SUBJECT–VERB AGREEMENT (SVA)

SUBJECT–VERB AGREEMENT (SVA) RULES + PRACTICES

Advanced & Tricky Structures

📌 PART A: MASTER RULES CHECKLIST

🧠 1. Find the TRUE subject, not the nearest noun Ignore phrases starting with: of, with, together with, along with, as well as, including

The teacher, along with her students, is arriving.

📦 2. Prepositional phrases do NOT change the subject

A box of chocolates is on the table. Boxes of chocolates are on the table.

👤 3. Singular indefinite pronouns → always singular (each, everyone, everybody, someone, anyone, nobody, either, neither)

Everyone has a role to play.

🔢 4. “A number of” vs “The number of”

• A number of + plural noun → plural verb

• The number of + plural noun → singular verb

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

✍️ 5. Gerund phrases (-ing phrases) are SINGULAR

Having too many responsibilities makes us stressed.

🔗 6. Compound subjects AND → plural

The teacher and the student are talking.

OR / NOR → agree with the nearer subject

Neither the students nor the teacher is here.

👥 7. Collective nouns One unit → singular

The team is winning. Individuals → plural The team are arguing.

⏰ 8. Time, money, distance → singular

Ten dollars is enough.

📚 9. Titles & subjects → singular

Mathematics is challenging.

🧩 10. “One of the …” → singular

One of the students is late.

⚠️ 11. “More than one …” → singular

More than one student has complained.

👟 12. “A pair of / The pair of” → singular

A pair of shoes is missing.

🧠 13. Relative pronouns

She is one of the students who are hardworking. She is the only one who is hardworking.

🍞 14. Fixed pairs → one idea → singular

Bread and butter is his breakfast.

🔄 15. Inverted sentences

Here is the list. Here are the rules.

🧳 16. Uncountable nouns → always SINGULAR information, equipment, luggage, furniture, homework, advice, news, traffic, research, evidence

The luggage is heavy. The furniture is expensive.

🟦 PART B: IDENTIFY THE TRUE SUBJECT 

Underline the true subject. Circle the correct verb.

1. A basket of apples (was / were) left outside.

2. The quality of her answers (impress / impresses) the teacher.

3. Each of the boys (has / have) his own locker.

4. A series of tests (is / are) scheduled for next week.

5. The group of dancers (is / are) practising for the concert.

6. The smell of the flowers (attract / attracts) bees.

🟦 PART C: GERUND PHRASES Choose the correct verb.

1. Playing video games late at night (affect / affects) our concentration.

2. Having too many tasks (make / makes) her anxious.

3. Exercising regularly (improve / improves) our health.

4. Eating too much junk food (lead / leads) to obesity.

5. Studying in a noisy environment (reduce / reduces) efficiency.

🟦 PART D: UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS Circle the correct verb.

1. The equipment in the lab (need / needs) repair.

2. All the information (was / were) correct.

3. The furniture in this room (look / looks) new.

4. Her luggage (is / are) extremely heavy.

5. The news (shock / shocks) everyone.

🟦 PART E: “A NUMBER OF” vs “THE NUMBER OF”

1. A number of students (is / are) absent today.

2. The number of mistakes (increase / increases) when he rushes.

3. A number of books (has / have) been donated.

4. The number of participants (remain / remains) unknown.

🟦 PART F: OR / NOR STRUCTURES

1. Neither the teacher nor the students (was / were) informed.

2. Neither the students nor the teacher (was / were) informed.

3. Either my parents or my brother (drive / drives) me to school.

4. Either my brother or my parents (drive / drives) me to school.

🟦 PART G: ERROR CORRECTION Each sentence has ONE mistake. Rewrite correctly.

1. The team of players are training hard.

2. Each of the students have submitted their homework.

3. The luggage were placed near the entrance.

4. More than one student have forgotten the book.

5. A number of information are missing.

🟦 PART H: MIXED TRICKY QUESTIONS 🔥

1. Having too much homework (make / makes) students stressed.

2. One of the reasons for his failure (is / are) laziness.

3. A pair of shoes in the cupboard (belong / belongs) to me.

4. The manager, along with his assistants, (is / are) attending the meeting.

5. The variety of programmes (appeal / appeals) to students.

6. More than one participant (has / have) complained.

7. The responsibility of managing the project (fall / falls) on her.

8. Bread and butter (is / are) all he eats for breakfast.

9. Here (is / are) the list of rules.

She is one of the students who (is / are) hardworking.