Singular and Plural Nouns in Subject–Verb Agreement, each with rules + examples.
Table 1:
Singular Nouns & Verbs
|
Singular
Noun Type |
Rule |
Correct
Example |
Incorrect
Example |
|
Regular
singular nouns |
Take singular
verb (+s/es) |
The boy
reads a story. |
The boy read
a story. |
|
Uncountable
nouns (advice,
furniture, information) |
Always singular
verb |
The information
is accurate. |
The information
are accurate. |
|
Collective
nouns (team,
committee, family) |
Usually singular
verb |
The team
wins the match. |
The team win
the match. |
|
Abstract nouns (happiness, honesty) |
Always singular
verb |
Honesty is important. |
Honesty are important. |
|
Title of books,
movies, countries |
Singular verb |
The United
States is
powerful. |
The United
States are powerful. |
|
"Each",
"Every" + noun |
Singular verb |
Every student
works hard. |
Every student work
hard. |
|
Subjects joined
by AND (but refer to one thing) |
Singular verb |
Rice and curry is
my favorite dish. |
Rice and curry are
my favorite dish. |
|
Gerund (V+ing)
as subject |
Singular verb |
Swimming is good for health. |
Swimming are
good for health. |
|
Indefinite
pronouns (everyone, someone, nobody) |
Singular verb |
Everyone wants success. |
Everyone want
success. |
Table 2:
Plural Nouns & Verbs
|
Plural
Noun Type |
Rule |
Correct
Example |
Incorrect
Example |
|
Regular plural
nouns |
Take plural
verb (no -s) |
The boys
play football. |
The boys plays
football. |
|
Nouns always
plural (scissors,
trousers, glasses) |
Take plural
verb |
The scissors
are sharp. |
The scissors is
sharp. |
|
Plural
collective nouns
(police, cattle, people) |
Plural verb |
The police
have arrested him. |
The police has
arrested him. |
|
Plural proper
nouns (The Himalayas |
Plural verb |
The Himalayas
are beautiful. |
The Himalayas is
beautiful. |
|
Two singular
nouns joined by AND |
Plural verb |
Ram and Shyam are
friends. |
Ram and Shyam is
friends. |
|
Subjects joined
by OR / NOR (last noun plural) |
Plural verb |
Either the boy
or the girls are coming. |
Either the boy
or the girls is coming. |
|
Both, few,
many, several |
Always plural
verb |
Many students
are absent. |
Many students is
absent. |
|
Plural
numerical expressions |
Plural verb |
Ten kilometers
are enough for a
race. |
Ten kilometers is
enough. |
|
Plural
countable nouns |
Plural verb |
Books are on the table. |
Books is
on the table. |
50 MCQs on Subject–Verb Agreement
1. The list of items ___ on the
table.
a) are
b) is
c) were
d) be
2. Either Ramesh or his friends ___
responsible.
a) is
b) are
c) was
d) has
3. The quality of the apples ___
good.
a) are
b) were
c) is
d) have
4. Each of the students ___ given a
book.
a) were
b) are
c) is
d) have
5. Physics ___ my favourite subject.
a) are
b) were
c) is
d) have
6. Neither the teacher nor the
students ___ ready.
a) is
b) are
c) has
d) was
7. Ten kilometers ___ a long
distance to walk.
a) are
b) is
c) were
d) be
8. Bread and butter ___ my
breakfast.
a) are
b) is
c) were
d) have
9. The police ___ investigating the
case.
a) is
b) was
c) are
d) has
10. My family ___ going to Pokhara
this weekend.
a) is
b) are
c) have
d) be
11. Each boy and girl ___ present.
a) are
b) were
c) is
d) have
12. A number of students ___ absent
today.
a) was
b) is
c) are
d) has
13. The number of students ___
increasing.
a) are
b) were
c) is
d) have
14. Scissors ___ kept on the table.
a) is
b) was
c) are
d) has
15. Neither of the answers ___
correct.
a) are
b) were
c) is
d) have
16. The news ___ shocking.
a) are
b) is
c) were
d) have
17. One of my friends ___ coming
today.
