Subject-Verb Agreement Rules Quiz

Subject-Verb Agreement (SVA) Rules

• Subjects and verbs must agree in number.
• A single subject takes a single verb.
• A plural subject takes a plural verb.

SVA Rules: Pronoun "You"

• The pronoun "you" always takes a plural verb.

SVA Rules: Here/There

• If a sentence begins with "here" or "there," the verb agrees with the subject that follows.

SVA Rules: Either/Or, Neither/Nor

• Two singular subjects joined by "either/or" or "neither/nor" take a singular verb.

SVA Rules: Intervening Phrases

• A singular subject followed by phrases such as "with," "as well as," "in addition to," "accompanied by," "together with," or "no less than" takes a singular verb.

SVA Rules: Words Between Subject and Verb

• Don't get confused by words between the subject and verb; they don't affect agreement.

SVA Rules: Joined by "And"

• Singular subjects joined by "and" require a plural verb, unless they refer to the same person or thing.

SVA Rules: Singular Subject with Plural Phrase

• If a singular subject is followed by a phrase containing a plural noun, the verb is singular.

SVA Rules: Indefinite Pronouns

• Indefinite pronouns such as "several," "few," "both," "many," and "others" are always plural.

SVA Rules: Indefinite Pronouns and Prepositions

• Indefinite pronouns such as "some," "most," "all," and "none" are singular or plural depending on the object of the preposition.

SVA Rules: Specific Indefinite Pronouns

• Indefinite pronouns such as "everybody," "each," "no one," "another," "anybody," "nobody," "every," "nothing," "everything," "anyone," "either," "neither," "everyone," "somebody," and "someone" take a singular verb.

SVA Rules: "No" Before Subject

• If the word "no" comes before the subject and the verb is singular.

SVA Rules: Time, Money, Weight, Distance

• Expressions of time, money, weight, and distance are singular even if the form is plural.

SVA Rules: Amount of Money

• When the amount of money refers to separate units, the verb is plural.

SVA Rules: Fractions

• When fractions are used, the verb agrees with the object of the prepositional phrase beginning with "of."

SVA Rules: Plural Nouns

• Words like pants, trousers, pliers, scissors, shears, and tongs are always plural. The word PAIR when used, takes a singular verb.

SVA Rules: Plural-Form Nouns

• Certain nouns, though plural in form, are singular in meaning and take singular verbs. (Examples: Mathematics, news)

SVA Rules: "Number"

• When the word "number" is preceded by a/an, it takes a plural verb. When preceded by the, it takes a singular verb.

SVA Rules: Nouns in Plural Form, Singular Meaning

• Some nouns have a plural form but a singular meaning. These take a singular verb. Examples: Athletics, genetics, gymnastics, politics, and statistics.

SVA Rules: Country Names

• The name of a country is considered singular.

SVA Rules: Adjectives as Nouns

• Adjectives used as nouns take a plural verb.

SVA Rules: Collective Nouns

• Collective nouns (crowd, jury, flock, company, group, committee, team) can be singular or plural depending on whether the members act individually or collectively.

SVA Rules: Mathematical Expressions

• In mathematical expressions, the following are accepted formats: Seven plus three is ten. Seven and three are ten. Five times two are ten. Five minus two is three.

SVA Rules: Titles of Works

• Titles of books, plays, articles, movies, etc. are considered singular, even if the title contains plural words.

SVA Rules: Organization Names

• Names of organizations are singular when referring to the whole organization as one entity, and plural when referring to the individuals within the organization.

SVA Rules: Expletive "It"

• If a sentence starts with the expletive "it", the verb is singular, even if the following subject is plural.

SVA Rules: Questions

• In questions, the subject doesn't always come before the verb. Identify the subject to decide on the correct verb form.

SVA Rules: Units of Measurement

• Singular verb form is usually used for units of measurement.

SVA Rules: Infinitives

• When two infinitives are connected by "and," the verb is plural.

SVA Rules: Gerunds

• Gerunds take a singular verb when acting as a subject but if linked by "and" they take a plural verb.