SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT / CONCORD RULES

Rule:- When a subject in plural form refers to distance, weight, height or amount of money showing as a single unit or quantity, it takes a singular verb.

1. Five kilometres.........a long distance for a child to walk. (is, not are)

2. Ten kilos of fish......... Rs.2000/00. (costs, not cost)

3. Hundred rupees......... not a big amount for anyone to spend. (is, not are)

4. Six feet..........a considerable height for a fast bowler.  (is, not are)/

5. Five hours......... a long interval for any passenger to wait for the train. (is, not are)

6. Twenty years............ a long of time to remember any secret. (is, not are)

Rule:- Some nouns always take plural verbs because they are made up of two parts, but, when they are used with the phrase 'a pair of', they take singular verbs.

1. My pyjamas..... new. (are, not is)

2. Your sleeves..... loose. (are, not is)

3. Your trousers.........old. (are, not is)

4. Binoculars........expensive. (are, not is)

5. Branded spectacles.......more. (cost, not costs)

6. Those scissors.......mine. (are, not is)

7. Her shoes........been imported. (have , not has)

8. My glasses........day and night. (are, not is)

9. Stockings........the skin warm. (keep, not keeps)

10. Your shorts/slacks....... blue. (are, not is)

11. Pliers.......made of steel. (are, not is)

12. Shears........ used to cut the hair of animals. (are, not is)

13. ........your socks cotton? (are, not is)

14. What....... tongs used for? (are, not is)

15. What...... Tweezers used for? (are, not is)

16. ...........compasses useful or not? (are, not is)

1. My pyjamas..... new. (are, not is)

2. Your sleeves..... loose. (are, not is)

3. Your trousers.........old. (are, not is)

4. Binoculars........expensive. (are, not is)

5. Branded spectacles.......more. (cost, not costs)

6. Those scissors.......mine. (are, not is)

7. Her shoes........been imported. (have , not has)

8. My glasses........day and night. (are, not is)

9. Stockings........the skin warm. (keep, not keeps)

10. Your shorts/slacks....... blue. (are, not is)

11. Pliers.......made of steel. (are, not is)

12. Shears........ used to cut the hair of animals. (are, not is)

13. ........your socks cotton? (Are, not Is)

14. What....... tongs used for? (are, not is)

15. What...... Tweezers used for? (are, not is)

16. ...........compasses useful or not? (Are, not Is)

 

But,

1. A pair of pyjamas..... much. (costs, not cost)

2. A pair of sleeves..... been ordered. (has, not have)

3. A pair of trousers.........been sold. (has, not have)

4. A pair of binoculars........expensive. (is, not are)

5. A pair of branded spectacles.......more. (costs, not cost)

6. This pair of scissors.......mine. (is, not are)

7. A pair of shoes........been imported. (has , not have)

8. A pair of glasses........ been ordered. (has, not have)

9. A pair of stockings........ been ordered. (has, not have)

10. A pair of shorts/slacks....... been sold. (has, not have)

11. A pair of pliers....... been bought. (has, not have)

12. A pair of shears........ used to cut the hair of animals. (is, not are)

13. A pair of socks……… bought yesterday. (was, not were)

14. A pair of tongs ……….needed. (is, not are)

15. A pair of tweezers……….ordered. (was, not were)

16.  A pair of compasses……….. useful for the exams. (is, not are)

Rule:- The following nouns like like plural, but they are singular, so they take singular verbs. 

1. Mathematics…….my favourite subject. (is, not are)

2. Dramatics…………being taught in this academy. (is, not are)

3. Aerobics………….good for health. (is, not are)

4. Economics………..a difficult subject. (is, not are)

5. Statistics…………not taught in this college. (is, not are)

6. Gymnastics……………too tough to practise.(is, not are)

7. Electronics………..being taught in many colleges. (is, not are)

8. Ethics……….us many things. (teaches, not teach)

9. Physics…………..taught by Mr. Panda. (is, not are)

10. Diabetes……………..a common disease today. (is, not are)

11. Tuberculosis…………a curable disease. (is, not are)

12. Rashes…………the skin. (damages, not damage)

13. Measles………….through air. (spreads, not spread)

14. Mumps………….a painful disease. (is, not are)

15. Rickets………..a skin related disease. (is, not are)

16. Cards…………played in the country sides. (is, not are)

17. Tennis…….played all across the country.  (is, not are)

18. Billiards………….played in selected countries. (is, not are)

19. Athletics……….a vital part in Olympics. (plays, not play)

20. Skittles……………a game. (is, not are)

21.Darts……………..a game. (is, not are)

Some countable nouns in English only have a plural form, so they take a plural verb.

bloomers

jeans

breeches

pants

suspenders

braces

pantaloons

tights

flannels

 

bellows

fetters

pincers

scales

glasses

spectacles

 

alms

congratulations

guts

contents

looks

savings

shavings

annals

stairs

archives

droppings

odds

surroundings

arms

outskirts

teens

arrears

earnings

premises

thanks

valuables

belongings

funds (money)

wages

clothes

goods (wares)

riches

condolences

greens (vegetables)

troops

proceeds

contents

 

Uncountable nouns like these are usually singular, so they take a singular verb:

 

a) Abstract nouns

 

advice

death

honesty

music

beauty

depth

hope

poverty

bravery

fear

information

pride

courage

greatness

knowledge

truth

darkness

help

wisdom

mercy

 

b) Material nouns

 

bread

fog

milk

soap

butter

oil

soup

cement

glass

paper

sugar

chalk

gold

petrol

tea

cheese

ice

powder

water

coal

ink

salt

wine

coffee

iron

sand

wood

wool

cream

jam

dirt/dust

jelly

ilk

flour

lime

silver

 

c) Miscellaneous

 

baggage

furniture

luggage

scenery

drapery

clothing

cutlery

housework

imagery

homework

machinery

poetry

rubbish

stationery

traffic

weather

Means can be singular or plural when it means method or process:

1. Wealth is just a means to an end.

 2. All possible means have been tried to ascertain the truth.

But when it means money or resources it is always plural: My means are limited. (not, is)

Whereabouts

It can be used with a singular or plural verb although it is always in the plural form-whereabouts, not whereabout

His present whereabouts is/are not known to anybody.

i) paisa/paise (Indian coin)

The singular form is paisa and the plural form is paise:

1. I gave him one paisa.

2. I gave him fifty paise.

Nouns in the same form in singular and plural are:

deer, poultry, sheep, salmon, stone (measure of weight), aircraft, craft, offspring, public