a) are
b) is
c) were
d) have
18. The committee ___ divided in
their opinions.
a) are
b) is
c) was
d) has
19. None of the boys ___ punished.
a) are
b) were
c) is
d) have
20. Time and tide ___ for none.
a) wait
b) waits
c) waiting
d) has waited
21. Five years ___ passed since we
met.
a) have
b) is
c) are
d) has
22. Measles ___ a dangerous disease.
a) are
b) were
c) is
d) have
23. Several students ___ submitted
their work.
a) has
b) have
c) is
d) was
24. Many a student ___ failed the
test.
a) have
b) are
c) has
d) were
25. The media ___ reporting fake
news.
a) is
b) are
c) has
d) was
26. None of the water ___ wasted.
a) were
b) are
c) is
d) have
27. The pair of shoes ___ expensive.
a) are
b) were
c) is
d) have
28. The children ___ playing outside.
a) is
b) was
c) are
d) has
29. One of the players ___ injured.
a) were
b) are
c) is
d) have
30. Much of the work ___ completed.
a) were
b) are
c) is
d) have
31. My trousers ___ torn.
a) is
b) are
c) was
d) has
32. The teacher, along with the
students, ___ present.
a) are
b) were
c) is
d) have
33. The jury ___ giving their
opinions.
a) is
b) are
c) was
d) has
34. There ___ many reasons to be
happy.
a) is
b) was
c) are
d) has
35. Here ___ the books you asked for.
a) is
b) are
c) has
d) was
36. The team ___ practising hard.
a) are
b) is
c) have
d) were
37. Plenty of water ___ available.
a) are
b) were
c) is
d) have
38. My scissors ___ missing.
a) is
b) are
c) was
d) has
39. Neither Ravi nor his brothers ___
present.
a) is
b) are
c) was
d) has
40. A group of people ___ standing
outside.
a) are
b) is
c) have
d) be
41. All the information ___ correct.
a) is
b) are
c) were
d) have
42. Many books ___ missing from the
shelf.
a) is
b) are
c) was
d) has
43. Half of the students ___ passed.
a) have
b) has
c) is
d) was
44. The majority of people ___
against the rule.
a) is
b) was
c) are
d) has
45. Bread and jam ___ my favourite food.
a) are
b) is
c) were
d) has
46. Each of them ___ completed the
task.
a) have
b) has
c) were
d) are
47. Both of the answers ___ correct.
a) is
b) was
c) are
d) has
48. Mathematics ___ difficult for
many students.
a) are
b) is
c) were
d) have
49. A bouquet of flowers ___ on the
table.
a) is
b) are
c) were
d) have
50. The cattle ___ grazing in the
field.
a) is
b) are
c) was
d) has
Subject–Verb Agreement
MCQs (With Answers + Reasons)
1. The list of items ___ on the table.
Answer:
b) is
✔ Reason: “List” is singular → singular verb
“is”
2. Either Ramesh or his friends ___
responsible.
Answer:
b) are
✔ Reason: Verb agrees with nearest subject
“friends” (plural)
3. The quality of the apples ___ good.
Answer:
c) is
✔ Reason: Main subject “quality” is singular
4. Each of the students ___ given a book.
Answer:
c) is
✔ Reason: “Each” is always singular
5. Physics ___ my favourite subject.
Answer:
c) is
✔ Reason: Names of subjects are singular
6. Neither the teacher nor the students ___
ready.
Answer:
b) are
✔ Reason: Verb agrees with nearest subject
“students”
7. Ten kilometers ___ a long distance to walk.
Answer:
b) is
✔ Reason: Distance/time/measure treated as
singular
8. Bread and butter ___ my breakfast.
Answer:
b) is
✔ Reason: One combined idea = singular
9. The police ___ investigating the case.
Answer:
c) are
✔ Reason: “Police” is always plural
10. My family ___ going to Pokhara this
weekend.
