Theory & Concepts

Master Subject-Verb Agreement for SSC CGL

Get comprehensive theory, expert shortcuts, and hand-picked practice questions for Subject-Verb Agreement specifically designed for the SSC CGL 2025-26 pattern.

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45 min readDifficulty: High

Subject-Verb Agreement (SVA) is the single most tested topic in the English Grammar section of SSC CGL. A singular subject demands a singular verb, and a plural subject demands a plural verb. However, structural traps make finding the true subject highly challenging under exam pressure.

Learning path

  • Basic Rules of Singular & Plural
  • Advanced Conjunction Rules
  • Nouns with Plural Looks
  • 20 Practice Questions

1. Advanced Conjunction Traps

Exams often inject phrases between the subject and the verb to confuse candidates:

As well as / Along with

When subjects are linked by 'as well as', 'along with', 'with', 'together with', 'in addition to', use the verb according to the first subject.

"The captain, along with his crew, was lost."

→ Singular 'captain' is the true subject, not 'crew'.

Either... Or / Neither... Nor

When linked by 'either... or', 'neither... nor', 'not only... but also', the verb agrees with the nearest subject.

"Neither Rahul nor his friends have arrived."

→ Verb agrees with 'friends' (nearest).

2. Collective Nouns & Plural Looks

Watch out for collective nouns and quantities:

1

Collective Noun Split: If the collective noun acts as a unified body, the verb is singular (e.g. "The jury is unanimous"). If members act separately or have differing opinions, the verb is plural (e.g. "The jury are divided").

2

Each / Every Rule: "Each", "Every", "Everyone", "Nobody", "Someone" always take singular verbs, regardless of modifications. (e.g. "Each of the students has submitted the project").

3

Amounts & Distances: Plural looking nouns showing a singular sum, distance, or period take singular verbs. (e.g. "Ten thousand rupees is a huge amount").

3. 20 Practice Questions (Solved)

Question 01Exam Pattern

Identify the error: "The teacher, along with all her students, have attended the seminar."

A) The teacher, along with
B) all her students,
C) have attended the seminar
D) No error
Correct answer: C) have attended the seminar

Solution

Step 1: Check link word: 'along with' links 'The teacher' (subject 1) and 'students' (subject 2).
Step 2: Rule: With 'along with', the verb agrees with the first subject.
Step 3: 'The teacher' is singular, so it requires a singular verb 'has'.
Conclusion: Replace 'have' with 'has'. Option C.
Question 02Exam Pattern

Identify the error: "Each of the candidates were interviewed by the panel."

A) Each of the
B) candidates were
C) interviewed by the panel
D) No error
Correct answer: B) candidates were

Solution

Step 1: The subject starts with 'Each of'.
Step 2: 'Each' is a singular distributive pronoun.
Step 3: A singular subject requires a singular verb 'was'.
Conclusion: Option B.
Question 03Exam Pattern

Choose the correct option: "Neither the manager nor the employees _________ happy with the new policy."

A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has been
Correct answer: B) are

Solution

Step 1: Check link word: 'Neither... nor' links 'manager' (singular) and 'employees' (plural).
Step 2: Rule: With 'neither... nor', the verb agrees with the nearest subject.
Step 3: The nearest subject is 'employees' (plural), so use plural 'are'.
Conclusion: Option B.
Question 04Exam Pattern

Choose the correct option: "Bread and butter _________ a wholesale food."

A) is
B) are
C) were
D) have been
Correct answer: A) is

Solution

Step 1: 'Bread and butter' is two nouns linked by 'and'.
Step 2: When two nouns represent a singular collective idea or a single dish, they take a singular verb.
Step 3: Use 'is'.
Conclusion: Option A.
Question 05Exam Pattern

Identify the error: "The jury was divided in their opinions."

A) The jury
B) was divided
C) in their opinions
D) No error
Correct answer: B) was divided

Solution

Step 1: 'The jury' is a collective noun.
Step 2: Here, the phrase 'divided in their opinions' shows the members are acting separately.
Step 3: When divided, collective nouns take plural verbs ('were divided').
Conclusion: Option B.
Question 06Exam Pattern

Identify the error: "Ten miles are a long distance to walk."

A) Ten miles
B) are a long
C) distance to walk
D) No error
Correct answer: B) are a long

Solution

Step 1: 'Ten miles' is a plural-looking quantity representing a singular measurement of distance.
Step 2: Singular measurements take singular verbs.
Step 3: Replace 'are' with 'is'.
Conclusion: Option B.
Question 07Exam Pattern

Choose the correct option: "Many a student _________ failed in this test."

A) have
B) has
C) are
D) were
Correct answer: B) has

Solution

Step 1: The phrase 'Many a' is followed by a singular noun and a singular verb.
Step 2: 'student' is singular, so it must take a singular verb ('has').
Conclusion: Option B.
Question 08Exam Pattern

Choose the correct option: "The quality of these mangoes _________ not good."

