
But if hair is used as countable, use plural verb.
1. His hair is black.
2. Five hairs of the horse are needed by him.
27. RULES OF VERBS
If a countable noun follows “all” or “some” in a
sentence the noun as well as verb used will be plural.
But if the noun following is uncountable, the verb used
will be singular.
1. All the tigers are wild animals.
2. Some milk is needed.
28. RULES OF VERBS
When used in sentences, the titles of books, plays,
poems, movies and so on are singular and so take
singular verb.
1. The Untouchables was a very violent movie.
2. The X-files is re-screening this evening.
29. RULES OF VERBS
The verb used after “there” will be singular or plural
depends upon the noun it follows. If it is singular, use
singular verb. If plural, use plural verb.
1. There is a girl in the room.
2. There are ten students in the class.
30. RULES OF VERBS
Some nouns consist of two parts, take plural verbs.
1. My shoes are new.
2. Her spectacles are beautiful.
31. RULES OF VERBS
Some sentences have following construction:
Singular noun + Preposition + Singular
noun….Singular verb
Use singular verb in such constructions.
1. Man after man was coming there.
2. He begs from door to door.
32. RULES OF VERBS
Some nouns have the same form in singular as well as
plural.
1. A sheep is a beautiful animal.
2. There are many fish in the pond.
33. RULES OF VERBS
If in a sentence; infinitive, gerunds, phrases, or a
clause, functions as subject, use singular verb.
1. Swimming is a good exercise.
2. To swim is good for you.
3. How to start it is a big question?
4. That she is poor is known to me.
34. RULES OF VERBS
If phrase: a number of/ lots of/ a lot of/ plenty of/ a
quarter of/ part of/ percent of/ proportion of/ none of/
remainder of/ two third of/ most of/ some of/ majority of/
much of/ many of/ a good deal of/ a great deal of/ heaps
of, etc. is followed by a countable noun, it will be plural
and the verb used will also be plural. If the noun followed
is uncountable the verb used will be singular.
1. Most of the milk was impure.
2. Half of the milk was spoiled.
35. RULES OF VERBS
“A number” means many, always takes plural verb.
“The number” means a definite number, acts as collective
noun, take singular verb.
1. The number of students opted Hindi is generally small.
2. A number of English books are available in the library.
36. RULES OF VERBS
“None” usually takes singular verb, but some
renowned Grammarians also use plural verbs with
none.
1. None were injured.
2. None but the brave deserves the reward.
37. RULES OF VERBS
The phrase “Nothing but” is treated as singular, so it
takes singular verb irrespective of the noun following
it, is singular or plural.
1. Nothing but birds is seen.
2. Nothing but a student is there.
38. RULES OF VERBS
If “no” precedes each of the two singular nouns in a
sentence, singular verb is used.
1. No boy and no girl was present in the party.
2. No man and no woman was swimming at that time.
39. RULES OF VERBS
Following indefinite words require singular verbs:
anybody, anyone, each, everyone, everybody, much,
no one, other, one, someone, something, somebody
40. RULES OF VERBS
Following indefinite words can have singular or plural
verb. If the subject is singular, verb will also be singular.
If the subject is plural, verb will be plural.
Eg: all/ any/ enough/ most/ some
41. RULES OF VERBS
When the subject and verb are separated, find the
subject and verb and make sure they agree. Ignore
the words in- between because they do not affect
agreement.
1. The quality of these goods is well known.
2. The colour of this shirt is liked by all.
42. RULES OF VERBS
In some sentences, the apposition is placed between
subject and predicate, that verb will be governed, in
number and person by the subject’s number and
person.
1. You, my friend, are not guilty of misconduct.
2. I, manager of this company, am responsible for the
loss.
43. RULES OF VERBS
The relative pronouns (who, whom, which and that)
are either singular or plural depending on the words
they refer to. If the word referred is singular, verb will
also be singular, otherwise plural.
1. It is I who am responsible for the loss.
2. The book that is here is mine.
44. RULES OF VERBS
If a sentence compounds a positive and a negative
subject and one is plural and the other is singular, the
verb should agree with the positive subject.
1. It was the speaker, not his ideas, that has provoked
the students to riot.
45. RULES OF VERBS
“Many a” is distributive in nature and effect, so
requires a singular verb.
1. Many a man has failed to do his duty.
2. Many a girl has come to visit the temple today.
46. RULES OF VERBS
Verbs such as ; name, call, term, think, consider,
nominate, appoint, are followed by “as”
1. The chairman nominated Hari secretary of the
society.
2. Ram called him a fool, a rogue and a crook.
47. RULES OF VERBS
“More than one”, though its sense is necessarily plural,
is treated as a sort of compound of “one”, following its
construction, and agrees with a singular noun and
takes a singular verb.
1. More than one worker was absent.
2. More than one student was killed.
48. RULES OF VERBS
The construction: “more + noun + than one +…” takes
plural verb
1. More books than one have been purchased by her.
2. More workmen than one are not traceable.
49. RULES OF VERBS
“The following” and “the undersigned” if used for
singular subject/ noun the verb will be singular
otherwise plural.
1. The following are the new prices of the items.
2. Undersigned has taken a decision S.K.Jain.
50. RULES OF VERBS
LANGUAGE vs PLURAL
1. Chinese is a difficult language.
2. The Chinese are friendly.
