Subject-Verb Agreement: MDCAT English notes
Subject-Verb Agreement MDCAT notes: singular and plural subjects, each and every, either/or rules, collective nouns, as well as, none, with examples.
The basic rule
A verb must agree with its subject in number. A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb. In the simple present, a singular third-person subject adds -s/-es: "Sameer runs", "The earth seems", but "My parents live".
Find the real subject
Words between the subject and the verb do not change agreement. Strip away prepositional phrases:
- "A full description of car accidents was reported." (subject: description)
- "A shoal of fish has been killed." (subject: shoal)
- "The box of chocolates is on the table."
Rules that MDCAT tests
| Subject type | Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A and B | Plural | Knowledge and wisdom have...; The days and nights are cold. |
| Each, every, each of, every one of, either, neither | Singular | Each of the boys is...; Every one of the rooms is full. |
| Either A or B / Neither A nor B | Agrees with nearer subject | Neither the teacher nor the students were late. |
| Not only A but also B | Agrees with B | Not only the parents but also their son has been called. |
| A as well as / along with / with / together with B | Agrees with A | The captain, as well as his players, is happy. |
| Collective noun as one unit | Singular | The team has won. |
| Some, all, most, none + of + plural | Usually plural (none: singular in formal usage) | Some of the books belong to me; None of them is able. |
| Nouns ending in -s but singular (subjects, diseases, news) | Singular | Ethics is important; Physics is interesting; The news is good. |
| Always plural nouns | Plural | Scissors are...; The police have arrived. |
| Introductory "it" | Singular | It is good players who bring fame. |
| "There" + noun | Agrees with the noun after it | There are two errors; There is one error. |
Worked examples
- "The quality of these medicines ___ excellent." Answer: is (subject: quality).
- "Either the students or the teacher ___ responsible." Answer: is (nearer: teacher).
- "The principal, along with the staff, ___ attending." Answer: is.
- "Mathematics ___ my favourite subject." Answer: is.
- Spot the error: "One of my friends live in Karachi." Correction: lives (subject: one).
Common MDCAT traps
- A plural noun just before the verb ("of the boys") tempts you into a plural verb.
- "Each" and "every one" stay singular regardless of what follows.
- "As well as" does not make the subject plural, but "and" does.
- Linking and state verbs (taste, seem) still need agreement and no -ing: "The soup tastes good."
Quick revision
- Ignore phrases between subject and verb.
- And = plural; or/nor = nearer subject.
- Each, every, either, neither: singular.
- Subjects like ethics, physics, news: singular.
- Not only ... but also: agree with the second.