Pronoun-Verb Agreement
Relative Pronoun - Verb Agreement
If a relative pronoun joins a subject and the verb, then the verb will agree with the antecedent to the relative pronoun.
Pattern: Subject + Relative pronoun + Verb (will agree with antecedent)
He is one of the cruelest men that has ever ruled this kingdom. (incorrect)
He is one of the cruelest men that have ever ruled this kingdom. (correct; men – antecedent to the relative pronoun ‘that’)
Possessive pronouns
In case of possessive pronouns (mine, yours, ours, hers, etc.), the verb will be used according to the noun present in them.
Your parents are supportive but mine is not. (incorrect)
Your parents are supportive but mine are not. (correct)
These scissors are sharp but yours is blunt. (incorrect)
These scissors are sharp but yours are blunt. (correct)
All/Both
‘All’ can be used in:
countable sense – here it will take plural verb
uncountable sense - here it will take singular verb
With ‘all’ we have the following patterns:
Pattern 1: All (everything) + singular verb
I hope all is well. (is – singular verb)
Pattern 2: All (people) + plural verb
All are supportive in your family.
Pattern 3: All + Noun + verb (verb will be as per the noun)
All the furniture have been sent to you. (incorrect)
All the furniture has been sent to you. (correct; furniture – singular noun; has – singular verb)
Pattern 4: (Not) All + (of) + Noun + verb (verb will be as per the noun)
Not all of the politicians are corrupt. (politicians – plural noun; are – plural verb)
With ‘both’ we have the following patterns:
Pattern 1: Both + plural verb
There are two books on the table and both is highly useful. (incorrect)
There are two books on the table and both are highly useful. (correct)
Pattern 2: Both + (of) + Plural Noun/Pronoun + plural verb
Both of the boys is in love with Meenakshi. (incorrect)
Both of the boys are in love with Meenakshi. (correct)
either/neither/each/one
Pattern 1: either/neither/each/one + of + plural noun / plural pronoun + singular verb
Neither of the candidates are good enough. (incorrect)
Neither of the candidates is good enough. (correct)
Pattern 2: either/neither/each/one + singular noun + singular verb
Either boy have stolen my wallet. (incorrect)
Either boy has stolen my wallet. (correct)
neither/nor/so/such/as – As adverbs
Let us see the patterns wherein neither/nor/so/such/as act as adverb.
Pattern 1: ……… neither/nor + verb + subject (verb will be as per the subject)
She is not a dancer, neither/nor is her parents. (incorrect)
She is not a dancer, neither/nor are her parents. (correct; parents – plural subject; are – plural verb)
Pattern 2: ……… so + verb + subject (verb will be as per the subject)
You are smart, so is I. (incorrect)
You are smart, so am I. (correct; I – subject; am – verb as per the subject)
Pattern 3: ………… as + verb + subject (verb will be as per the subject)
Michelle dances beautifully, as do Katy. (incorrect)
Michelle dances beautifully, as does Katy. (correct; Katy – subject; does – verb as per the subject)
Pattern 4: such + verb + subject …………. (verb will be as per the subject)
Such has been the policies of Mr. Trump. (incorrect)
Such have been the policies of Mr. Trump. (correct; policies – subject; have – verb as per the subject)
Neither of, Either of, None of etc.
We prefer to use singular verb with ‘any of’, ‘each of’, ‘either of’, ‘neither of’, or ‘none of’ and a plural noun.
Pattern: any of/each of/either of/neither of/none of + plural noun + singular verb
‘Neither of’ means ‘none of the two things/people’.
Neither of the players was informed about the tie-breaker rules.
‘None of’ means ‘no one of the group of things/people’.
Neither of his four sons looked after him. (incorrect)
None of his four sons looked after him. (correct)
‘Either of’ means ‘one of the two things/people.’
Either of the twins will be made the trustee. (correct)
Either of the five members is at fault. (incorrect)
One of the five members is at fault. (correct)
‘not’ is not used with ‘both’. For this purpose ‘neither of’ is used.
