Subject Verb Agreement: Definitive Guide for ICSE/ISC

Subject–verb agreement (also called subject–verb concord or syntax) means that the subject and the verb in a sentence must match in number (singular/plural) and often in person. This definitive guide combines core school rules, board-level nuances, and tricky exceptions in a clear, exam-oriented way.

1. Basic Person and Number – “Be / Have / Do”

• I am a boy.
• We / You / They are girls.
• He / She is a teacher.
• They were happy.
• I / We / You / They have a bat and a ball.
• He / She has a garden.
• I / We / You / They do the work.
• He / She does the work.

• There is a man. / There are four men.
• The boy plays in the garden. / The boys play in the garden.
• This book is interesting. / These books are interesting.

2. Uncountable Nouns and Mass Nouns

• The grass is greener here.
• His hair needs a cut.
• The news is true.
• The furniture was expensive.
• The money was spent in good cause.

3. Simple Plural and Compound Subjects with “and”

• Rama and Shyama are two sisters.
• He and his friend have arrived.
• Ravi and Sita are good friends.
• Two and two make four
• Time and tide wait for none.

• Bread and butter is his favourite food. (one dish)
• Rice and curry is served for lunch. (one meal)
• The Headmaster and President of the school is coming. (same person)
• But: The Headmaster and the President of the school are coming. (two people)
• The poet and journalist was the chief guest in the function.
• The poet and the journalist are coming here today.

• You and not your friend are responsible for this.
• He and not his friends is to be blamed.
• Humans and no ther animal are destroying nature.

4. “The + Adjective” for Groups of People

• The young are generally aggressive.
• The rich are not always happy.
• The blind need our help.
• The honest are always respected.

5. Subjunctive “Were” with Singular Subjects

• If the story were true, what would it matter?
• If I were a bird, I would fly away.
• If I were you, I would not do it.
• If he were young again, he could start anew.

6. Titles, Names, and Measurements

• “Star Wars” is a very successful film.
• “The Arabian Nights” is a book full of adventurous stories.
• The United Nations is an international organisation.

• Two rupees is enough for me.
• Four miles is too long to walk.
• Ten kilometres is a long walk.
• Two hours is a long time to wait.

7. “Every / Each / Any / No” and Similar Forms

• Every student was present.
• Nothing happens in this place.
• No boy is absent today.

• Each boy and each girl was dressed in new clothes.
• Every man and every woman was silent.

• The pupils each have to take a rest.
• The players each receive a certificate.

8. Indefinite Pronouns (Each, Everyone, Somebody, etc.)

• Each of the students has a book.
• Everyone is invited.
• Either answer is acceptable.
• Neither option is good.

• One of the boys was ill.
• Each of the questions is important.
• Either of the roads is safe.
• Neither of the roads is safe at night.

9. “Either…or / Neither…nor / Or / Nor”

• Either Amal or Bimal has eaten the mango.
• Neither you nor I was there. (formal/traditional)

• Neither Akbar nor his brothers were hurt.
• Nikhil or his friends have done this work.

• Either you or he or I shall go to the market.
• Neither you nor your friend is responsible for the disaster.

10. Mixed Subjects Joined by “and”

• You, he and I are friends.

11. Collective Nouns

• The army was defeated.
• The jury has given its verdict.
• Our family lives in Kolkata.

• The audience are requested to take their seats. (treated as individuals)
• The jury were divided in their opinion.
• The family have gone their separate ways.

12. “A lot of / A group of / A number of / The number of”

• There is a lot of water on the floor. (water = uncountable → singular)
• A lot of boys are playing in the field. (boys = plural)

• A large number of letters were received.
• The number of letters we receive is increasing.
• A number of students are absent today.
• The number of girls in the class is increasing.

• The majority of the students agree with the decision.

13. Special Quantifiers (Half, Heaps, Lots of, Fractions, Greater Part)

• Two-thirds of the house is incomplete.
• Three-fourths of the cities were ruined.
• Lots of rice is wasted every day.
• Lots of people are waiting outside.

• The greater part of the land is uncultivated.
• The greater part of the apples were rotten.

14. Plural-Form but Singular-Meaning vs Always Plural

• The news is true.
• Physics is a branch of science.
• Mathematics is my favourite subject.
• Measles is a contagious disease.

• The goods were found to be defective.
• The trousers were missing.
• My scissors are blunt.

• People have to obey the rules.
• Cattle are grazing in the field.

15. “More than one / More than two”

• More than one man was present there.
• More than two men were present there.

16. “None of / None but”

• None of them has come back yet. (emphasis on group)
• None of them have come back yet. (emphasis on individuals – often accepted)

17. “With / Together with / As well as”

• They with their father deserve praise. (they = plural)
• Bibha as well as her friends was punished. (Bibha = singular)
• The manager with his assistants is present.

18. “Not only…but also”

• Not only George but also his friends are buying books. (friends = plural)
• Not only the students but also the teacher was tired. (teacher = singular)

19. Relative Pronouns (Who, Which, That)

• I, who am your friend, should stand by you.
• He, who is my friend, should stand by me.
• I am the man who has lost his pen.
• He is one of the boys who play cricket. (boys = plural → play)
• He is the only one of the boys who plays cricket. (one = singular → plays)

20. Clauses and Phrases as Subjects

• That he is honest is known to me.
• To err is human.
• Reading stories is my favourite pastime.

21. “Many a / Many an / A great many / Too many”

• Many a man has lost his life in the battle.
• Many a rose is born to blush unseen.
• Many a student has failed this test.

• Too many cooks spoil the broth.
• A great many students have applied.

22. “There is / There are” and Inverted Forms

• There is a book on the table.
• There are many books on the table.
• Here comes the train.
• Here come the trains.
• There has been a mistake. / There have been several mistakes.

23. Questions and Auxiliary Inversion

• Does your brother play cricket? (brother = singular → does)
• Do your brothers play cricket? (brothers = plural → do)
• Has the train arrived? / Have the trains arrived?

24. Modern Usage: Data, Media, Criteria

• The data is unclear. (modern)
• The data are being analysed. (traditional)
• The media has become very powerful. (modern)
• The media have become very powerful. (traditional)
• These criteria are important.

25. Common Examination Traps and Corrections

• Each of the boys have a bicycle. → Each of the boys has a bicycle.
• The team are playing well. (as one unit) → The team is playing well.
• Neither of the answers are correct. → Neither of the answers is correct.
• A number of students is absent. → A number of students are absent.
• The number of girls in the class are increasing. → The number of girls in the class is increasing.
• My scissors is on the table. → My scissors are on the table.
• Physics are an interesting subject. → Physics is an interesting subject.
• Not only the students but also the teacher were tired. → Not only the students but also the teacher was tired.
• People has to obey the rules. → People have to obey the rules.

26. Key Rules Summary (Quick Revision)