Rule 1
A singular subject must have a singular verb.
A plural subject must have a plural verb.
A plural subject must have a plural verb.
See Some Examples
Identify the subject and the verb in the sentence. State whether they are singular or plural.
- The boys race along the deserted road on Sundays.
- The parent shouts at his child frequently.
- Do penguins have tongues?
- Does a lioness have a mane?
- The player on his team is injured badly.
- The actor is reciting his lines.
- The boxes have arrived from Spain
- The Goyals are at the movie theatre.
Use the right verb to complete the sentences.
The Harry Potter Books. The Harry Potter Books ______[is/are] a series of seven fantasy novels by British writer JK Rowling. The books ___________ [depict/depicts] a world of witches and wizards with the central character being the young wizard, Harry Potter. Most of the action __________ [take/takes] place in the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and _________ [focus/focuses] on Harry Potter’s struggle against the evil wizard, Lord Voldemort. The books ________[deal/deals] with the themes of friendship, ambition, choice, courage, growing up, love and death. |
Rule 2
When two or more nouns or pronouns are joined by "AND", they require a plural verb. This also applies to the "Both...and" set of words.
See Some Examples
Fill in the blanks with a suitable verb from the bracket.
1. The coach and the quarterback __________ (is/are) having a conference.
2. His friend and he _____________ (has/have) passed the examination.
3. The cow and the lamb ____________ (are jumping/ is jumping) over the moon.
4. Tea and coffee __________ (grows/grow) in India.
5. A dog and a cat ______ (love/loves) to have their ears scratched.
6. Cheese and tomato ______ (is/are) delicious as pizza toppings.
7. The criminal and his associate __________ (were/was) arrested.
8. Hansel and Gretel __________ (is/are) popular fairy tale characters.
9. The boy and the girl _______ (dances/dance) together in the play.
10. A car and a bike ______ (is/are) my means of transportation.
1. The coach and the quarterback __________ (is/are) having a conference.
2. His friend and he _____________ (has/have) passed the examination.
3. The cow and the lamb ____________ (are jumping/ is jumping) over the moon.
4. Tea and coffee __________ (grows/grow) in India.
5. A dog and a cat ______ (love/loves) to have their ears scratched.
6. Cheese and tomato ______ (is/are) delicious as pizza toppings.
7. The criminal and his associate __________ (were/was) arrested.
8. Hansel and Gretel __________ (is/are) popular fairy tale characters.
9. The boy and the girl _______ (dances/dance) together in the play.
10. A car and a bike ______ (is/are) my means of transportation.