Subject-Verb Agreement for SSC CGL
Complete Grammar Guide
1. What is Subject-Verb Agreement?
The verb in a sentence must agree with the subject in number and person.
Example: He goes to school. (singular subject → singular verb)
Example: They go to school. (plural subject → plural verb)
2. Basic Rules
Rule 1: Singular & Plural
- Singular subject → singular verb: He runs fast
- Plural subject → plural verb: They run fast
Rule 2: Collective Nouns
- Considered singular when acting as one unit: The team is winning
- Considered plural when members act individually: The team are arguing among themselves
Rule 3: Indefinite Pronouns
Singular:
everyone, each, either, neither, anybody, someone, no one
Everyone is happy
Plural:
few, many, several
Many are absent
Rule 4: Subjects Joined by 'And'
- Usually plural → use plural verb: Ram and Shyam are friends
- Singular sense → use singular verb: Bread and butter is my breakfast
Rule 5: Subjects Joined by 'Or' / 'Nor'
Verb agrees with nearest subject:
Neither Ram nor his friends are coming
Neither the friends nor Ram is coming
Rule 6: Titles, Names, or Plural in Form but Singular in Meaning
- Mathematics, Physics, Economics, Civics → singular verb
- Mathematics is interesting
- News, series, species → singular verb
- The news is good today
Rule 7: Fractions & Percentages
- Fraction/percentage of singular noun → singular verb
- Half of the cake is gone
- Fraction/percentage of plural noun → plural verb
- Half of the students are absent
Rule 8: Words like "with, along with, as well as, together with"
Do not make the verb plural; verb agrees with main subject:
Ram, along with his friends, is coming
Ram, along with his friends, are coming
Rule 9: Titles of Books, Movies, etc.
Always singular:
"War and Peace" is a famous novel
3. Common SSC Traps
Either/Neither + singular → singular verb
Collective nouns → singular/plural confusion
Fraction/percentage → depends on countable/uncountable
Expressions with "as well as / along with" → don't confuse with plural
4. SSC CGL Previous Year Questions
Q1. Neither of the boys ___ present in the class.
Options: (a) are (b) is (c) were (d) have
Answer: (b) is
Q2. Half of the students ___ absent yesterday.
Options: (a) is (b) are (c) was (d) were
Answer: (b) are
Q3. The news ___ good today.
Options: (a) are (b) is (c) were (d) have
Answer: (b) is
Q4. Ram, along with his friends, ___ coming to the party.
Options: (a) are (b) is (c) were (d) have
Answer: (b) is
Q5. Mathematics ___ my favourite subject.
Options: (a) are (b) is (c) were (d) have
Answer: (b) is
5. Quick Recap
- Singular ↔ singular verb, plural ↔ plural verb
- Watch collective nouns, fractions, percentages, indefinite pronouns
- Be careful with phrases like along with, as well as, together with
- SSC often tests tricky cases like neither/either, titles, uncountable nouns
6. Practice Questions
(Attempt yourself – answers hidden below)
Q1. Either Ram or Shyam ___ going to the market.
Q2. The jury ___ unanimous in its decision.
Q3. Ten liters of milk ___ wasted yesterday.
Q4. Economics ___ my favourite subject.
Q5. The series of lectures ___ interesting.
Click for Answers
1. is
2. is
3. was
4. is
5. is
Start Your SSC CGL Journey Now!
Join Courage Library to experience disciplined study and expert support.
Be a Couragian!