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SBI Clerk Subject-Verb Agreement

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This page covers SBI Clerk Subject-Verb Agreement with complete concept notes, 13 graded practice MCQs, key points and exam-specific tips. Free to study.

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Concept Notes

Subject-Verb Agreement— Rules & Concept

Core ConceptRead this first — the foundation of the topic

Subject-Verb Agreement is the grammatical rule that the subject and verb in a sentence must match in number and person. Simply put, if the subject is singular, the verb must be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.

Key RulesCore rules you must know cold
1

Singular subjects take singular verbs (He runs)

2

Plural subjects take plural verbs (They run)

3

Collective nouns are usually singular (The team is playing)

4

'And' makes subjects plural (Ram and Shyam are friends)

5

'Or/Nor' follows the nearest subject (Either Ram or his friends are coming)

Exam PatternsWhat examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs

SSC CGL consistently asks 2-3 questions on Subject-Verb Agreement. Common question types include: - Error detection in sentences - Fill in the blanks with correct verb form - Sentence improvement questions - Para jumbles where agreement affects meaning Shortcut Formula for Collective Nouns: Team/Committee/Family/Government + acting as ONE unit = Singular verb Team/Committee/Family/Government + acting as INDIVIDUALS = Plural verb

Worked ExampleSolve this step-by-step before moving on
1
Step 1

Identify the structure - 'Neither...nor' construction

2
Step 2

Apply proximity rule - verb agrees with nearest subject

3
Step 3

Nearest subject is 'students' (plural)

4
Step 4

Therefore, use 'were' (plural verb) Answer: Neither the teacher nor the students WERE present. Worked Example 2: Question: The committee (has/have) decided to postpone the meeting.

1
Step 1

Identify subject - 'committee' (collective noun)

2
Step 2

Determine if acting as unit or individuals

3
Step 3

'Decided' suggests unanimous action = acting as one unit

4
Step 4

One unit = singular verb Answer: The committee HAS decided to postpone the meeting. Powerful Exam Shortcuts: Trick 1 - FANBOYS Rule for Subjects: When subjects joined by 'For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So' - only 'And' makes it plural, others follow proximity rule. Trick 2 - Percentage/Fraction Formula: Percent/Fraction + OF + Singular noun = Singular verb Percent/Fraction + OF + Plural noun = Plural verb Example: 50% of the water IS pure / 50% of the students ARE present Trick 3 - Distance/Time/Money Rule: When talking about total amount as ONE unit = Singular verb Example: Five kilometers IS a long distance (not 'are') Most Common Trap (#1 Student Mistake): Students get confused by words between subject and verb. Always identify the MAIN subject, ignore the words in between. Wrong thinking: 'The bag of books are heavy' (thinking 'books' is subject) Correct: 'The bag of books IS heavy' (subject is 'bag', not 'books') Quick Identification Method: Cross out prepositional phrases (of, in, on, at, with, by, for) to find the real subject. 'The leader of all political parties' → Cross out 'of all political parties' → Subject is 'leader' (singular) Special Cases to Remember: - None can be singular or plural depending on context - Each, every, either, neither are always singular - Data can be singular (modern usage) or plural (traditional) - Scissors, trousers, spectacles are always plural Exam Success Strategy: In error detection questions, immediately scan for subject-verb mismatches. This appears in 60% of grammar-based error detection questions in SSC CGL. Practice identifying the main subject by eliminating prepositional phrases and modifying clauses.