Both of them did not take the exam. (incorrect; meaning is ambiguous. Did one of them take the exam or no one of them?)
Neither of them took the exam. (correct)
Neither … or, Either … or etc.
Number of subjects joined by ‘or’, ‘nor’
Number (singular/plural) of subjects joined by ‘or’, ‘nor’ and the verb to be used:
Concept 1
When we connect two or more singular subjects by ‘or’ or ‘nor’, we use a singular verb.
Either Aanya or Alka has the ring.
Neither option A nor option B seems to be the correct answer.
No nook or corner has been left unexplored.
Concept 2
When one of the subjects joined by ‘or’ or ‘nor’ is plural, we use a plural verb. Keep in mind that in such a case, the plural subject should be placed nearest to the verb.
Neither the President nor the ministers were invited.
Person of subjects joined by ‘or’, ‘nor’
Person (first/second/third) of subjects joined by ‘or’, ‘nor’ and the verb to be used:
Concept
When the subjects joined by ‘or’ or ‘nor’ are of different persons, the verb agrees with the nearer subject.
Either she or I am going to be the captain.
Neither you nor she is going to be the captain.
But there is a better way to write this. We can avoid these constructions and rephrase them as follows:
She is going to be the captain, or else I am.
She is not going to be the captain, nor are you.
In general, we can say that if two subjects are joined by ‘neither …. nor’, ‘either … or’, ‘or’, the verb will agree with the nearest subject (in number and person).
The same is true for: ‘not only … but also’, ‘nor’, ‘none-but’.
Neither David nor his friends have come. (friends – plural subject; have – plural verb)
Each, Every, One, etc.
Concept 1
These are singular:
- Words beginning with every-, some-, any- and no- , i.e. every/some/no/any + body/one/thing
E.g. Each, Every, Everyone, Someone, Somebody, Nobody, None, Any, Nothing - One
- Many a
- More than one
So, we use singular verb, singular noun and singular pronoun with them.
Each employee has come. (employee – singular noun; has – singular verb)
Every house has its own parking. (house – singular noun; has – singular verb)
Every boy, girl, man, and woman are capable of doing anything. (incorrect)
Every boy, girl, man, and woman is capable of doing anything. (correct; is – singular verb)
As already mentioned, when indefinite pronoun ‘One’ is the subject of a sentence, then we use singular verb and singular pronoun.
The pronouns we use here are: one, one’s, and oneself (and not ‘he’, ‘him’, ‘his’ or ‘himself).
One should keep his temper in check. (incorrect)
One should keep one’s temper in check. (correct)
One must learn from one’s friend as well as his enemy. (incorrect)
One must learn from one’s friend as well as one’s enemy. (correct)
Let us see some more patterns when using ‘each’ and ‘every’:
When we qualify two nouns by ‘each’ or ‘every’, and connect them by ‘and’, we still use a singular verb.
Pattern 1: Each/Every + singular noun + and + each/every + singular noun + singular verb
Every nurse and every doctor were notified about this virus scare. (incorrect)
Every nurse and every doctor was notified about this virus scare. (correct)
Each student and each teacher are responsible for this. (incorrect)
Each student and each teacher is responsible for this. (correct)
Have a look at the following pattern too.
Pattern 2: Each and every + singular noun + …….. + singular verb
Each and Every policeman present in this room has been charged with corruption. (policeman – singular noun; has – singular verb)
If we use ‘each’ after plural noun/pronoun, then we use plural verb. We encounter the following patterns:
Pattern 1: Plural noun/pronoun + each + plural verb
We each does everything correctly. (incorrect)
We each do everything correctly. (correct; We – plural pronoun; do – plural verb)
Pattern 2: Plural noun/pronoun + plural helping verb + each + main verb
They each have decided to leave India for good. (incorrect)
They have each decided to leave India for good. (correct; They – plural pronoun; have – plural helping verb; decided – main verb)
Concept 2
If we use ‘of’ after each, every, one, etc. then we witness the following pattern:
Pattern: each/every/one + of + plural noun/pronoun
That is, the noun/pronoun that comes immediately after ‘of’ will be plural in form.
