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What are Determiners?

A determiner is a word placed before a noun to make its reference clear. It shows whether the noun refers to something specific or general, indicates quantity or number, or points out which particular thing is being spoken about. Unlike adjectives, determiners do not describe qualities such as colour, size or character; instead, they establish which noun, how much of it, or how many of it is being referred to.

Examples

• The teacher praised the student. (a specific teacher and a specific student)
• A dog was barking outside. (any dog, not a particular one)
• This book belongs to Meera.
• Several guests arrived early for the ceremony.

In each sentence, the underlined word comes directly before a noun and clarifies its reference, without describing any quality of the noun itself.

Why are Determiners Important?

Almost every noun phrase in English requires a determiner to sound complete and natural. Leaving one out, or choosing the wrong one, often changes the meaning of a sentence or makes it grammatically incorrect.

Consider the following sentence.

___ mountain in the picture is covered with snow.

Without a determiner, the sentence is incomplete. Adding the correct determiner restores both grammatical accuracy and clarity of meaning.

The mountain in the picture is covered with snow.

A sound understanding of determiners supports:

• correct and natural sentence formation.
• accurate distinction between specific and general references.
• confident use of quantity words with countable and uncountable nouns.
• fewer article-related errors, one of the most common areas of difficulty in English grammar.
• stronger performance in grammar-based and competency-based questions.

Understanding Determiners

Every noun phrase is built around a head noun, and a determiner is typically the word that opens this phrase, coming before any descriptive adjectives that may also be present.

A determiner, therefore, identifies or quantifies the noun that follows it, and normally appears first within the noun phrase.

Example

The little girl finished her homework early.

Part	Function
The	Determiner (article)
little	Adjective
girl	Head noun
her	Determiner (possessive)
homework	Head noun

The determiner the identifies a specific girl already known from context, while the determiner her shows possession in relation to the second noun, homework.

Now consider another sentence.

Every student submitted three assignments this week.

Part	Function
Every	Determiner (distributive)
student	Head noun
three	Determiner (number)
assignments	Head noun

Here, every shows that each individual student is being referred to, while three shows the exact quantity of assignments.

Position & Pattern of Determiners

Determiners generally occupy the first position in a noun phrase, appearing before any adjectives that describe the noun.

Determiner + (Adjective) + Noun

Examples

• The tall building stands near the market.
• My old friend visited last weekend.
• Several interesting stories were shared at the event.
• This beautiful garden belongs to the school.

In every example, the determiner is placed first, followed by any descriptive adjective, and finally the noun itself.

Order of Determiners

When more than one determiner appears within the same noun phrase, they generally follow a fixed sequence of three positions: predeterminers, central determiners, and postdeterminers.

• Predeterminers express a quantity in relation to the whole of something, and include words such as all, both, half and double.
• Central determiners form the core of the phrase, and include articles, demonstratives and possessives.
• Postdeterminers come after the central determiner and before any adjective, and include numbers and certain quantifiers such as many, few and several.

Predeterminer + Central Determiner + Postdeterminer + Adjective + Noun

Examples

• Both her parents attended the ceremony. (predeterminer + central determiner)
• Half the audience left before the interval. (predeterminer + central determiner)
• The first three winners received medals. (central determiner + two postdeterminers)
• All these documents require signatures. (predeterminer + central determiner)
• Double the effort is needed to complete the work by Friday. (predeterminer + central determiner)

Key Observation Two predeterminers, or two central determiners, are not usually combined within the same phrase, but two postdeterminers can appear together, with an ordinal number generally placed before a cardinal number — as in the first three winners, not the three first winners.

Characteristics of Determiners

1. Determiners specify or quantify a noun; they do not describe its qualities.

Adjectives such as beautiful, tall or expensive describe a quality of the noun, whereas determiners such as the, some or three clarify which noun, or how much or how many of it, is being referred to. Because of this difference, determiners do not have comparative or superlative forms.

2. Most noun phrases take only one determiner of the same category at a time.

A noun phrase does not usually combine two articles, or two possessives, together. However, determiners of different categories can combine within the same phrase.

