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Subject–Verb Agreement Errors

Introduction

In English grammar, the verb must always agree with its subject in number and person. This means a singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb. Understanding subject-verb agreement is essential because it forms the foundation of grammatically correct sentences.

Pattern: Subject–Verb Agreement Errors

Pattern

The key idea is: Singular subject → Singular verb, Plural subject → Plural verb.

Common rule: Add -s or -es to the verb when the subject is singular (except with “I” and “You”).

Step-by-Step Example

Question

Identify the part of the sentence that contains an error:

He go to the gym every morning.

Options:
A. He
B. go
C. to the gym
D. every morning

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify the subject and verb.

    The subject is He and the verb is go.

  2. Step 2: Apply the rule of agreement.

    “He” is a singular subject, so the verb must be singular - goes, not “go”.

  3. Step 3: Correct the sentence.

    The correct form is: He goes to the gym every morning.

  4. Final Answer:

    Option B (go) → Incorrect verb form.

  5. Quick Check:

    He (singular) → goes (singular verb). ✅

Quick Variations

1. Collective nouns (e.g., team, jury) can take singular or plural verbs depending on context.

2. Indefinite pronouns like everyone, each, somebody are always singular.

3. Sentences with compound subjects (e.g., Ravi and Sita) usually take plural verbs.

Trick to Always Use

  • Step 1: Find the main subject of the sentence (ignore words between commas or prepositional phrases).
  • Step 2: Match the verb form to the subject’s number (singular/plural).
  • Step 3: Add -s / -es to the verb for singular subjects (except “I” and “You”).

Summary

Summary

  • Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs.
  • Ignore modifiers and prepositional phrases when checking agreement.
  • Always re-read the sentence after correction to ensure the subject and verb logically match.
  • Common trick: Replace the subject with “he” or “they” to test verb form (e.g., He goes / They go).

Practice

(1/5)
1. Identify the part of the sentence with an error: 'The boy play cricket every Sunday.'
easy
A. The boy
B. play
C. cricket
D. every Sunday

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify the subject and verb.

    The subject is boy (singular) and the verb is play.

  2. Step 2: Apply subject-verb agreement.

    Since the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular - plays.

  3. Step 3: Correct the sentence.

    The correct sentence is: The boy plays cricket every Sunday.

  4. Final Answer:

    play → Option B.

  5. Quick Check:

    He/She/It → plays ✅
Hint: Singular subject → add ‘s’ or ‘es’ to verb.
Common Mistakes: Choosing 'play' with singular subjects like he/she/it.
2. Find the error in this sentence: 'He don’t like spicy food.'
easy
A. He
B. don’t
C. like
D. spicy food

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify the auxiliary verb.

    The contraction ‘don’t’ = do not.

  2. Step 2: Apply the rule.

    With singular subjects (he/she/it), use does not instead of ‘do not’.

  3. Step 3: Correct the sentence.

    The correct sentence is: He doesn’t like spicy food.

  4. Final Answer:

    don’t → Option B.

  5. Quick Check:

    He → doesn’t ✅
Hint: Use 'does not' with he/she/it; 'do not' with I/you/we/they.
Common Mistakes: Using 'don’t' with singular subjects.
3. Choose the part that contains an error: 'My friends enjoys watching movies on weekends.'
easy
A. My friends
B. enjoys
C. watching movies
D. on weekends

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify the subject.

    The subject friends is plural.

  2. Step 2: Apply the rule.

    Plural subjects take the base verb form without ‘s’ → enjoy, not ‘enjoys’.

  3. Step 3: Correct the sentence.

    The correct form is: My friends enjoy watching movies on weekends.

  4. Final Answer:

    enjoys → Option B.

  5. Quick Check:

    They → enjoy ✅
Hint: Plural subject → use base verb form (no ‘s’).
Common Mistakes: Adding ‘s’ to verbs when subject is plural.
4. Spot the error: 'Each of the students have submitted the assignment.'
medium
A. Each of the students
B. have
C. submitted
D. the assignment

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify the main subject.

    ‘Each of the students’ is treated as singular.

  2. Step 2: Apply the rule.

    Singular subjects take singular verbs → use has instead of ‘have’.

  3. Step 3: Correct the sentence.

    Each of the students has submitted the assignment.

  4. Final Answer:

    have → Option B.

  5. Quick Check:

    Each → has ✅
Hint: Words like 'each', 'every', 'everyone' always take singular verbs.
Common Mistakes: Using plural verb with 'each' or 'every'.
5. Find the grammatically incorrect part: 'Neither of the boys know the answer.'
medium
A. Neither of
B. the boys
C. know
D. the answer

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify the subject.

    ‘Neither of the boys’ is a singular expression.

  2. Step 2: Apply the rule.

    Singular subjects take singular verbs, so use knows instead of ‘know’.

  3. Step 3: Correct the sentence.

    The correct form is: Neither of the boys knows the answer.

  4. Final Answer:

    know → Option C.

  5. Quick Check:

    Neither → knows ✅
Hint: Expressions like 'neither of', 'either of' take singular verbs.
Common Mistakes: Using plural verb after 'neither' or 'either'.

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