However the verb, pronoun, adjective, etc. that comes in the latter part of the sentence will be singular in form.
One of the students/them have completed their assignment. (incorrect)
One of the students/them has completed his assignment. (correct; students/them – plural noun/pronoun; has – singular verb; his – singular pronoun)
Let us see some more patterns that we encounter when we use ‘of’ after one.
Pattern 1: One of + plural noun + relative pronoun + plural verb + …. + singular verb (plural verb comes for plural noun)
One of the books which were written by you is laying on the table. (books – plural noun; were – plural verb; is – singular verb)
Pattern 2: Subject + verb + one of + plural noun + relative pronoun + plural verb
(plural verb comes for plural noun)
This is one of the best novels that has appeared this year. (incorrect)
This is one of the best novels that have appeared this year. (correct; novels – plural noun; have – plural verb)
Pattern 3: Subject + verb + the only one + of + plural noun + that + singular verb
This is the only one of the movies that are worth watching. (incorrect)
This is the only one of the movies that is worth watching. (correct; movies – plural noun; is – singular verb)
Compare the following pattern with those given above.
Noun/Pronoun + relative pronoun + verb
(verb will be as per the noun/pronoun)
The number of trains which were cancelled is seven.
Concept 3
We have already seen that we use singular verb with ‘none’.
Pattern 1: None + singular verb
None has arrived yet. (has – singular verb)
Let us see some more patterns when using ‘none’:
Pattern 2: None but + singular noun + singular verb
None but an expert has to be hired. (expert – singular noun; has – singular verb)
Pattern 3: None but + plural noun + plural verb
None but your sons have been arrested. (sons – plural noun; have – plural verb)
Pattern 4: None + of + uncountable noun + singular verb.
None of the money are mine. (incorrect)
None of the money is mine. (correct)
Pattern 5: None + of + plural countable noun + singular verb/plural verb (singular verb is preferred)
None of the teachers has ever declined my request.
Concept 4
We have already seen that we use singular verb with ‘many a’.
Pattern 1: Many a + singular noun + singular verb
Many a student have scored good marks on their test.
Many a student has scored good marks on his test. (student – singular noun; has – singular verb; his – singular pronoun)
Let us see some more patterns when using ‘many’:
Pattern 2: Many + plural verb
Many is close to my heart. (incorrect)
Many are close to my heart. (correct)
Pattern 3: Many + plural countable noun + plural verb
I know that many government employees are diligent. (employees – plural countable noun; are – plural verb)
Pattern 4: A great / A good many + plural noun + plural verb
A great many revolutionaries has been hanged. (incorrect)
A great many revolutionaries have been hanged. (correct; revolutionaries – plural noun; have – plural verb)
Pattern 5: Many + of + plural countable noun + plural verb
Many of these students are burning the midnight oil. (students - plural countable noun; are – plural verb)
Concept 5
As already mentioned, ‘More than one’ is followed by singular countable noun and singular verb.
More than one witness was present at the crime scene. (witness – singular noun; was – singular verb)
‘more + plural noun + than one’ is followed by plural noun and plural verb.
More employees than one are present. (are – plural verb)
More eggs than one are rotten. (are – plural verb)
‘More than two/three/four’ is followed by plural noun and plural verb.
More than two girls were absent. (were – plural verb)
More than three murders have been reported in just 2 hours. (have – plural verb)
Concept 6
A number of/A large number of/A great number of – they mean ‘many’, i.e. they are used with plural countable noun. So, we use plural verb with them.
Pattern: A number of/A large number of/A great number of + Plural Noun + Plural Verb
A number of soldiers were marching. (soldiers – plural countable noun; were – plural verb)
Concept 7
The number of – it means ‘number of some plural countable noun’. We use singular verb with them.
