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1. Rule 1 :
Subject and verb pair must make sense. In other words the SV pair must convey intended meaning.
Example : After being shut down, the manufacturing unit in a small town of Ohio resulted in a severe loss of revenue and hence severe economic mortification.
Here the subject is manufacturing unit and it doesn't make any sense with the verb "resulted". Hence this is incorrect.
2. SV pair must agree in number.
Singular subject + Singular verb
plural subject + plural verb
3. Always singular words:
Pronouns ending in : one , body, thing ,ever
ONE BODY THING EVER
ANY Anyone Anybody Anything -
EVERY Everyone Everybody Everything
NO No one Nobody Nothing
SOME Someone Somebody something
What whatever
Who whoever
4. Rules related to Each
A. Each as subject is always singular
Example : Each of the students is responsible for doing his or her work in the library.
B. Each comes after the subject
If each appears after the subject , then the verb must agree with the subject
Example : The four largest navy fleets each account for at least 70% of market share
C. Each comes before subject
If each appears before the subject then it always takes singular verb irrespective of the nature of subject
5. Rules for phrases and clauses
A. [b]Phrases that start with gerund or Verb-ing noun as subject will always take a singular verb[/b]
Examples :
Smoking is injurious to health.
Singing gives me great pleasure.
Telling lies can get you into deep trouble.
Collecting stamps is his hobby.
B. Phrases can be plural or singular depending on usage
Examples :
[One of my contacts lenses] fell on the floor
[The first car to reach Brighton] is the winner
C. Clauses can also function as Subjects. When they perform this function, we refer to them generally as Subject clauses.
Basically, there are two types : Finite and non-finite
Examples of finite
Examples :
That his theory was flawed soon became obvious
What I need is a long holiday
Examples of Non finite
Examples :
To become an opera singer takes years of training
Being the chairman is a huge responsibility (As Discussed in A)
6. Collective Nouns can be singular or plural
A. Words that appear but singular : Army, Society, family , Baggage, crowd , orchestra, Department, corporation, fruit, Navy, Citrus, team jury, class furniture, etc
B. Tricky plurals : criteria, phenomena, memoranda, and media
C. Collective nouns in plural form will take plural verbs
Example : All classes are in session
D. Proper Nouns are generally singular.
7. Words that change Number of the subject
A. AND : Changes singular subject to plural where it combines 2 or more entities.
Note : Plural subject + singular subject -> will take plural verb ( don't get confused with singular subject)
Example : All the fruits and grass in the lawn need special care.
B. Words Prior to subject will make it take singular verb
Each, Every, Either, Neither, One of the, The number of
Example :
Either diamond is a good choice.
Neither was a very good singer.
Neither sandwich tastes good.
Special note:
subject + Each or Every : verb will depend on the number of subject.
C: Usage of OR, EITHER OR, NEITHER OR
plural subject + or/nor/either or/neither or + Singular subject will take singular verb. ( the verb should match to the closest subject)
Singular subject + or/nor/either or/neither or + plural subject will take plural verb( the verb should match to the closest subject)
Examples :
Neither the jockeys nor the horses have ever raced on that particular track. (both plural)
Neither the accountant nor his clients know the combination.
Neither the clients nor the accountant knows the combination.
Either Larry or Brad holds the record.
Either Larry or one of his brothers holds the record. (one of his brothers, not plural brothers)
Either his mother or my sisters are singing in the pub tonight.
Either my sisters or his mother is singing in the pub tonight.
8. Quantity Prepositional Phrase
Subject never resides in prepositional phrase except when it expresses the quantity
Examples:
A.Some of the classes
Since [of the classes] is used with "some" it expresses quantity. hence the subject becomes classes and thus the verb will be plural
Some of the oranges have fallen down from the basket
B. Most of the students
Similarly as explained above , subject becomes students
Most of the concepts of subject verb agreement are straightforward
C. Two of the five pots
Pots is the subject
D. A number of supporters
Here subject becomes supporters
9. Additive phrases
The number of the subject verb does not change.