Examples

• All the students attended the function. (quantifier + article)
• My two friends are visiting today. (possessive + number)

3. The choice of determiner often depends on whether the noun is countable or uncountable.

Certain determiners, such as much and a little, are used only with uncountable nouns, while others, such as many and a few, are used only with countable nouns. Some determiners, such as some, any and the, can be used with both.

4. A determiner can sometimes stand in place of the noun it would normally accompany, functioning as a pronoun.

Examples

• This is my favourite subject. (determiner used as a pronoun)
• Many attended the ceremony despite the rain.

Types of Determiners

1. Articles

English has two kinds of articles: the indefinite articles (a, an), used for a non-specific or newly mentioned noun, and the definite article (the), used for a specific or already known noun.

Examples

• A kitten was sleeping under the table. (one non-specific kitten)
• An umbrella is kept near the door. (one non-specific umbrella, beginning with a vowel sound)
• The kitten under the table belongs to the neighbour. (a specific, already-mentioned kitten)

Key Rules

• A is used before words beginning with a consonant sound, and an before words beginning with a vowel sound — the choice depends on pronunciation, not spelling. An hour takes an because the h is silent, while a university takes a because it begins with a consonant sound (yoo).
• The is used when the noun has already been mentioned, is unique, or is made specific by the rest of the sentence — for example, the sun, the Prime Minister, or the book on the table.
• No article is generally used before plural or uncountable nouns used in a general sense, before most proper nouns, and before names of languages or meals — for example, Books are a good companion, India is a vast country, French is spoken widely, and Breakfast is served at eight.

Key Observation Article errors are among the most common in English writing, since many other languages either lack articles or use them differently.

2. Demonstrative Determiners

Demonstrative determiners — this, that, these and those — point to a particular noun, showing whether it is near or far, and whether it is singular or plural.

Examples

• This pen writes smoothly. (singular, near)
• That mountain looks magnificent. (singular, far)
• These shoes are quite comfortable. (plural, near)
• Those birds migrate every winter. (plural, far)

Key Observation The demonstrative determiner must always match the noun in number — this/that with singular nouns, and these/those with plural nouns.

3. Possessive Determiners

Possessive determiners — my, your, his, her, its, our and their — show ownership or a close relationship between the noun and a person or thing already mentioned.

Examples

• My notebook is on the desk.
• Her presentation impressed the entire panel.
• Its wheels were covered in mud.
• Their project received the highest marks.

Key Observation The possessive determiner its (without an apostrophe) shows possession, and should not be confused with it’s, the contraction of it is.

4. Quantifiers for Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Quantifiers indicate quantity. Some are restricted to countable nouns, some to uncountable nouns, and others can be used with both.

Used with Countable Nouns	Used with Uncountable Nouns	Used with Both
many, few, a few, several, a number of	much, little, a little, a great deal of	some, any, a lot of, plenty of, most, all, no

Examples

• Many students participated in the quiz. (countable)
• Much effort was invested in the project. (uncountable)
• A few chairs are still empty. (countable — a small number, viewed positively)
• Few chairs are available. (countable — almost none, viewed negatively)
• A little sugar remains in the jar. (uncountable — a small amount, viewed positively)
• Little hope remained after the delay. (uncountable — almost none, viewed negatively)

Key Observation The presence or absence of the article a changes the meaning considerably: a few/a little suggest a small but sufficient amount, while few/little alone suggest an almost negligible amount.

5. Indefinite Quantifiers: ‘Some’ and ‘Any’

Some is generally used in affirmative sentences and in polite offers or requests, while any is generally used in negative sentences and in questions.

Examples

• Some guests have already arrived. (affirmative)
• Would some tea be welcome? (polite offer)
• There isn’t any milk left in the fridge. (negative)
• Is there any message for the manager? (question)

Key Observation When a question expects a positive answer or functions as an offer, some is used even in question form — for example, Would you like some coffee?

6. Distributive Determiners

Distributive determiners — each, every, either and neither — refer to members of a group individually rather than collectively.