Pattern: The number of + Plural Noun + Singular Verb
The number of diligent students are increasing day by day. (incorrect)
The number of diligent students is increasing day by day. (correct; students – plural countable noun; is – singular verb)
Concept 8
With most of/some (of)/a lot of/lots of/plenty of and a plural countable noun we use a plural verb.
Pattern: most of/some (of)/a lot of/lots of/plenty of + Plural countable Noun + Plural Verb
Most of the boys likes to watch sports. (incorrect)
Most of the boys like to watch sports. (correct; boys – plural countable noun; like – plural verb)
A lot of girls has been selected for this post. (incorrect)
A lot of girls have been selected for this post. (correct; girls – plural countable noun; have – plural verb)
Concept 9
With any of, none of, most of, the majority of, a lot of, lots of, plenty of, all (of), some (of) and an uncountable noun we use a singular verb.
Pattern: any of/none of/most of/the majority of/a lot of/lots of/plenty of/all (of)/some (of) + Uncountable Noun + Singular Verb
All the furniture was destroyed in the flood. (furniture – uncountable noun; was – singular verb)
Some of the milk has turned sour. (milk – uncountable noun; has – singular verb)
Concept 10
Majority + of + Plural countable noun + Plural verb
The majority of our employees is from premiere institutions. (incorrect)
The majority of our employees are from premiere institutions. (correct; employees – plural countable noun; are – plural verb)
Concept 11
A variety of + Plural noun + Plural Verb
A variety of reasons were given. (reasons – plural noun; were – plural verb)
Few, Little, Much
Concept 1: Few
We use ‘few’ with plural countable nouns. So, we use plural verb with all versions of ‘few’.
Pattern: few / very few / a few / the few + Plural Verb
Few / Very few / A few of his books is worth reading. (incorrect)
Few / Very few / A few of his books are worth reading. (correct; are – plural verb)
The few students I know is very diligent. (incorrect)
The few students I know are very diligent. (correct; are – plural verb)
Here’s what different versions of ‘few’ mean:
Few – less in number (a word with negative connotation)
Very few – very less in number
A few – some
The few – whatever in number
Concept 2: Little
We use ‘little’ with quantity/uncountable nouns. So, we use singular verb with all versions of ‘little’.
Pattern: little / very little / a little / the little + Singular Verb
Little knowledge are a dangerous thing. (incorrect)
Little knowledge is a dangerous thing. (correct; is – singular verb)
The little money I have are yours. (incorrect)
The little money I have is yours. (correct; is – singular verb)
Here’s what different versions of ‘little’ mean:
Little – less in quantity (a word with negative connotation)
Very little – very less in quantity
A little – some quantity
The little – whatever quantity
Concept 3: Much
We use ‘much’ with quantity/uncountable nouns. So, we use singular verb with ‘much’.
Pattern 1: Much + singular verb
Much have been left to be desired. (incorrect)
Much has been left to be desired. (correct; has – singular verb)
Pattern 2: Much + of + uncountable noun + singular verb
Much of the sugar have been consumed. (incorrect)
Much of the sugar has been consumed. (correct; has – singular verb)
Pattern 3: Much + uncountable noun + singular verb
Much money are required to make it a grand success. (incorrect)
Much money is required to make it a grand success. (correct; is – singular verb)
Concept 4: More than one
With ‘More than one’, we encounter the following patterns:
Pattern 1: More than one + singular noun + singular verb
More than one criminal have attacked Mark. (incorrect)
More than one criminal has attacked Mark. (correct; criminal – singular noun; has – singular verb)
Pattern 2: More + plural noun + than one + plural verb
More books than one has been bought by me. (incorrect)
More books than one have been bought by me. (correct; books – plural noun; have – plural verb)
Concept 5: A lot / lots
With ‘a lot / lots’ and infinitive, we always use a singular verb
A lot / lots + (to + $V_1$) - Use singular verb
There were a lot to do to make it a grand success. (incorrect)
There was a lot to do to make it a grand success. (correct; was – singular verb)
There
There – It’s a dummy introductory subject
Pattern: There + Verb + Noun/Pronoun (Verb will be as per Noun/Pronoun)
There are nothing impossible if your determination is firm. (incorrect)
There is nothing impossible if your determination is firm. (correct; is – singular verb)
There is a number of problems in my life. (incorrect)
There are a number of problems in my life. (correct; are – plural verb)
This / That / These / Those
With this/that we use singular noun and verb, while with these/those we use plural noun and verb.
