Basic Rules
1.
Singular
subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs.
o
She
runs fast.
/ They run fast.
2.
When
two subjects are joined by ‘and’, use a plural verb.
o
Rahul
and Sajan are friends.
3.
If
two subjects joined by ‘and’ refer to a single entity, use a singular verb.
o
Bread
and butter is my breakfast.
Compound Subjects
4.
Subjects
joined by ‘or’, ‘nor’, ‘either...or’, ‘neither...nor’ use a verb that agrees
with the nearer subject.
o
Either
the students or the teacher is responsible.
o
Neither
Rahul nor his friends are coming.
5.
When
"not only...but also" joins subjects, the verb agrees with the
nearest subject.
o
Not
only the twins but also their father is attending.
o
Not
only the teacher but also the students are excited.
Indefinite Pronouns
6.
Indefinite
pronouns that are singular take singular verbs: each, everyone, anyone, nobody,
somebody, etc.
o
Everyone
wants success.
o
Each
of the boys has a pen.
7.
Some
indefinite pronouns are always plural: few, many, several, both.
o
Few
have completed the assignment.
8.
Some
pronouns can be singular or plural depending on context: all, any, some, none, most.
o
All
of the cake is gone.
(singular)
o
All
of the players are here. (plural)
Special Nouns and Collective Nouns
9.
Collective
nouns can be singular or plural based on meaning.
o
The
team is winning the match. (acting as one unit)
o
The
team are arguing among themselves. (acting individually)
10. Plural nouns that refer to singular
subjects take singular verbs: mathematics, news, physics, economics.
- Mathematics is
tough.
- The news is
shocking.
11. Nouns that look plural but are
singular take singular verbs: politics, statistics (when referring to
the subject), measles, mumps.
- Politics is
a tricky subject.
Quantities and Measurements
12. Expressions of time, money, distance,
or weight take singular verbs when seen as a whole.
- Five years is
a long time.
- Ten thousand
rupees is a big amount.
13. Fractions or percentages agree with
the noun that follows.
- Half of the
cake is gone.
- Thirty
percent of the students are absent.
Special Cases
14. When a phrase comes between the
subject and verb, the verb still agrees with the subject.
- The bouquet
of roses is beautiful.
15. When using ‘there is’ or ‘there are’,
the verb agrees with the subject that follows.
- There is
a problem.
- There are
many options.
16. Titles of books, movies, or works are
treated as singular.
- "Facing
Death" is a touching play.
17. When the subject is a sum or total,
use a singular verb.
- Ten plus
five is fifteen.
Advanced Rules
18. ‘A number of’ takes a plural verb,
while ‘The number of’ takes a singular verb.
- A number of
students are present.
- The number
of students is increasing.
19. Sentences starting with ‘what’, ‘who’,
or ‘which’ use verbs that agree with the subject in the clause.
- What is
needed is patience.
- Who are
your friends?
20. Gerunds (verbs ending in -ing used as
subjects) take singular verbs.
- Swimming is
my favorite hobby.
- Running is
good for health.
1. Neither the teacher nor the students ___
ready.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. has
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: Verb agrees with nearer subject
“students” (plural).
2. Mathematics ___ an easy subject.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: Subject names like mathematics take
singular verb.
3. Bread and butter ___ my breakfast.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: One combined idea → singular verb.
4. The team ___ arguing among themselves.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. has
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: Acting individually → plural sense.
5. Everyone ___ happy with the result.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: Indefinite pronoun “everyone” is
singular.
6. A number of students ___ absent today.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. has
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: “A number of” = plural meaning.
7. The number of students ___ increasing.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: “The number” is singular.
8. Ten thousand rupees ___ enough for the
trip.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: Money treated as singular.
9. Either the teacher or the students ___
responsible.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. has
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: Verb agrees with nearer subject
“students”.
10. Each of the boys ___ a pen.
A. have
B. has
C. are
D. were
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: “Each” is always singular.
11. Not only the teacher but also the students
___ excited.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. has
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: Verb agrees with nearer subject
“students”.
12. The news ___ shocking.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: “News” is singular uncountable noun.
13. Few students ___ completed the task.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. has
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: “Few” is plural.
14. All of the cake ___ gone.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: “Cake” is uncountable singular.
15. All of the players ___ present.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. has
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: “Players” is plural.
16. The bouquet of roses ___ beautiful.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: Main subject “bouquet” is singular.
17. Politics ___ a difficult subject.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: “Politics” is singular noun.
18. Five years ___ a long time.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: Time period is singular.
19. Thirty percent of students ___ absent.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. has
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: “Students” is plural.
20. Half of the cake ___ gone.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: “Cake” is singular.
21. There ___ many problems in the system.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. has
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: “Problems” plural → verb is plural.
22. There ___ a problem in the system.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: Singular subject after “there”.
23. “Facing Death” ___ a famous play.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: Title of work is singular.
24. What ___ needed is patience.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: Verb agrees with clause subject.
25. Who ___ your friends?
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. has
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: “Friends” is plural.
26. Swimming ___ good for health.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: Gerund is singular.
27. Running and walking ___ healthy habits.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. has
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: Two activities joined by “and” →
plural.
28. Bread and butter ___ ready.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: One combined idea.
29. Neither Rahul nor his friends ___ coming.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. has
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: Nearest subject “friends” is plural.
30. Each of the students ___ given a task.
A. have
B. has
C. are
D. were
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: “Each” is singular.
31. The committee ___ divided in opinion.
A. is
B. are
C. were
D. have
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: Collective noun acting individually.