Examples

• Each participant received a certificate.
• Every window in the hall was decorated.
• Either answer would be acceptable.
• Neither option seems practical.

Key Observation Distributive determiners are always followed by a singular noun and a singular verb, even though the overall sense may refer to more than one item.

7. Numbers as Determiners

Cardinal numbers (one, two, three) show exact quantity, while ordinal numbers (first, second, third) show position or order within a sequence.

Examples

• Three candidates were shortlisted for the role. (cardinal)
• The first chapter introduces the main characters. (ordinal)
• Ten trees were planted along the pathway. (cardinal)
• The second attempt proved successful. (ordinal)

Key Observation Ordinal numbers are usually accompanied by the article the, since they point to a specific position within a known sequence.

8. Interrogative Determiners

Interrogative determiners — which, what and whose — are placed before a noun to form a question.

Examples

• Which subject is preferred for the elective?
• What time does the ceremony begin?
• Whose umbrella is this?

Key Observation Which generally implies a choice from a limited, known set, while what is used for a more open, general question.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Incorrect Usage	Correct Usage
She is a honest person.	She is an honest person.
He plays the football every evening.	He plays football every evening.
There is much books on the shelf.	There are many books on the shelf.
A few students understood the concept, so revision is unnecessary. (reversed meaning intended: almost none)	Few students understood the concept, so revision is necessary.
Its raining heavily outside.	It’s raining heavily outside.
Is there some water left in the bottle?	Is there any water left in the bottle?
Each of the players were given a jersey.	Each of the players was given a jersey.
He is the best player of a team.	He is the best player of the team.

Key Observation Article errors and confusion between few/a few or little/a little account for a large proportion of mistakes involving determiners.

Frequently Confused Cases

‘Fewer’ and ‘Less’

Fewer is used with countable nouns, while less is used with uncountable nouns.

Examples

• Fewer students were absent today. (countable)
• Less time is available before the deadline. (uncountable)

‘Each’ and ‘Every’

Each is used when individual members of a small, known group are being considered separately, while every is used to generalise about all members of a larger group, often with an emphasis on completeness.

Examples

• Each of the three finalists gave an excellent performance.
• Every citizen has the right to vote.

Zero Article with Proper Nouns and General Plural Nouns

Most proper nouns and plural or uncountable nouns used in a general sense take no article at all, which is often referred to as the zero article.

Examples

• Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world.
• Elephants are known for their remarkable memory. (elephants in general, not specific ones)

How to Apply Multiple Rules at Once

Some determiner choices depend on more than one factor at once. Working through a few such cases step by step builds the judgement needed for error-spotting and editing questions.

Case 1: Article Choice with Acronyms

Sentence: ___ (A/An) MLA addressed the gathering, while ___ (a/an) UN representative observed the session.

• Step 1: Article choice depends on the sound the following word makes, not on its spelling (Rule under Articles).
• Step 2: MLA is pronounced starting with the sound ’em’, a vowel sound, so it takes an.
• Step 3: UN is pronounced starting with the sound ‘yoo’, a consonant sound, so it takes a.
• Correct sentence: An MLA addressed the gathering, while a UN representative observed the session.

Case 2: ‘The’ with Proper Nouns

Sentence: ___ Taj Mahal attracts thousands of visitors, while ___ Mount Everest remains far less crowded.

• Step 1: Most proper nouns take no article (Frequently Confused Cases), but certain categories — rivers, seas, famous monuments, and specific geographical landmarks with ‘of’ implied — take the.
• Step 2: Taj Mahal falls into the monument category, so it takes the.
• Step 3: Mount Everest, like most individual mountain names, takes no article.
• Correct sentence: The Taj Mahal attracts thousands of visitors, while Mount Everest remains far less crowded.

Case 3: ‘Few’ Combined with a Negative Idea

Sentence: ___ (Few/A few) participants withdrew, so the event proceeded largely as planned.