If singular subject then verb will be singular
If plural subject then verb will be plural
Examples of additive phrases : In addition to, Together with, As well as, Accompanied by , Along with
10. More, most, enough, and all work with both countable (plural) and uncountable (singular) nouns: more hats; more patience; most people; most furniture; enough hats; enough patience; all people; all furniture
11. Be careful with unit nouns, such as dollars or gallons. By their nature, unit nouns are countable: one dollar, two dollars, three dollars. Thus, they work with most of the countable modifiers. However, unit nouns represent uncountable quantities: money, volume. (You can count money, of course, but you cannot count the noun money: one money (?), two moneys (?), stop. As a result, use less with unit nouns, when you really want to indicate something about the underlying quantity
12. Rules of one of.. by RON
One of the X's that/who <plural>
One of the X's <singular>
Only one of the X's <singular>
Only one of the X's that/who <plural>
The only one of the X's that/who <singular>
13. Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc., when considered as a unit.
Examples:
Three miles is too far to walk.
Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense.
Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
BUT
Ten dollars (i.e., dollar bills) were scattered on the floor.
14. The word were replaces was in sentences that express a wish or are contrary to fact:
Example: If Joe were here, you'd be sorry.
Links to Official questions on Subject verb :
1. new-genetic-evidence-together-with-recent-studies-of-elephan-125269.html
2. for-the-farmer-who-takes-care-to-keep-them-cool-providing-them-with-161370.html
3. noting-that-the-federal-reserve-had-raised-a-key-short-term-175249.html
4. an-international-group-of-more-than-2-000-scientists-project-an-averag-82352.html
5. greatly-influenced-by-the-protested-missionary-samuel-kirkland-the-82259.html
6. with-its-plan-to-develop-seven-and-a-half-acres-of-shore-land-180793.html
7. the-ability-of-scientists-to-provide-models-of-the-atmosphere-s-comple-81390.html
8. the-discovery-that-earths-inner-core-rotates-independently-of-and-more-105144.html
9. as-a-result-of-the-ground-breaking-work-of-barbara-mcclintock-many-50310.html
10. the-computer-software-being-designed-for-a-project-studying-native-ame-56313.html
Subject and verb pair must make sense. In other words the SV pair must convey intended meaning.
Example : After being shut down, the manufacturing unit in a small town of Ohio resulted in a severe loss of revenue and hence severe economic mortification.
Here the subject is manufacturing unit and it doesn't make any sense with the verb "resulted". Hence this is incorrect.
2. SV pair must agree in number.
Singular subject + Singular verb
plural subject + plural verb
3. Always singular words:
Pronouns ending in : one , body, thing ,ever
ONE BODY THING EVER
ANY Anyone Anybody Anything -
EVERY Everyone Everybody Everything
NO No one Nobody Nothing
SOME Someone Somebody something
What whatever
Who whoever
4. Rules related to Each
A. Each as subject is always singular
Example : Each of the students is responsible for doing his or her work in the library.
B. Each comes after the subject
If each appears after the subject , then the verb must agree with the subject
Example : The four largest navy fleets each account for at least 70% of market share
C. Each comes before subject
If each appears before the subject then it always takes singular verb irrespective of the nature of subject
5. Rules for phrases and clauses
A. [b]Phrases that start with gerund or Verb-ing noun as subject will always take a singular verb[/b]
Examples :
Smoking is injurious to health.
Singing gives me great pleasure.
Telling lies can get you into deep trouble.
Collecting stamps is his hobby.
B. Phrases can be plural or singular depending on usage
Examples :
[One of my contacts lenses] fell on the floor
[The first car to reach Brighton] is the winner
C. Clauses can also function as Subjects. When they perform this function, we refer to them generally as Subject clauses.
Basically, there are two types : Finite and non-finite
Examples of finite
Examples :
That his theory was flawed soon became obvious
What I need is a long holiday
Examples of Non finite
Examples :
To become an opera singer takes years of training
Being the chairman is a huge responsibility (As Discussed in A)
6. Collective Nouns can be singular or plural
A. Words that appear but singular : Army, Society, family , Baggage, crowd , orchestra, Department, corporation, fruit, Navy, Citrus, team jury, class furniture, etc
B. Tricky plurals : criteria, phenomena, memoranda, and media
C. Collective nouns in plural form will take plural verbs
Example : All classes are in session
D. Proper Nouns are generally singular.
7. Words that change Number of the subject
A. AND : Changes singular subject to plural where it combines 2 or more entities.
Note : Plural subject + singular subject -> will take plural verb ( don't get confused with singular subject)
Example : All the fruits and grass in the lawn need special care.
