# Sentence Basics and Subject–Verb Agreement — The Most Tested Grammar Rule

Source: https://skills101.in/learn/verbal/subject-verb-agreement — Skills101 free tutorial (Verbal Ability (English)). Updated 2026-11-09.

Most "spot the error" questions in TCS, Infosys and Wipro tests are about one rule: **the verb must agree with its subject**. A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb.

## 1. Find the subject and the verb

![A sentence split into subject (The students), verb (have finished) and object (their project)](https://skills101.in/learn-img/verbal/sentence-parts.svg)

1. Find the **verb** (the action or "being" word: *is, are, has, works, finished*).
2. Ask **"who or what?"** before it — that is the **subject**.
3. Check: singular subject → singular verb (**is, was, has, works**); plural subject → plural verb (**are, were, have, work**).

> **Careful:** in the present tense, a singular verb usually ends in **-s** (he work**s**), while a plural noun ends in -s (student**s**). That's why "The student works" and "The students work" both look right.

### Example 1
*"The list of items are on the desk."*

What is on the desk? The **list** (singular) — "of items" is just extra detail. → "The list of items **is** on the desk."

> **Ignore the words between** the subject and the verb (phrases with *of, with, along with, in*). They never change the subject.

## 2. The tricky subjects

![Table of tricky subjects: each/every/either take singular; one of the + plural takes singular; A and B plural; A as well as B follows A; neither A nor B follows B; the number of is singular; a number of is plural](https://skills101.in/learn-img/verbal/sv-agreement.svg)

### Example 2
*"One of my friends work at Infosys."* → The subject is **one** → "One of my friends **works** at Infosys."

### Example 3
*"Neither the manager nor the employees was present."* → the verb follows the **nearer** subject (employees) → "**were** present."

### Example 4
*"The captain, along with his players, are arriving today."* → "along with" adds detail; the subject is **the captain** → "**is** arriving."

### Example 5
*"Mathematics are my favourite subject."* → subjects ending in -ics (when they mean a subject of study), and **news**, are singular → "Mathematics **is**…"

## 3. Collective nouns

Words like **team, family, committee, jury, class** are usually **singular** when the group acts as one unit.

- "The team **is** playing well." (as one unit)
- "The jury **were** divided in their opinions." (members acting separately — less common, but correct)

## 4. Uncountable nouns

**Information, advice, furniture, luggage, equipment, news** have no plural and take singular verbs.

- ✗ "The informations are useful." → ✓ "The information **is** useful."
- ✗ "She gave me many advices." → ✓ "She gave me **a lot of advice**" / "**some** advice."

## Common mistakes

- Matching the verb to the nearest noun instead of the real subject ("The quality of the mangoes **is** good").
- Adding -s to uncountable nouns (informations, furnitures).
- Using a plural verb after each, every, either, neither, everyone, somebody.

## Quick recap

- Find the verb, then ask "who?" to find the subject.
- Ignore phrases between the subject and the verb.
- each/every/one of/the number of → singular; a number of / A and B → plural.
- neither/either … or/nor → the verb follows the nearer subject.
- information, advice, news, furniture → singular, no -s.


Practice quiz and free certificate: https://skills101.in/learn/verbal/subject-verb-agreement