Subject-Verb Agreement (कर्ता-क्रिया अन्वय) – Tricks & old questions
📚 Basic Rules (मूल नियम)
1. Singular Subject → Singular Verb
- He/She/It/Name + Verb में -s/-es लगता है
- ✅ He plays cricket.
- ✅ She goes to school.
- ✅ The dog barks loudly.
2. Plural Subject → Plural Verb
- They/We/You/Plural Nouns + Verb (बिना -s/-es)
- ✅ They play cricket.
- ✅ We go to school.
- ✅ The dogs bark loudly.
🎯 Important Rules with Tricks (महत्वपूर्ण नियम)
Rule 1: Each, Every, Either, Neither, One, Anyone, Someone, Everyone, Nobody, No one
→ Always Singular Verb
| Subject | Correct Verb | Incorrect Verb |
| Each student | is present | are present ❌ |
| Every boy | has a pen | have a pen ❌ |
| Either of the two | is correct | are correct ❌ |
| Neither of them | was there | were there ❌ |
| One of my friends | lives in Delhi | live in Delhi ❌ |
| Anyone | knows the answer | know the answer ❌ |
| Everyone | enjoys the party | enjoy the party ❌ |
🧠 TRICK: “Every-Each-Either-Neither-One-Anyone-No one” = Singular Verb (जैसे He/She/It)
Rule 2: The United States, The News, Mathematics, Physics, Economics, Politics, Statistics
→ Singular Verb (एक देश/विषय/समाचार)
| Subject | Correct Verb | Reason |
| The United States | is a powerful country | एक देश |
| The news | is good today | एक समाचार |
| Mathematics | is my favorite subject | एक विषय |
| Physics | has become difficult | एक विज्ञान |
| Economics | is an interesting subject | एक विषय |
🧠 TRICK: ये सब एक ही चीज़ को दर्शाते हैं – Singular मानें!
🔥 Advanced Rules (उन्नत नियम)
Rule 3: Collective Nouns (समूहवाचक संज्ञा)
Team, Committee, Jury, Audience, Public, Crowd, Class, Army, Police, Family
| Situation | Verb | Example |
| Group as ONE unit | Singular | The team is playing well. |
| Group as INDIVIDUALS | Plural | The team are arguing among themselves. |
Rule 4: Either…or / Neither…nor
→ Verb = Subject के नज़दीक वाले के अनुसार
- ✅ Either Ram or his friends are coming.
- ✅ Either his friends or Ram is coming.
- ✅ Neither the teacher nor the students were present.
- ✅ Neither the students nor the teacher was present.
Rule 5: Not only…but also
→ Verb = Subject के नज़दीक वाले के अनुसार
- ✅ Not only the principal but also the teachers are coming.
- ✅ Not only the teachers but also the principal is coming.
Rule 6: With, Together with, Along with, As well as
→ Verb = पहले Subject के अनुसार (मुख्य Subject)
- ✅ The teacher with his students is going.
- ✅ Ram along with his friends was present.
- ✅ The captain as well as the players has arrived.
Rule 7: Many + Plural Noun → Plural Verb
Many a + Singular Noun → Singular Verb
- ✅ Many students have passed.
- ✅ Many a student has passed.
📝 Old Exam Questions (पुराने परीक्षा प्रश्न)
Set 1: Basic Level
Q.1 Each of the boys ______ given a prize. (SSC CGL 2018)
- (a) were (b) have (c) was (d) were being
Answer: (c) was ✅
Reason: Each → Singular Verb
Q.2 The United States ______ a powerful country. (Bank PO 2017)
- (a) are (b) were (c) is (d) have been
Answer: (c) is ✅
Reason: देश का नाम → Singular
Q.3 Neither Ravi nor his brothers ______ guilty. (SSC CHSL 2019)
- (a) is (b) was (c) are (d) has
Answer: (c) are ✅
Reason: Nearest subject “brothers” (Plural) → Plural Verb
Q.4 The news ______ very shocking. (NDA 2016)
- (a) are (b) were (c) is (d) have been
Answer: (c) is ✅
Reason: The News = Singular
Set 2: Intermediate Level
Q.5 One of my friends ______ to America. (SSC CGL 2020)
- (a) have gone (b) has gone (c) are going (d) were going
Answer: (b) has gone ✅
Reason: One of + Plural Noun → Singular Verb
Q.6 The team ______ divided among themselves. (CDS 2015)
- (a) is (b) was (c) are (d) has been
Answer: (c) are ✅
Reason: Team के सदस्य आपस में बंटे हुए → Individuals → Plural
Q.7 Mathematics ______ not an easy subject. (SSC MTS 2018)
- (a) are (b) were (c) is (d) have
Answer: (c) is ✅
Reason: विषय का नाम → Singular
Q.8 The teacher along with the students ______ going on a picnic. (Bank Clerk 2019)
