Subject Verb Agreement
1. What Subject-Verb Agreement Is (Concord)
Subject-Verb Agreement (SVA) = verb must agree with subject in number (singular/plural) and person. For present simple, singular third person takes -s: "He goes" vs "They go".
2. Core Rules (exam list — 7 with example)
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| 1. Singular subject → singular verb | The sensor is accurate (not are) |
| 2. Plural subject → plural verb | Sensors are accurate |
| 3. and (two subjects with and) → plural | Ram and Shyam are engineers |
| 4. or / Neither...nor / Either...or → verb agrees with nearest subject | Neither the sensor nor the actuators are faulty (nearest actuators plural) ; Either Ram or Shyam is present |
| 5. Collective noun (team, data — singular vs plural) | The team is (as unit) large; The data are (data originally plural, but often singular in engineering: data is) — follow textbook preference: data are if strict |
| 6. Indefinite pronouns (each, every, anyone → singular) | Each sensor is calibrated; Everyone is present |
| 7. Uncountable nouns → singular | Information is useful (not are); Equipment is costly |
3. Common Traps
- Intervening phrase does not change agreement: "The box of sensors is heavy" (subject box singular, not sensors).
- There is/are: verb agrees with following noun: "There is a sensor", "There are sensors".
4. Worked Corrections
Incorrect: "The list of sensors are long." → The list **is** long (subject *list*).
Incorrect: "Each of the systems are working." → Each **is** working.
Correct: "Neither the manager nor the engineers are available." (nearest *engineers* plural).
Correct: "The data is analyzed." (if course treats *data* as singular mass noun) — check your textbook preference; some insist *data are*.
5. Exam Points
- State SVA rule (singular/plural) — 3 marks, frequent.
- Correct 5 sentences with errors (and/or, neither/nor, each) — 5-7 marks, very frequent (the most common SVA question).
- Choose correct verb in brackets: "The sensors (is/are)..." — 5 marks, frequent.