If you’re preparing for challenging English exams such as SSC, Bank PO, or any major competitive test, mastering subject-verb agreement is absolutely essential. Many students stumble on these questions, often losing marks for mistakes that are easily avoidable. This post highlights some of the most frequent errors, provides clear exam-style examples, and shares actionable tips from the new guide, “Spot the Error! The Ultimate Guide to Subject-Verb Agreement for Exam Success by Balu Kandekar."
Why Subject-Verb Agreement Questions Matter in Exams
Subject-verb agreement rules are a core part of the English syllabus for most government and entrance exams. These rules test your understanding of how singular and plural subjects work with corresponding verbs – a key ingredient for error-free writing. Missing these questions can be the difference between just missing out and making the merit list.
What Is Subject-Verb Agreement?
Simply put, subject-verb agreement means that the verb must match its subject in number and person. For example:
- The teacher plays cricket. (“teacher” is singular, so the verb is “plays”)
- The teachers play cricket. (“teachers” is plural, so the verb is “play”)
This basic rule gets tricky in actual exam questions. Let’s discuss some types of subject-verb agreement errors, along with common exam examples.
Top Subject-Verb Agreement Mistakes in Competitive Exams
1. Multiple Subjects Joined by "And"
When two or more subjects are joined by “and”, they normally take a plural verb.
Incorrect: Hari and Ram is here.
Correct: Hari and Ram are here.
Tip: If the nouns refer to the same person or thing, use singular.
- The Secretary and Principal is coming. (if it’s one person)
2. Subjects Joined by "Or", "Nor", “Either/Or”, “Neither/Nor”
Use a singular verb with either/or or neither/nor if both subjects are singular.
Incorrect: Neither he nor I were present.
Correct: Neither he nor I was present.
If one of the subjects is plural, the verb agrees with the closer subject:
- Neither the Headmaster nor the teachers were present.
- Either Raman or his parents have arrived.
3. Words Between Subject and Verb
A very common error in competitive exams is letting a word or phrase between the subject and verb confuse you.
Incorrect: The bouquet of roses smell wonderful.
Correct: The bouquet of roses smells wonderful.
Here, “bouquet” is the subject, not “roses”.
4. Collective Nouns
Collective nouns usually take a singular verb when referring to the group as a whole, but plural when referring to members individually.
Singular:
The jury decides the verdict.
Plural:
The jury are arguing among themselves.
5. Indefinite Pronouns
Words like “everyone”, “someone”, “each”, and “every” are singular and require a singular verb.
Incorrect: Everyone are enjoying the show.
Correct: Everyone is enjoying the show.
6. Special Nouns Always Plural
Nouns like “scissors”, “trousers” are always plural, so they require plural verbs.
Example:
My trousers are new.
7. Distances, Time, Money
When referring to amounts, use a singular verb.
Example:
Ten rupees is not enough.
Five years is a long time.
8. Subjects Separated by "As well as", "Besides", "In addition to"
In such cases, the verb agrees only with the first subject.
Example:
The teacher, as well as the students, is watching the movie.
9. Plural Form, Singular Meaning
Some nouns are plural in form but singular in meaning: news, mathematics, physics.
Example:
Physics is my favorite subject.
10. Practice Makes Perfect
The best way to avoid common subject-verb agreement mistakes is plenty of practice with real exam-type questions. My ebook “Spot the Error!” provides over 100 targeted practice questions and detailed explanations to help students truly understand the logic behind each answer.
Real Exam Examples
Try spotting the errors in these real-world exam samples:
A pack of wolves (run/runs) through the forest every night.
Correct: runsEither the students or the teacher (has/have) left the classroom.
Correct: hasThe news (is/are) spreading quickly.
Correct: isNeither the principal nor the teachers (was/were) present.
Correct: were
How to Fix Subject-Verb Agreement Mistakes Quickly
- Identify the subject first. Don’t be misled by phrases between subject and verb.
- Look for connecting words such as “and”, “or”, “nor”.
- Keep an eye on tricky nouns (news, pants, scissors).
- Practice with time-bound quizzes for confidence in the exam hall.
- Study from trusted sources, such as well-reviewed grammar ebooks tailored for exam success.
Conclusion
Subject-verb agreement is one of the most heavily tested English grammar topics in competitive exams—but also one of the easiest to master if you know the rules and practice regularly. Use these examples, review the mistakes, and try the targeted questions in “Spot the Error! The Ultimate Guide to Subject-Verb Agreement for Exam Success by Balu Kandekar” to make these marks yours.
If you’re looking for a downloadable guide, step-by-step explanations, and the top practice questions for English grammar exams, make sure to check out this newly released ebook. Take charge of your exam success—one correct verb at a time.
