Introduction
Subject-Verb Agreement (also called "Concord") requires a singular subject to take a singular verb, and a
plural subject to take a plural verb. This sounds simple, but SSC exams specialise in tricky subjects that
disguise their true number.
Core Rule
| Rule |
|---|
| Singular Subject + Singular Verb (is/was/has/verb+s) |
| Plural Subject + Plural Verb (are/were/have/base verb) |
Tricky Subject Types
| Subject Type | Rule | Example |
|---|
| Collective nouns (team, family, jury) | Singular verb when acting as one unit | The team is playing well. |
| Subjects joined by "and" | Usually take a plural verb | Ram and Shyam are friends. |
| Subjects joined by "or"/"nor" | Verb agrees with the nearer subject | Either the teacher or the students are wrong. |
| "Each," "every," "either," "neither" | Always singular, even before plural-looking nouns | Each of the boys has a bag. |
| Indefinite pronouns (everyone, somebody) | Always singular | Everyone is ready. |
| Uncountable nouns | Always singular | The furniture is new. |
| Words ending in -s but singular in meaning (news, mathematics, physics) | Singular verb | Mathematics is difficult. |
Q. Choose the correct sentence: (A) Each of the students have submitted their assignment. (B) Each of the students has submitted their assignment.
"Each" is always singular, regardless of the plural noun that follows it
Correct: (B) Each of the students has submitted...
Phrases Between Subject and Verb — The Biggest Trap
⚠️ Highest-Frequency Trap: Ignore any prepositional phrase (with, along with, together with, as well as, in addition to) placed between the subject and verb — the verb must agree with the TRUE subject, not the noun closest to it.
Q. Choose the correct sentence: (A) The box of chocolates are on the table. (B) The box of chocolates is on the table.
True subject = "box" (singular); "of chocolates" is just a prepositional phrase, ignore it for agreement
Correct: (B) The box of chocolates is on the table.
Q. Choose the correct sentence: (A) The teacher, along with her students, is going on a trip. (B) The teacher, along with her students, are going on a trip.
True subject = "teacher" (singular); "along with her students" doesn't add to the subject's number
Correct: (A) The teacher, along with her students, is going...
"There is / There are" Rule
| Rule |
|---|
| The verb after "there" agrees with the noun that FOLLOWS it, not with "there" itself |
Q. Fill in the blank: "There ___ many students in the class."
The noun following is "many students" (plural) → are
Distances, Amounts, and Time — Treated as Singular
Q. Choose the correct sentence: (A) Ten kilometres is a long distance. (B) Ten kilometres are a long distance.
When expressing a single quantity/measurement (distance, money, time), treat it as one unit → singular
Correct: (A) Ten kilometres is a long distance.
✅ Practice Focus: Ignoring prepositional phrases between subject and verb · Each/every/either/neither always singular · Or/nor agreeing with the nearer subject · There is/are agreeing with the following noun · Measurement/amount phrases treated as singular units.