Answer:
a) is
✔ Reason: “Family” as a unit = singular
11. Each boy and girl ___ present.
Answer:
c) is
✔ Reason: “Each” makes subject singular
12. A number of students ___ absent today.
Answer:
c) are
✔ Reason: “A number of” = plural meaning
13. The number of students ___ increasing.
Answer:
c) is
✔ Reason: “The number” is singular
14. Scissors ___ kept on the table.
Answer:
c) are
✔ Reason: Scissors is plural noun
15. Neither of the answers ___ correct.
Answer:
c) is
✔ Reason: “Neither” is singular
16. The news ___ shocking.
Answer:
b) is
✔ Reason: “News” is uncountable singular
17. One of my friends ___ coming today.
Answer:
b) is
✔ Reason: “One” is singular
18. The committee ___ divided in their
opinions.
Answer:
a) are
✔ Reason: British English allows plural sense
(members acting individually)
19. None of the boys ___ punished.
Answer:
c) is
✔ Reason: “None” often treated as singular in
formal usage
20. Time and tide ___ for none.
Answer:
b) waits
✔ Reason: Singular proverb structure
21. Five years ___ passed since we met.
Answer:
d) has
✔ Reason: Time expression = singular unit
22. Measles ___ a dangerous disease.
Answer:
c) is
✔ Reason: Disease names are singular
23. Several students ___ submitted their work.
Answer:
b) have
✔ Reason: “Several” = plural
24. Many a student ___ failed the test.
Answer:
c) has
✔ Reason: “Many a” = singular
25. The media ___ reporting fake news.
Answer:
b) are
✔ Reason: “Media” treated as plural collective
26. None of the water ___ wasted.
Answer:
c) is
✔ Reason: Water is uncountable singular
27. The pair of shoes ___ expensive.
Answer:
c) is
✔ Reason: “Pair” = singular unit
28. The children ___ playing outside.
Answer:
c) are
✔ Reason: “Children” is plural
29. One of the players ___ injured.
Answer:
c) is
✔ Reason: “One” is singular
30. Much of the work ___ completed.
Answer:
c) is
✔ Reason: “Work” is uncountable
31. My trousers ___ torn.
Answer:
b) are
✔ Reason: “Trousers” is plural noun
32. The teacher, along with the students, ___
present.
Answer:
c) is
✔ Reason: Main subject “teacher” controls verb
33. The jury ___ giving their opinions.
Answer:
a) is
✔ Reason: Treated as single unit (US usage)
34. There ___ many reasons to be happy.
Answer:
c) are
✔ Reason: “Reasons” plural → verb is plural
35. Here ___ the books you asked for.
Answer:
b) are
✔ Reason: Subject “books” is plural
36. The team ___ practising hard.
Answer:
b) is
✔ Reason: Team = collective singular
37. Plenty of water ___ available.
Answer:
c) is
✔ Reason: “Water” is uncountable
38. My scissors ___ missing.
Answer:
b) are
✔ Reason: Scissors always plural
39. Neither Ravi nor his brothers ___ present.
Answer:
b) are
✔ Reason: Verb agrees with nearest plural
subject
40. A group of people ___ standing outside.
Answer:
b) is
✔ Reason: “Group” is singular unit
41. All the information ___ correct.
Answer:
a) is
✔ Reason: “Information” is uncountable
42. Many books ___ missing from the shelf.
Answer:
b) are
✔ Reason: “Books” plural
43. Half of the students ___ passed.
Answer:
a) have
✔ Reason: “Students” plural
44. The majority of people ___ against the
rule.
Answer:
c) are
✔ Reason: “People” plural noun
45. Bread and jam ___ my favourite food.
Answer:
b) is
✔ Reason: One combined idea
46. Each of them ___ completed the task.
Answer:
b) has
✔ Reason: “Each” = singular
47. Both of the answers ___ correct.
Answer:
c) are
✔ Reason: “Both” = plural
48. Mathematics ___ difficult for many
students.
Answer:
b) is
✔ Reason: Subject names = singular
49. A bouquet of flowers ___ on the table.
Answer:
a) is
✔ Reason: “Bouquet” singular
50. The cattle ___ grazing in the field.
Answer:
b) are
✔ Reason: “Cattle” is always plural
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