SF Prep
03 General English — Common Notes 🕒 Updated 2026-10-16
Common Notes SSC CGL · CHSL · Police · Bank · Railway Chapter 03

🤝 Subject-Verb Agreement

Singular subject → singular verb, plural subject → plural verb. Simple rule, but traps hide in either/or, each, collective nouns and "as well as".

📌 1. The Basic Rule

  • Singular subjects take verb+s/es, is, was, has: He plays. Plurals take V1, are, were, have: They play.
  • Ignore the phrase between subject and verb: The box of apples is heavy. The quality of the mangoes was good.
  • Two subjects joined by and → plural: Ram and Shyam are friends. But one person/idea → singular: The secretary and treasurer has resigned (one person). Bread and butter is my breakfast.

📌 2. Special Cases

SubjectVerbExample
either…or / neither…nor / not only…but also / orAgrees with the nearer subjectNeither he nor his friends are guilty.
as well as / along with / with / together with / besides / in addition to / likeAgrees with the first subjectThe captain, as well as the players, was praised.
each / every / everyone / anybody / nobody / either / neitherSingularEach of the boys has a book.
many a + singular nounSingularMany a student has failed.
a number of / a lot of + pluralPluralA number of students were absent.
the number ofSingularThe number of students is increasing.
one of + plural nounSingular (one)One of my friends lives in Pune.
one of those who/thatPlural (the relative clause agrees with the plural noun)He is one of those men who work hard.

📌 3. Collective, Uncountable and Amounts

  • A collective noun acting as one unit → singular: The jury has given its verdict. Members acting separately → plural: The jury were divided in their opinions.
  • Distance, time, money and weight as one amount → singular: Ten kilometres is a long distance. Fifty rupees is enough.
  • Subjects ending in -s but singular: news, mathematics, physics, economics (subject), measles: Mathematics is easy.
  • The + adjective = a class of people → plural: The rich are not always happy.
  • Percentage/part/half/all/some of → verb follows the noun after "of": Half of the cake is eaten; half of the cakes are eaten.
⚠️ Exam Traps:
  • In "there" sentences the verb agrees with the noun after it: There are many books; there is a pen.
  • After "who" the verb agrees with its antecedent: I, who am your friend, …

📌 4. Practice MCQs

📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. Choose the correct option: The box of chocolates ______ on the table. Practice
(A) is
(B) are
(C) were
(D) have been
Correct answer: (A) is
Explanation: The real subject is 'box' (singular); ignore 'of chocolates'.
Q2. Choose the correct option: Neither the teacher nor the students ______ present. Practice
(A) was
(B) is
(C) has been
(D) were
Correct answer: (D) were
Explanation: With neither…nor the verb agrees with the nearer subject 'students' (plural).
Q3. Choose the correct option: The principal, along with the teachers, ______ the function. Practice
(A) attend
(B) attends
(C) are attending
(D) have attended
Correct answer: (B) attends
Explanation: With 'along with' the verb agrees with the first subject 'principal' (singular).
Q4. Choose the correct option: Each of the players ______ a medal. Practice
(A) have received
(B) are receiving
(C) were receiving
(D) has received
Correct answer: (D) has received
Explanation: 'Each of' takes a singular verb.
Q5. Choose the correct option: Many a man ______ tried to climb this peak. Practice
(A) have
(B) has
(C) are
(D) were
Correct answer: (B) has
Explanation: 'Many a + singular noun' takes a singular verb.
Q6. Choose the correct option: A number of passengers ______ injured in the accident. Practice
(A) was
(B) is
(C) were
(D) has been
Correct answer: (C) were
Explanation: 'A number of' = many → plural verb.
Q7. Choose the correct option: The number of road accidents ______ rising every year. Practice
(A) is
(B) are
(C) were
(D) have been
Correct answer: (A) is
Explanation: 'The number of' is singular — is.
Q8. Choose the correct option: One of my cousins ______ in Canada. Practice
(A) live
(B) lives
(C) are living
(D) have lived
Correct answer: (B) lives
Explanation: The subject is 'one' — singular verb.
Q9. Choose the correct option: Mathematics ______ my favourite subject. Practice
(A) are
(B) were
(C) have been
(D) is
Correct answer: (D) is
Explanation: Mathematics ends in -s but is a singular subject.
Q10. Choose the correct option: The rich ______ not always happy. Practice
(A) are
(B) is
(C) was
(D) has
Correct answer: (A) are
Explanation: 'The + adjective' denotes a class of people — plural.
Q11. Choose the correct option: Bread and butter ______ his usual breakfast. Practice
(A) are
(B) were
(C) is
(D) have been
Correct answer: (C) is
Explanation: It is a single dish/idea — singular.
Q12. Choose the correct option: The jury ______ divided in their opinions. Practice
(A) was
(B) were
(C) is
(D) has
Correct answer: (B) were
Explanation: 'Their opinions' shows members acting individually, so plural.
Q13. Choose the correct option: Ten kilometres ______ too long a distance to walk. Practice
(A) are
(B) were
(C) is
(D) have been
Correct answer: (C) is
Explanation: Distance as a single amount — singular.
Q14. Choose the correct option: There ______ a lot of mistakes in your essay. Practice
(A) is
(B) was
(C) has been
(D) are
Correct answer: (D) are
Explanation: After 'there' the verb follows 'mistakes' (plural); 'a lot of' + plural → plural.
Q15. Identify the error: Either you or he are responsible for this loss. Practice
(A) are
(B) Either you
(C) or he
(D) for this loss
Correct answer: (A) are
Explanation: With either…or the nearer subject is 'he' → 'is'.
Q16. Choose the correct option: He is one of those boys who ______ always late. Practice
(A) is
(B) was
(C) are
(D) has been
Correct answer: (C) are
Explanation: In 'one of those who', 'who' refers to the plural 'boys' → are.
Q17. Choose the correct option: The news ______ very encouraging. Practice
(A) was
(B) were
(C) are
(D) have been
Correct answer: (A) was
Explanation: 'News' is a singular uncountable noun.
Q18. Choose the correct option: Half of the apples ______ rotten. Practice
(A) is
(B) was
(C) has been
(D) are
Correct answer: (D) are
Explanation: After 'half of' the noun 'apples' is plural → are.
Q19. Choose the correct option: I, who ______ your well-wisher, advise you to be careful. Practice
(A) is
(B) am
(C) are
(D) be
Correct answer: (B) am
Explanation: The antecedent of 'who' is 'I' → am.
Q20. Choose the correct option: Everybody ______ to be happy. Practice
(A) want
(B) are wanting
(C) have wanted
(D) wants
Correct answer: (D) wants
Explanation: Everybody/everyone take a singular verb.

📝 Practice questions

General English — Practice MCQs Ch 3: Subject-Verb Agreement
📝 Test this chapter Practice questions

Practice MCQs prepared by SF Prep (not PYQs). Rules checked against standard grammar references.