A) are
B) is
C) were
D) have been
Correct answer: B) is

Solution

Step 1: In 'The quality of these mangoes', the true subject is the noun 'quality'.
Step 2: 'quality' is singular.
Step 3: A singular subject requires a singular verb ('is').
Conclusion: Option B.
Question 09Exam Pattern

Identify the error: "Not only the teacher but also the students was present at the party."

A) Not only the
B) but also the students
C) was present
D) No error
Correct answer: C) was present

Solution

Step 1: 'Not only... but also' links 'teacher' (singular) and 'students' (plural).
Step 2: The verb must agree with the nearest subject ('students').
Step 3: Replace singular 'was' with plural 'were'.
Conclusion: Option C.
Question 10Exam Pattern

Choose the correct option: "Politics _________ a dirty game."

A) are
B) is
C) were
D) have been
Correct answer: B) is

Solution

Step 1: 'Politics' ends in '-s' but is a singular noun representing a subject/field.
Step 2: It requires a singular verb ('is').
Conclusion: Option B.
Question 11Exam Pattern

Identify the error: "Every boy and every girl were given a packet of sweets."

A) Every boy and
B) every girl were
C) given a packet
D) No error
Correct answer: B) every girl were

Solution

Step 1: When two singular subjects linked by 'and' are preceded by 'each' or 'every', they take a singular verb.
Step 2: Replace plural 'were' with singular 'was'.
Conclusion: Option B.
Question 12Exam Pattern

Choose the correct option: "Two-thirds of the book _________ been ruined."

A) have
B) has
C) are
D) were
Correct answer: B) has

Solution

Step 1: 'Two-thirds of' is a fraction.
Step 2: If the noun following 'of' is singular/uncountable ('the book'), the verb is singular.
Step 3: 'book' is singular, so use 'has'.
Conclusion: Option B.
Question 13Exam Pattern

Choose the correct option: "Two-thirds of the books _________ been sold."

A) has
B) have
C) is
D) was
Correct answer: B) have

Solution

Step 1: The fraction 'Two-thirds of' is followed by a plural countable noun ('books').
Step 2: Fractions followed by plural countable nouns require plural verbs.
Step 3: Use 'have'.
Conclusion: Option B.
Question 14Exam Pattern

Identify the error: "None of the money were spent on luxury."

A) None of
B) the money were
C) spent on luxury
D) No error
Correct answer: B) the money were

Solution

Step 1: 'money' is an uncountable noun.
Step 2: Uncountable nouns always take a singular verb.
Step 3: Replace plural 'were' with singular 'was'.
Conclusion: Option B.
Question 15Exam Pattern

Choose the correct option: "A number of students _________ playing in the field."

A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has been
Correct answer: B) are

Solution

Step 1: The phrase 'A number of' functions as a plural determiner, requiring a plural verb.
Step 2: Use plural 'are'.
Conclusion: Option B.
Question 16Exam Pattern

Choose the correct option: "The number of active Covid cases _________ decreasing."

A) are
B) is
C) were
D) have been
Correct answer: B) is

Solution

Step 1: Unlike 'A number of', the phrase 'The number of' represents a specific, singular statistical figure.
Step 2: 'The number of' always takes a singular verb.
Step 3: Use 'is'.
Conclusion: Option B.
Question 17Exam Pattern

Identify the error: "The novelist and poet are dead."

A) The novelist
B) and poet
C) are dead
D) No error
Correct answer: C) are dead

Solution

Step 1: 'The novelist and poet' has only one article 'The' at the beginning.
Step 2: This indicates the same person is both the novelist and the poet.
Step 3: Since it represents one person, it requires a singular verb 'is'.
Conclusion: Option C.
Question 18Exam Pattern

Identify the error: "The novelist and the poet is dead."

A) The novelist
B) and the poet
C) is dead
D) No error
Correct answer: C) is dead

Solution

Step 1: Both subjects have articles ('The novelist' and 'the poet').
Step 2: This indicates two separate individuals.
Step 3: Plural subject requires a plural verb ('are dead').
Conclusion: Option C.
Question 19Exam Pattern

Choose the correct option: "Either you or he _________ to go."

A) have
B) has
C) are
D) were
Correct answer: B) has

Solution

Step 1: 'Either... or' links 'you' and 'he'.
Step 2: The verb agrees with the nearest subject 'he'.
Step 3: Singular 'he' takes 'has' (singular).
Conclusion: Option B.
Question 20Exam Pattern

Identify the error: "More than one person were injured in the accident."

A) More than
B) one person were
C) injured in the accident
D) No error
Correct answer: B) one person were

Solution

Step 1: The phrase 'More than one' is grammatically treated as a singular subject when followed by a singular noun.
Step 2: 'person' is singular.
Step 3: Replace plural 'were' with singular 'was'.
Conclusion: Option B.

Strategy errors to avoid

!

Proximity Mistake

Don't automatically make the verb agree with the noun immediately preceding it (e.g. 'mangoes' in 'The quality of mangoes'). Locate the true structural subject ('quality') and align with it.

!

Each/Every Plural Instinct

Even if a sentence says "Each of the thousands of players...", the subject is 'Each', which remains singular at all times.

Master the next modules

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