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Subject-Verb Agreement

SSC CHSL · English Language

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Core Concept

Read 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. Core Rules: 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) Formula for Proximity Rule: When subjects are joined by 'or', 'nor', 'either...or', 'neither...nor' → Verb agrees with the NEAREST subject

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Exam Patterns

What examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs

→Common question types include

1

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

2

Apply proximity rule - verb agrees with nearest subject

3

Nearest subject is 'students' (plural)

4

Therefore, use 'were' (plural verb) Answer: Neither the teacher nor the students WERE present

✏️Worked Example 2

1

Identify subject - 'committee' (collective noun)

2

Determine if acting as unit or individuals

3

'Decided' suggests unanimous action = acting as one unit

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

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 Facts

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

Questions Asked in Previous Exams

Real questions from SSC papers — 2015 to 2024

Exam Q 12021Previous Year Pattern

A number of students (A) has submitted / (B) have submitted / (C) is submitting / (D) are submitting their assignments before the deadline, which (A) shows / (B) show / (C) have shown / (D) has shown their commitment. No error

Exam Q 22021Previous Year Pattern

The data (A) suggests / (B) suggest / (C) have suggested / (D) are suggesting that the new policy, along with stricter regulations, (A) is / (B) are / (C) were / (D) have been effective in reducing corruption. No error

🚀 60-Second Revision

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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