MindEdge Academy

📘 Subject–Verb Agreement — Examples

1️⃣ Singular subject → Singular verb
She writes neatly.
The boy plays football.
My friend is very honest.
2️⃣ Plural subject → Plural verb
They play football.
The students are ready.
My friends work together.
3️⃣ Subject joined by and → Plural verb
Rina and Mina are classmates.
English and Math are my favorite subjects.
4️⃣ Each / Every + singular noun → Singular verb
Each student has a book.
Every child needs care.
5️⃣ Either / Neither → Singular verb
Either answer is correct.
Neither boy was present.
6️⃣ Collective noun (depends on meaning)
The team is winning.
The team are arguing among themselves.
7️⃣ There is / There are
There is a problem.
There are many solutions.
8️⃣ Amount / Time / Distance as a whole → Singular
Ten years is a long time.
Five kilometers is not far.

Instead of 'Yes, I agree with you'

Say:
Exactly/ That’s true/I feel the same

Instead of 'I think so'

Say:
“Probably/Could be/Looks like it

🍁 In time - সময় মতো
🍁 In due time - যথা সময়ে
🍁 Time and Time again -- দীর্ঘদিন ধরে
🍁 Ahead of time -- সময়ের আগেভাগে
🍁 Arrival time -- পৌঁছানোর সময়
🍁 Time's up -- সময় শেষ
🍁 Most of time -- অধিকাংশ সময়
🍁 For the time being -- আপাতত
🍁 Arrival time -- পৌছানোর সময়
🍁 Departure time -- ছাড়ার সময়
🍁 Time flies- সময় খুব দ্রুত চলে যায়

টাইমলাইনে রেখে দিন, কাজে আসবে।

🔸 Sooner or later- আজ না হোক কাল ।
🔸 As far as it goes- এ ব্যাপারে যতটুকু বলা যায় ।
🔸 As far as I’m concerned- আমার জানামতে ।
🔸 Why on earth (বিরক্তি বা বিস্ময় প্রকাশার্থে)-কেন যে?
🔸 On the other hand- অন্যদিকে ।
🔸 No more buts- আর কোন কিন্তু নয় ।
🔸 On the occasion of- উপলক্ষ্যে ।
🔸 In this regard- এ বিষয়ে ।
🔸 In this connection- এ বিষয়ে ।
🔸 From a reliable source- বিশ্বস্ত সূত্রে ।
🔸 Due to- কারণে ।
🔸 Without hesitation- বিনা দি¦ধায় ।
🔸 First of all- প্রথমেই ।
🔸 Regrettably -দুঃখজনকভাবে ।
🔸 Surprisingly- আশ্চর্যজনকভাবে ।
🔸 Strangely enough- আশ্চর্যের ব্যাপার হলো ।
🔸 To be frank খোলাখুলি ভাবে বলা যায় ।
🔸 Sincerely speaking- সত্যিকার ব্যাপার হলো ।
🔸 Truly speaking- সত্য বলতে কি !
🔸 Although I could, but- যদিও পারতাম, কিন্তু ।
🔸 So long as- যদি না/ এই শর্তে যে ।
🔸 As you know- আপনারা জানেন ।

IMPORTANT AND CONFUSING SUBJECT AND VERB AGREEMENT RULES YOU SHOULD KNOW ‼️

🔹 1. Subjects Joined by "And" Take a Plural Verb

✅ Tom and Jerry are best friends.
❌ Tom and Jerry is best friends.

🟡 Exception: When "and" joins a single idea:

✅ Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite snack.

🔹 2. Subjects Joined by "Or" or "Nor" — Match Closest Subject

✅ Either the teacher or the students are here.
✅ Either the students or the teacher is here.

🟡 Rule: The verb agrees with the subject closer to it.

🔹 3. Indefinite Pronouns Can Be Singular, Plural, or Both

Singular Plural Both (Contextual)
Everyone Few All
Someone Many Some
Nobody Both Most

✅ Everyone is invited.
✅ Few are interested.
✅ Some of the cake is gone.
✅ Some of the cookies are missing.

🔹 4. Collective Nouns Are Usually Singular (in American English)

✅ The team is winning.

🟡 British English: "The team are winning."

🔹 5. Amounts and Measurements Take a Singular Verb

✅ Five dollars is enough.
✅ Ten kilometers is far to walk.

🔹 6. Titles of Works Are Singular

✅ "The Chronicles of Narnia" is a great book.

🔹 7. "Each" and "Every" Are Always Singular

✅ Each student has a book.
✅ Every boy and girl is ready.

🔹 8. "None" Can Be Singular or Plural

✅ None of the money is missing. (money = uncountable)
✅ None of the students are absent. (students = countable)

🔹 9. "One of" Is Singular

✅ One of the boys is sick.

🟡 Focus is on "one", not "boys".

🔹 10. Phrases Between Subject and Verb Don't Affect Agreement

✅ The teacher, along with the students, is ready.

🟡 Ignore phrases like "along with," "together with," "as well as."

🔹 11. Nouns That Look Plural but Are Singular

✅ Mathematics is difficult.
✅ News is on at 6.

🟡 Words ending in -s that are actually singular.

🔹 12. Nouns That Look Singular but Are Plural

✅ The police are investigating.
✅ The cattle are grazing.

🔹 13. Inverted Sentences – Verb Still Follows the Subject

✅ Where is the book?
✅ Here are the keys.

🟡 The verb agrees with the actual subject, not its position.

🔹 14. Gerunds as Subjects Take a Singular Verb

✅ Swimming is fun.
✅ Reading books is relaxing.

🔹 15. Subjects with "A Number of" vs. "The Number of"

✅ A number of people are missing. (plural)
✅ The number of people is surprising. (singular)

🔹 16. Plural Nouns Used as a Single Unit

✅ Spaghetti and meatballs is my favorite dish.
✅ Mac and cheese is delicious.

🟡 Focus on the whole dish, not separate items.

🔹 17. Quantifiers (a lot of, plenty of, etc.) Depend on the Noun

✅ A lot of water is wasted. (water = uncountable)

✅ A lot of students are absent. (students = countable)

🔹 18. "There is/are" – Verb Follows Closest Subject

✅ There is a book on the table.
✅ There are many books on the table.
🔹 19. "Who," "Which," or "That" as Subject — Match Antecedent

✅ She is one of the girls who are always late.
(“who” refers to “girls” → plural)

✅ She is the only one who is qualified.
(“who” refers to “one” → singular)

🔹 20. Don’t Be Fooled by Plural-Looking Phrases

✅ The United States is a country.
✅ The Philippines is beautiful.
✅ Measles is a serious illness.

🟡 These look plural but are grammatically singular.

Kindly shate this post if you have learnt anything from this.

It .................. raining since 11 am.

Ans: a) has been b) is