Quiz on Subject - Verb Agreement

Why is Subject-Verb Agreement or Concord important?

Subject–verb agreement is one of the most important grammar topics in English and is commonly tested in competitive examinations. It helps candidates use correct grammar by ensuring that verbs agree with their subjects in number and person. Questions on subject–verb agreement appear in exams such as UGC-NET, SET, UPSC, SSC, Banking, CAT, GRE, IELTS, TOEFL, and many university entrance and recruitment tests. These questions may involve sentence correction, error identification, or choosing the correct verb in simple and complex sentences. A good understanding of subject–verb agreement improves grammar, reading comprehension, writing, and overall communication skills. Learning these rules also helps candidates avoid common mistakes and answer grammar questions more accurately and confidently, leading to better performance in competitive examinations.

Subject–Verb Agreement: Quick Rules 

1. A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb.
   • The researcher writes. / The researchers write.
2. Ignore words or phrases between the subject and the verb.
   • The quality of the reports is excellent.
3. Compound subjects joined by and usually take a plural verb.
   • John and Mary are present.
4. If two nouns joined by and refer to one person or thing, use a singular verb.
   • The poet and novelist is speaking.
5. With either...or, neither...nor, not only...but also, the verb agrees with the nearest subject.
   • Either the teacher or the students are ready.
6. Indefinite pronouns (each, every, everyone, anybody, neither, either, someone, nobody) take singular verbs.
   • Each of the students has submitted.
7. Collective nouns (team, committee, jury, family) take:
   • Singular when acting as one unit.
   • Plural when members act individually.
8. 'A number of' + plural noun → plural verb.
   • A number of students have arrived.
9. 'The number of' + plural noun → singular verb.
   • The number of students has increased.
10. 'Many a' and 'More than one' take singular verbs.
    • Many a student has failed.
11. Percentages, fractions, and quantities agree with the noun that follows of.
    • 50% of the water is polluted.
    • 50% of the students are absent.
12. Uncountable nouns take singular verbs.
    • Information is valuable.
13. Titles of books, films, and subjects are singular.
    • Statistics is difficult. (academic subject)
14. Plural-only nouns take plural verbs.
    • The scissors are on the table.
15. Existential 'there' sentences agree with the real subject.
    • There is a book.
    • There are many books.
16. Amounts of time, distance, money, and measurement considered as one unit take singular verbs.
    • Ten kilometres is a long walk.
17. Relative pronouns (who, which, that) take the verb of their antecedent.
    • She is one of the students who have qualified.
18. Expressions like along with, together with, as well as, accompanied by, and in addition to do not affect agreement.
    • The principal, along with the teachers, is attending.
19. Formal academic English treats certain Latin plurals as plural.
    • Criteria are important.
    • Data are being analysed.
    • Phenomena are observed.
20. Gerunds and infinitives used as subjects take singular verbs.
    • Reading improves vocabulary.
    • To err is human.

Let's check your understanding by taking a quiz on Subject–Verb Agreement.

Reimagining Sustainability: Essential Literary Masterpieces & Tools for Modern Educators

 Faculty Development Program

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Reimagining Sustainability: Essential Literary Masterpieces & Tools for Modern Educators

The intersection of literature and social responsibility has taken center stage in higher education. A prime example is the upcoming Seven Day National Faculty Development Programme (online) organized by the Department of English at the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Business Studies, SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), Kattankulathur.

Running from July 22, 2026, to July 30, 2026, this virtual FDP focuses on "Reimagining the Sustainable Development Goals through Indian Literature: Teaching, Research, and Community Engagement". Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the event is designed to equip educators and scholars with interdisciplinary perspectives to integrate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into English Studies.

Whether you are attending this national program or looking to independently enhance your curriculum, having the right texts and academic tools is essential. Below, we map the official FDP daily themes to highly acclaimed books and essential productivity tools available on Amazon.

1. Climate Change & Ecological Futures (SDG 13, 14, 15)

To understand ecological futures through a literary lens, narrative non-fiction and fiction exploring the Anthropocene are indispensable.

• Top Book Recommendation: The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable by Amitav Ghosh. This masterpiece examines why modern literature has failed to grasp the scale of environmental upheaval, making it a staple for any modern literature curriculum.

  • 👉 Buy The Great Derangement on Amazon 

• Alternative Fiction Pick: The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh. A breathtaking novel set in the Sundarbans that perfectly captures the delicate balance between human settlement and rising ecosystems.

  • 👉 Buy The Hungry Tide on Amazon 

2. Poverty, Hunger, and Livelihoods (SDG 1 & 2)

Literary representations of socioeconomic disparity allow students and researchers to develop deep empathy and nuanced understandings of community struggles.

• Top Book Recommendation: Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo. A brilliantly reported, profoundly moving account of families striving for a better life amid severe structural poverty.

  • 👉 Buy Behind the Beautiful Forevers on Amazon 

3. Gender Equality and Social Justice (SDG 5 & 10)

Addressing inclusive communities and systemic bias is a core pillar of modern academic research.

• Top Book Recommendation: The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy. This Booker Prize-winning classic remains one of the finest Indian novels exploring how deeply entrenched social laws dictate who should be loved, and how much.

  • 👉 Buy The God of Small Things on Amazon 

Ultimate Productivity Essentials for Researchers & Faculty

Beyond the text, executing impactful research and managing community engagement requires staying organized and focused. These high-demand tech items and academic tools are highly recommended for any educator's desk:

Product	Why It's a Must-Have	Amazon Link
Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB)	Carry an entire library of sustainable literature, research papers, and PDFs without eye strain. Features an adjustable warm light perfect for late-night grading.	🛒 View Deal on Amazon
Rocketbook Smart Reusable Notebook	Eco-friendly note-taking. Write your lecture notes or research ideas, scan them to the cloud (Google Drive/Dropbox), and wipe the pages clean to reuse.	🛒 View Deal on Amazon
Logitech MX Master 3S Wireless Mouse	An ergonomic lifesaver for long hours spent drafting research papers, managing datasets, or designing new course curricula.	🛒 View Deal on Amazon

FDP Registration Details at a Glance

If you are a faculty member or scholar looking to join this academic discourse, here are the administrative details provided by the organizing committee at SRMIST:

• Registration Fees: Faculty Members: ₹500 | Research Scholars: ₹300

• Account Name: SRMIST FSHKTR EVENTS

• Account Number: 500101013732378 (City Union Bank, Tambaram Branch)

• IFSC Code: CIUB0000117

• Inquiries: You can contact the organizers directly via Hudson Mathew (9092288367) or Royston (6380773805).

By pairing these foundational texts with modern organizational tools, educators can seamlessly build more inclusive, equitable, and forward-thinking academic environments.Bringing Sustainability into the Classroom

Integrating these themes isn't just about changing what we read—it's about changing how we think. By pairing powerful Indian literary traditions with modern organizational tools, educators can seamlessly build more inclusive, equitable, and forward-thinking academic environments.

Which of these books are you adding to your syllabus next? Let us know in the comments below!