32. The committee ___ meeting today.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. have
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: Collective noun as unit → singular.
33. Measles ___ a contagious disease.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: Disease names are singular.
34. Statistics ___ an interesting subject.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: Subject name treated as singular.
35. The police ___ investigating the case.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. has
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: “Police” is plural.
36. Ten kilometers ___ a long distance.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: Measurement = singular.
37. There ___ a pen and two books on the
table.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. has
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: Verb agrees with nearest plural noun.
38. The pair of shoes ___ expensive.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: “Pair” is singular.
39. Neither of the answers ___ correct.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: “Neither” is singular.
40. Not only the twins but also their father
___ attending.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have
✔ Answer: B
📌 Reason: Verb agrees with nearer subject
“father”.
Fill in the blanks with the correct verb:
1.
Each
of the students ___ (was/were) given a certificate.
2.
The
team ___ (is/are) practicing for the final match.
3.
Neither
Rahul nor his friends ___ (has/have) completed the project.
4.
Bread
and butter ___ (is/are) my favorite breakfast.
5.
There
___ (is/are) several options available.
6.
Either
Sajan or his brothers ___ (is/are) responsible.
7.
The
news ___ (is/are) spreading fast.
8.
Ten
thousand rupees ___ (is/are) enough for the trip.
9.
A
number of students ___ (was/were) late to class.
10. The bouquet of roses ___
(smells/smell) amazing.
11. The number of participants ___
(is/are) increasing daily.
12. Neither the teacher nor the students
___ (knows/know) the answer.
13. Politics ___ (is/are) a controversial
subject.
14. Each of the twins ___ (has/have) her
own room.
15. Five years ___ (is/are) a long time to
wait.
16. Mathematics ___ (is/are) a difficult
subject for many.
17. Some of the water ___ (was/were)
spilled on the floor.
18. Few students ___ (was/were) absent
today.
19. Here ___ (comes/come) the winners of
the contest.
20. The pair of shoes ___ (is/are) under
the bed.
21. One of my friends ___ (is/are) moving
to Ireland.
22. Not only the manager but also the
employees ___ (was/were) surprised.
23. All of the cake ___ (is/are) gone.
24. There ___ (is/are) a pen and two books
on the table.
25. Running long distances ___ (is/are)
tiring.
1. Each of the students ___ (was/were) given a certificate.
✔ Answer: was
📌 Reason: “Each” is always singular → singular verb.
2. The team ___ (is/are) practicing for the final match.
✔ Answer: is
📌 Reason: “Team” is a collective noun treated as singular.
3. Neither Rahul nor his friends ___ (has/have) completed the project.
✔ Answer: have
📌 Reason: Verb agrees with nearest subject “friends” (plural).
4. Bread and butter ___ (is/are) my favorite breakfast.
✔ Answer: is
📌 Reason: Considered one combined idea → singular verb.
5. There ___ (is/are) several options available.
✔ Answer: are
📌 Reason: “Options” is plural → plural verb.
6. Either Sajan or his brothers ___ (is/are) responsible.
✔ Answer: are
📌 Reason: Verb agrees with nearest subject “brothers”.
7. The news ___ (is/are) spreading fast.
✔ Answer: is
📌 Reason: “News” is uncountable singular noun.
8. Ten thousand rupees ___ (is/are) enough for the trip.
✔ Answer: is
📌 Reason: Amount of money is treated as singular.
9. A number of students ___ (was/were) late to class.
✔ Answer: were
📌 Reason: “A number of” = plural meaning.
10. The bouquet of roses ___ (smells/smell) amazing.
✔ Answer: smells
📌 Reason: Main subject “bouquet” is singular.
11. The number of participants ___ (is/are) increasing daily.
✔ Answer: is
📌 Reason: “The number” is singular.
12. Neither the teacher nor the students ___ (knows/know) the answer.
✔ Answer: know
📌 Reason: Verb agrees with nearest subject “students”.
13. Politics ___ (is/are) a controversial subject.
✔ Answer: is
📌 Reason: “Politics” is singular as a field of study.
14. Each of the twins ___ (has/have) her own room.
✔ Answer: has
📌 Reason: “Each” is singular.
15. Five years ___ (is/are) a long time to wait.
✔ Answer: is
📌 Reason: Time period treated as a single unit.
16. Mathematics ___ (is/are) a difficult subject for many.
✔ Answer: is
📌 Reason: Subject names are singular.
17. Some of the water ___ (was/were) spilled on the floor.
✔ Answer: was
📌 Reason: “Water” is uncountable singular.
18. Few students ___ (was/were) absent today.
✔ Answer: were
📌 Reason: “Few students” = plural.
19. Here ___ (comes/come) the winners of the contest.
✔ Answer: come
📌 Reason: “Winners” is plural.
20. The pair of shoes ___ (is/are) under the bed.
✔ Answer: is
📌 Reason: “Pair” is singular unit.
21. One of my friends ___ (is/are) moving to Ireland.
✔ Answer: is
📌 Reason: “One” is singular.
22. Not only the manager but also the employees ___ (was/were) surprised.
✔ Answer: were
📌 Reason: Verb agrees with nearest subject “employees”.
23. All of the cake ___ (is/are) gone.
✔ Answer: is
📌 Reason: “Cake” is uncountable.
24. There ___ (is/are) a pen and two books on the table.
✔ Answer: are
📌 Reason: Plural noun closer to verb (“books”).
25. Running long distances ___ (is/are) tiring.
✔ Answer: is
📌 Reason: Gerund phrase acts as singular subject.
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