Key Points to Remember

  • Singular subject takes singular verb, plural subject takes plural verb
  • Formula: 'Or/Nor' constructions - verb agrees with NEAREST subject
  • Collective nouns acting as one unit take singular verbs
  • Only 'And' makes compound subjects plural, 'Or/Nor' follows proximity rule
  • Cross out prepositional phrases to identify the main subject
  • Each, every, either, neither are ALWAYS singular
  • Percentage Formula: % + OF + singular noun = singular verb
  • Distance/Time/Money as total amount = singular verb (Five years IS enough)
  • Words between subject and verb do NOT affect agreement
  • None can be singular or plural depending on the noun that follows

Exam-Specific Tips

  • Either, neither, each, every, everyone, someone, anyone are always singular
  • Scissors, trousers, spectacles, pliers are always plural nouns
  • Data is accepted as both singular (modern) and plural (traditional) in exams
  • The number of + plural noun takes singular verb (The number of students IS)
  • A number of + plural noun takes plural verb (A number of students ARE)
  • More than one takes singular verb despite plural meaning
  • News, mathematics, physics, economics are singular despite 's' ending
  • Cattle, police, people are always plural
Practice MCQs

Subject-Verb Agreement — Practice Questions

13graded MCQs · easy to hard · full solution & trap analysis

All MCQs →
Practice 1easy

In the following sentence, four parts are underlined. Identify the part that contains a grammatical error. The committee members (A) has agreed (B) to submit their (C) reports by Friday. (D) No error (E)

Practice 2easy

In the following sentence, four parts are underlined. Identify the part that contains a grammatical error. Either the manager or the employees (A) is responsible (B) for ensuring (C) that all deadlines are met. (D) No error (E)

Practice 3easy

In the following sentence, four parts are underlined. Identify the part that contains a grammatical error. The number of applicants (A) have increased (B) significantly since (C) the new policy was introduced. (D) No error (E)

Practice 4easy

In the following sentence, four parts are underlined. Identify the part that contains a grammatical error. Neither the principal nor the teachers (A) was aware (B) of the changes (C) that were announced yesterday. (D) No error (E)

Practice 5easy

In the following sentence, four parts are underlined. Identify the part that contains a grammatical error. The team of players (A) have decided (B) to participate in (C) the national championship next month. (D) No error (E)

Practice 6easy

In the following sentence, four parts are underlined. Identify the part that contains a grammatical error. "The team of engineers (A) have been working (B) on this project (C) since last month. (D)" (A) The team of engineers (B) have been working (C) on this project (D) since last month (E) No error

Practice 7medium

The team of researchers (A) has conducted / (B) have conducted / (C) is conducting / (D) are conducting extensive studies on climate change over the past five years. No error

Practice 8medium

The committee members, along with the chairperson, (A) has decided / (B) have decided / (C) are deciding / (D) is deciding to postpone the meeting. No error

Practice 9medium

Neither the manager nor the employees (A) wants / (B) want / (C) are wanting / (D) has wanted to attend the training session. No error

Practice 10medium

In the following sentence, four parts are underlined. Identify the part that contains a grammatical error. "Neither the manager nor the employees (A) has / (B) been informed about the policy change, (C) and they are (D) confused about the new guidelines." Choose the correct option: (a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D (e) No error

Practice 11hard

The committee, which comprises representatives from five different departments, (A) have decided to postpone the meeting (B) until next month because several members (C) was unable to attend due to prior commitments (D). No error

Practice 12hard

The data from multiple sources, along with the research findings that (A) was compiled over three years, (B) suggests that climate patterns (C) have changed significantly, which (D) indicates urgent action is needed. No error

Practice 13hard

A series of unfortunate events, combined with poor management decisions, (A) have created a situation where neither the board nor the executive director (B) are willing to take responsibility, which (C) have resulted in widespread criticism from stakeholders (D). No error

60-Second Revision — Subject-Verb Agreement

  • Remember: Cross out prepositional phrases to find the real subject
  • Formula: Or/Nor constructions - verb agrees with nearest subject
  • Trap: Don't let words between subject and verb confuse agreement
  • Quick check: Each, every, either, neither = always singular verbs
  • Collective nouns: Acting as unit = singular, as individuals = plural
  • Special rule: 'The number of' = singular, 'A number of' = plural
  • Time/Distance/Money as total amount = singular verb
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