Pattern 1: This / That + singular noun + singular verb
Are this the book you are looking for? (incorrect)
Is this the book you are looking for? (correct; book – singular noun; is – singular verb)
Pattern 2: These / Those + plural noun + plural verb
These pieces of information is highly useful. (incorrect)
These pieces of information are highly useful. (correct; are – plural verb)
No, Nothing
With ‘No’ we use the following patterns:
Pattern 1: No + singular noun + singular verb
No guest is to leave the hall without permission. (guest – singular noun; is – singular verb)
Pattern 2: No + plural noun + plural verb
There were no letters in the box. (letters – plural noun; were – plural verb)
Pattern 3: No other + singular noun + singular verb
No other methods are so beneficial as this one. (incorrect)
No other method is so beneficial as this one. (correct; is – singular verb)
We follow the same pattern with another/any other
Pattern: another/any other + singular Noun + singular verb
But with ‘all other’ we use a different pattern.
Pattern: all other + plural Noun + plural verb
With ‘Nothing’ we use the following pattern:
Pattern 1: Nothing + but + noun + singular verb
No matter the noun is countable/uncountable, singular/plural, we will use singular verb.
Nothing but some benches are available in the class room. (incorrect)
Nothing but some benches is available in the class room. (correct; is – singular verb)
Nothing but water are visible from here. (incorrect)
Nothing but water is visible from here. (correct; is – singular verb)
Pattern 2: No / None / Nobody + ……. + but + noun + verb (verb will be as per the noun)
Nobody else but your determination is going to help you to become a manager. (is – singular verb)
Conjunctions and Subject-Verb Agreement
When two subjects are joined with the help of following conjunctions, the verb agrees with the first subject.
as well as, along with, together with, with, without, but, besides, except, no less than, and not, in addition to, rather than, accompanied by
Pattern: Noun/Pronoun (acts as subject) + Conjunction + Noun/Pronoun (acts as object) + Verb
He as well as his friends are doing their job. (incorrect)
He as well as his friends is doing his job. (correct; he – first subject, singular pronoun; is – singular verb)
Everybody but John and Mragank are ready to go. (incorrect)
Everybody but John and Mragank is ready to go. (correct; Everybody – first subject, singular pronoun; is – singular verb)
When two subjects are joined with the help of following conjunctions, the verb agrees with the second subject (i.e. nearest subject).
Patterns:
- noun/pronoun + or + noun/pronoun
- Either + noun/pronoun + or + noun/pronoun
- Neither + noun/pronoun + nor + noun/pronoun
- Whether + noun/pronoun + or + noun/pronoun
- Not only + noun/pronoun + but also + noun/pronoun
- Not merely + noun/pronoun + but also + noun/pronoun
E.g. Either you or I am going to be selected. (I – second subject; am – verb as per the second subject)
Neither Michelle nor her friends have come. (friends – second subject; have – verb as per the second subject)
Not only this boy but also John and Mragank is doing his work. (incorrect)
Not only this boy but also John and Mragank are doing their work. (correct; John and Mragank – second subject; are – verb as per the second subject)
Extra Books and Tools
If you prefer to learn via books, or want some good English Grammar books for reference purposes, you may read this article which enlists some of the books recommended by us.