Subject–Verb Agreement with Special Cases – Rules & Examples for SSC, Banking, PSC & UPSC

Subject–Verb Agreement with Special Cases – Rules & Examples for SSC, Banking, PSC & UPSC

(Complete English Grammar Theory for SSC, Banking, PSC & UPSC Exams)

1. Introduction

Some sentences in English have special cases that confuse learners in Subject–Verb Agreement. These exceptions or tricky rules are tested heavily in competitive exams like SSC, Banking, PSC, and UPSC, especially in:

  • Error Detection
  • Sentence Improvement
  • Cloze Tests

Understanding these special cases helps avoid common mistakes and score higher.

2. Special Cases of Subject–Verb Agreement

Case 1: Subjects Separated by “Along with”, “As well as”, “Together with”

When additional phrases follow the subject, the verb agrees with the main subject, not the additional phrase.

Examples:

  • The manager, along with his assistants, is attending the meeting.
  • Ramesh, as well as his friends, was present at the event.
  • The Prime Minister, together with the ministers, has inaugurated the program.

🔎 Exam Tip: Don’t get misled by phrases after the main subject.

Case 2: Titles, Names, and Subjects That Appear Plural but Are Singular

  • Titles of books, movies, organizations, countries, or events take singular verbs.

Examples:

  • Mathematics is my favorite subject.
  • The United States of America is a developed country.
  • “The Lord of the Rings” is a famous novel.

Case 3: Words Like “The number of” vs “A number of”

  • A number of + plural noun → plural verb
  • The number of + plural noun → singular verb

Examples:

  • A number of students are absent today.
  • The number of students is increasing.

🔎 Exam Focus: Very common in SSC & Banking exams.

Case 4: Subjects Expressing Distance, Time, Money, Weight, or Measurement

Even if the subject seems plural, verbs are singular when considered as a unit.

Examples:

  • Ten kilometers is a long distance.
  • Five years is enough to complete the course.
  • Fifty rupees is enough for the ticket.

Case 5: “Here is / There is / There are”

  • Verb agrees with the real subject, not “here” or “there”.

Examples:

  • Here is the book you asked for. (Book → singular)
  • There are many students in the class. (Students → plural)

Case 6: Subjects That Seem Plural but Take Singular Verbs

  • Some nouns ending in s are singular: news, politics, economics, physics, measles, mathematics.

Examples:

  • News is shocking.
  • Politics is complicated.
  • Economics is his favorite subject.

Case 7: “Each”, “Every”, “Either”, “Neither”, “One of the”

  • Always singular verbs.

Examples:

  • Each of the players has a jersey.
  • Every boy and girl is present.
  • Either of the roads leads to the station.
  • Neither of the answers is correct.
  • One of the students has won the prize.

Case 8: Plural Form with Singular Meaning

Some plural-looking nouns are singular in meaning:

  • Civics, measles, ethics, mathematics, physics

Examples:

  • Physics is difficult.
  • Measles is a contagious disease.

Case 9: Subjects Connected by “Or” / “Nor” / “Either…Or” / “Neither…Nor”

  • The verb agrees with the nearest subject.

Examples:

  • Either the teacher or the students are responsible.
  • Neither the students nor the teacher is responsible.

Case 10: Collective Nouns

  • Singular when the group is one unit
  • Plural when members act individually

Examples:

  • The team is winning. (as a unit)
  • The team are arguing among themselves. (individual actions)

3. Common Exam Errors

❌ The manager, along with his assistants, are attending the meeting.
✅ The manager, along with his assistants, is attending the meeting.

❌ A number of students is absent.
✅ A number of students are absent.

❌ Ten kilometers are a long distance.
✅ Ten kilometers is a long distance.

❌ Physics are difficult.
✅ Physics is difficult.

❌ Neither of the answers are correct.
✅ Neither of the answers is correct.

4. Exam Tips

  1. Identify the real subject (ignore phrases like along with, as well as).
  2. Watch for tricky plural-looking nouns.
  3. Check modifiers like each, every, either, neither.
  4. Use singular verb for measurements, time, money, distance.
  5. For or/nor, verb agrees with the nearest subject.
  6. Look for collective nouns context (unit vs individual members).

5. Mini Practice

  1. The manager, together with his team, ____ (is/are) arriving. → is
  2. Either Ramesh or his friends ____ (is/are) responsible. → are
  3. Ten years ____ (is/are) enough to complete the course. → is
  4. One of the players ____ (has/have) scored a century. → has
  5. The news ____ (is/are) shocking. → is