B. Words Prior to subject will make it take singular verb
Each, Every, Either, Neither, One of the, The number of
Example :
Either diamond is a good choice.
Neither was a very good singer.
Neither sandwich tastes good.
Special note:
subject + Each or Every : verb will depend on the number of subject.
C: Usage of OR, EITHER OR, NEITHER OR
plural subject + or/nor/either or/neither or + Singular subject will take singular verb. ( the verb should match to the closest subject)
Singular subject + or/nor/either or/neither or + plural subject will take plural verb( the verb should match to the closest subject)
Examples :
Neither the jockeys nor the horses have ever raced on that particular track. (both plural)
Neither the accountant nor his clients know the combination.
Neither the clients nor the accountant knows the combination.
Either Larry or Brad holds the record.
Either Larry or one of his brothers holds the record. (one of his brothers, not plural brothers)
Either his mother or my sisters are singing in the pub tonight.
Either my sisters or his mother is singing in the pub tonight.
8. Quantity Prepositional Phrase
Subject never resides in prepositional phrase except when it expresses the quantity
Examples:
A.Some of the classes
Since [of the classes] is used with "some" it expresses quantity. hence the subject becomes classes and thus the verb will be plural
Some of the oranges have fallen down from the basket
B. Most of the students
Similarly as explained above , subject becomes students
Most of the concepts of subject verb agreement are straightforward
C. Two of the five pots
Pots is the subject
D. A number of supporters
Here subject becomes supporters
9. Additive phrases
The number of the subject verb does not change.
If singular subject then verb will be singular
If plural subject then verb will be plural
Examples of additive phrases : In addition to, Together with, As well as, Accompanied by , Along with
10. More, most, enough, and all work with both countable (plural) and uncountable (singular) nouns: more hats; more patience; most people; most furniture; enough hats; enough patience; all people; all furniture
11. Be careful with unit nouns, such as dollars or gallons. By their nature, unit nouns are countable: one dollar, two dollars, three dollars. Thus, they work with most of the countable modifiers. However, unit nouns represent uncountable quantities: money, volume. (You can count money, of course, but you cannot count the noun money: one money (?), two moneys (?), stop. As a result, use less with unit nouns, when you really want to indicate something about the underlying quantity
12. Rules of one of.. by RON
One of the X's that/who <plural>
One of the X's <singular>
Only one of the X's <singular>
Only one of the X's that/who <plural>
The only one of the X's that/who <singular>
13. Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc., when considered as a unit.
Examples:
Three miles is too far to walk.
Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense.
Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
BUT
Ten dollars (i.e., dollar bills) were scattered on the floor.
14. The word were replaces was in sentences that express a wish or are contrary to fact:
Example: If Joe were here, you'd be sorry.
Links to Official questions on Subject verb :
1. new-genetic-evidence-together-with-recent-studies-of-elephan-125269.html
2. for-the-farmer-who-takes-care-to-keep-them-cool-providing-them-with-161370.html
3. noting-that-the-federal-reserve-had-raised-a-key-short-term-175249.html
4. an-international-group-of-more-than-2-000-scientists-project-an-averag-82352.html
5. greatly-influenced-by-the-protested-missionary-samuel-kirkland-the-82259.html
6. with-its-plan-to-develop-seven-and-a-half-acres-of-shore-land-180793.html
7. the-ability-of-scientists-to-provide-models-of-the-atmosphere-s-comple-81390.html
8. the-discovery-that-earths-inner-core-rotates-independently-of-and-more-105144.html
9. as-a-result-of-the-ground-breaking-work-of-barbara-mcclintock-many-50310.html
10. the-computer-software-being-designed-for-a-project-studying-native-ame-56313.html
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26 Feb 2021, 09:27
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hello from the GMAT Club VerbalBot!
Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).
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Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).
Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Verbal Questions Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block above for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
