Grammar unit 1 of 12

Subject–verb agreement

The single most common error in CSS scripts. Long subjects hide the real noun, and the verb ends up agreeing with the wrong word.

In short. The verb agrees with the head noun of the subject, not the nearest noun. 'The performance of the candidates was poor' is correct because the subject is 'performance'. Each, every and neither are singular; with 'neither... nor' the verb follows the nearer subject.

Rules with examples

Find the head noun. Phrases with 'of', 'with', 'along with', 'as well as' do not change it.

✗ WrongThe performance of the candidates were poor.✓ RightThe performance of the candidates was poor.

Subject: performance (singular).

Each, every, either, neither, everyone, nobody take singular verbs.

✗ WrongEach of the provinces have its own budget.✓ RightEach of the provinces has its own budget.

With 'neither... nor' and 'either... or', the verb agrees with the nearer subject.

✗ WrongNeither the minister nor his advisers was present.✓ RightNeither the minister nor his advisers were present.

Nearer subject: advisers.

'The number of' is singular; 'a number of' is plural.

✗ WrongThe number of out-of-school children are rising.✓ RightThe number of out-of-school children is rising.

A number of children are... / The number of children is...

Uncountable nouns are singular: information, evidence, advice, research, equipment, news.

✗ WrongThe evidence show that the policy failed.✓ RightThe evidence shows that the policy failed.

Also: 'informations', 'evidences', 'advices' do not exist in formal English.

Subject–verb agreement: exercises with answers

1. The rise of extremist groups in the region ___ a threat to stability.

pose
poses
are posing
have posed

Show answer

poses — Subject: rise (singular).

2. Neither the courts nor the parliament ___ able to resolve the crisis.

were
are
was
have been

Show answer

was — Nearer subject: parliament (singular).

3. Which sentence is correct?

The news are alarming.
The news is alarming.
The newses are alarming.
The news were alarming.

Show answer

The news is alarming. — 'News' is uncountable and singular.

4. A number of reforms ___ been announced.

has
have
is
was

Show answer

have — 'A number of' is plural.

5. Pakistan, along with other developing countries, ___ climate finance.

demand
are demanding
demands
have demanded

Show answer

demands — 'Along with...' does not change the subject: Pakistan (singular).

Correct these sentences

1. The quality of education in public schools are declining.

Show correction

✓ The quality of education in public schools is declining.

2. Every citizen have the right to education.

Show correction

✓ Every citizen has the right to education.

3. The research on these issues show mixed results.

Show correction

✓ The research on these issues shows mixed results.

Studied in Week 1 alongside Module 1: What a CSS essay is.

Frequently asked questions

Is it 'the number of students is' or 'are'?

'The number of students is'. 'The number of' is singular; 'a number of students are' is plural.

Is 'informations' correct?

No. Information, evidence, advice, research and news are uncountable and take singular verbs.

Articles: a, an, the, and none →

Rules with examples

Find the head noun. Phrases with 'of', 'with', 'along with', 'as well as' do not change it.

✗ WrongThe performance of the candidates were poor.✓ RightThe performance of the candidates was poor.

Subject: performance (singular).

Each, every, either, neither, everyone, nobody take singular verbs.

✗ WrongEach of the provinces have its own budget.✓ RightEach of the provinces has its own budget.

With 'neither... nor' and 'either... or', the verb agrees with the nearer subject.

✗ WrongNeither the minister nor his advisers was present.✓ RightNeither the minister nor his advisers were present.

Nearer subject: advisers.

'The number of' is singular; 'a number of' is plural.

✗ WrongThe number of out-of-school children are rising.✓ RightThe number of out-of-school children is rising.

A number of children are... / The number of children is...

Uncountable nouns are singular: information, evidence, advice, research, equipment, news.

✗ WrongThe evidence show that the policy failed.✓ RightThe evidence shows that the policy failed.

Also: 'informations', 'evidences', 'advices' do not exist in formal English.

Subject–verb agreement: exercises with answers

1. The rise of extremist groups in the region ___ a threat to stability.

pose
poses
are posing
have posed

Show answer

poses — Subject: rise (singular).

2. Neither the courts nor the parliament ___ able to resolve the crisis.

were
are
was
have been

Show answer

was — Nearer subject: parliament (singular).

3. Which sentence is correct?

The news are alarming.
The news is alarming.
The newses are alarming.
The news were alarming.

Show answer

The news is alarming. — 'News' is uncountable and singular.

4. A number of reforms ___ been announced.

has
have
is
was

Show answer

have — 'A number of' is plural.

5. Pakistan, along with other developing countries, ___ climate finance.

demand
are demanding
demands
have demanded

Show answer

demands — 'Along with...' does not change the subject: Pakistan (singular).

Correct these sentences

1. The quality of education in public schools are declining.

Show correction

✓ The quality of education in public schools is declining.

2. Every citizen have the right to education.

Show correction

✓ Every citizen has the right to education.

3. The research on these issues show mixed results.

Show correction

✓ The research on these issues shows mixed results.