- (a) are (b) were (c) is (d) have been
Answer: (c) is ✅
Reason: Along with के साथ main subject “teacher” → Singular
Set 3: Advanced Level (Tricky Questions)
Q.9 Either the manager or his assistants ______ to blame for the loss. (SSC CPO 2021)
- (a) is (b) was (c) are (d) has been
Answer: (c) are ✅
Reason: Nearest subject “assistants” (Plural) → Plural Verb
Q.10 Many a student ______ failed in the examination. (Bank PO 2020)
- (a) have (b) were (c) has (d) are
Answer: (c) has ✅
Reason: Many a + Singular Noun → Singular Verb
Q.11 The jury ______ given different opinions. (CDS 2018)
- (a) has (b) have (c) is (d) was
Answer: (b) have ✅
Reason: Different opinions → Individual members → Plural
Q.12 Neither of the two girls ______ interested in sports. (SSC CHSL 2022)
- (a) are (b) were (c) is (d) have been
Answer: (c) is ✅
Reason: Neither of + Plural Noun → Singular Verb
Set 4: Mixed Practice Questions
Q.13 Everyone in the class ______ invited to the party. (SSC GD 2020)
- (a) were (b) have been (c) was (d) are
Answer: (c) was ✅
Reason: Everyone → Singular
Q.14 The news about the accident ______ not confirmed yet. (NDA 2019)
- (a) are (b) were (c) has (d) have
Answer: (c) has ✅
Reason: The news = Singular
Q.15 Not only the students but also the teacher ______ present. (SSC CGL 2022)
- (a) are (b) have been (c) was (d) were
Answer: (c) was ✅
Reason: Nearest subject “teacher” (Singular) → Singular Verb
Set 5: Error Detection Questions
Q.16 Find the error: (SSC CGL 2021)
Each of the boys (A) / have (B) / submitted their (C) / assignments. (D)
- (a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D
Answer: (b) B ❌
Correct: “Each of the boys has submitted…”
Reason: Each → Singular Verb
Q.17 Find the error: (Bank PO 2022)
The United States (A) / are (B) / one of the most (C) / powerful nations. (D)
- (a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D
Answer: (b) B ❌
Correct: “The United States is…”
Reason: The United States = Singular
Q.18 Find the error: (SSC CHSL 2023)
Neither the teacher (A) / nor the students (B) / was present (C) / in the class. (D)
- (a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D
Answer: (c) C ❌
Correct: “…nor the students were present…”
Reason: Nearest subject “students” (Plural) → Plural Verb
Q.19 Find the error: (CDS 2022)
The team (A) / are playing (B) / well in the (C) / tournament. (D)
- (a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D
Answer: (b) B ❌
Correct: “The team is playing…”
Reason: Team as a unit → Singular Verb
Q.20 Find the error: (SSC MTS 2023)
One of the students (A) / have been (B) / selected for (C) / the competition. (D)
- (a) A (b) B (c) C (d) D
Answer: (b) B ❌
Correct: “One of the students has been…”
Reason: One of + Plural Noun → Singular Verb
📊 Quick Revision Table
| Rule | Subject | Verb | Example |
| 1 | Each/Every/Either/Neither | Singular | Each boy is ready |
| 2 | One/Anyone/Everyone | Singular | Everyone has come |
| 3 | The United States/News | Singular | The news is good |
| 4 | Mathematics/Physics | Singular | Maths is tough |
| 5 | Either…or (near subject) | Near Subject | Either you or he is |
| 6 | Neither…nor (near subject) | Near Subject | Neither he nor we are |
| 7 | Along with/With (main subj) | Main Subject | He with friends is |
| 8 | Many a + Noun | Singular | Many a man has |
| 9 | Many + Plural Noun | Plural | Many men have |
| 10 | Collective Noun (unit) | Singular | The team is |
| 11 | Collective Noun (individuals) | Plural | The team are |
🧠 Memory Tricks (संक्षिप्त ट्रिक्स)
- “Every-Each-Either-Neither-One-Anyone” → Singular मानो (जैसे He)
- “The United States, News, Mathematics” → एक ही चीज़ → Singular
- “Either…or / Neither…nor” → Verb = नज़दीक वाले के साथ
- “Along with / With” → Verb = पहले वाले के साथ
- “Many a” → Singular; “Many” → Plural
💪 Practice Tip: इन नियमों को रोज़ाना 5-10 वाक्य बनाकर प्रैक्टिस करें। पुराने प्रश्न पत्रों (SSC, Bank, NDA, CDS) से अभ्यास करें।
About The Author