• Step 1: The second half of the sentence indicates that the event was barely affected, meaning only a small, insignificant number withdrew.
• Step 2: Since the overall sense is positive — the event proceeded as planned — the small number should be framed as insignificant rather than as a cause for concern, which calls for few, not a few.
• Correct sentence: Few participants withdrew, so the event proceeded largely as planned.

Case 4: Distributive Determiner Followed by a Plural Noun

Sentence: ___ (Each/All) of the candidates ___ (was/were) asked the same question.

• Step 1: Each is a distributive determiner and is always followed by a singular verb, even when the phrase that follows it contains a plural noun.
• Step 2: All, by contrast, is generally followed by a plural verb when referring to a group of countable items.
• Correct sentence (using each): Each of the candidates was asked the same question.
• Correct sentence (using all): All of the candidates were asked the same question.

Key Takeaway When a determiner choice seems uncertain, checking the sound of the following word, the category of the proper noun involved, the overall sense of the sentence, or the type of determiner being used almost always resolves the difficulty.

Exam Trick: 6 Steps to Pick the Perfect Determiner

Working through the following questions in sequence helps in selecting the correct determiner quickly, particularly during examinations.

1. Is the noun being mentioned for the first time, or is it general? An indefinite article (a/an) or no article is usually required.
2. Has the noun already been mentioned, or is it unique or made specific by the rest of the sentence? The definite article the is usually required.
3. Is the noun countable or uncountable? This determines whether words such as many/few or much/little apply.
4. Does the sentence express a small but sufficient quantity, or an almost negligible one? This determines whether a few/a little or few/little is required.
5. Is the sentence affirmative, negative, or a question? This determines whether some or any applies.
6. Are individual members of a group being referred to separately, or the group as a whole? This determines whether a distributive determiner such as each or every applies.

Summary & Quick Revision

Determiner Category	Examples	Typical Use
Articles	a, an, the	Specific or general reference to a noun
Demonstrative	this, that, these, those	Pointing to a noun by distance and number
Possessive	my, your, his, her, its, our, their	Showing ownership or relationship
Quantifiers (countable)	many, few, a few, several	Showing quantity with countable nouns
Quantifiers (uncountable)	much, little, a little	Showing quantity with uncountable nouns
Some / Any	some, any	Affirmative sentences vs negatives and questions
Distributive	each, every, either, neither	Referring to individual members of a group
Numbers	one, two, first, second	Showing exact quantity or position in sequence
Interrogative	which, what, whose	Forming questions about a noun

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Choose the correct determiner to complete each sentence.

1. __________ (a/an) elephant was spotted near the riverbank.
2. There is __________ (much/many) traffic on the highway today.
3. __________ (This/These) shoes need polishing before the event.
4. __________ (Each/Every) student must submit the form by Friday.
5. __________ (Few/A few) people understood the announcement clearly, so it was repeated.
6. Is there __________ (some/any) sugar left in the container?
7. __________ (Its/It’s) important to revise before the examination.
8. __________ (Fewer/Less) resources are available this year.

Answers

1. An
2. much
3. These
4. Each
5. Few
6. any
7. It’s
8. Fewer

Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Answer

1. __________ moon looked especially bright last night.

a) A

b) An

c) The

d) No article

2. __________ of the two answers is acceptable.

a) Each

b) Every

c) Either

d) All

3. __________ effort has gone into organising this event.

a) Many

b) Much

c) Few

d) A few

4. Would you like __________ tea?

a) any

b) some

c) much

d) many

5. __________ books on the shelf belong to the library.

a) This

b) That

c) These

d) An

Answers

1. c) The
2. c) Either
3. b) Much
4. b) some
5. c) These

Exercise 3: Error Correction

Each sentence contains an error involving a determiner. Rewrite it correctly.

1. She bought a umbrella before the storm.
2. There is many confusion regarding the schedule.
3. Each of the winners were awarded a trophy.
4. Its raining heavily since morning.
5. Is there some objection to the plan?
6. Fewer sugar is needed for this recipe.
7. He plays the cricket every Sunday.

Answers

1. She bought an umbrella before the storm.
2. There is much confusion regarding the schedule.
3. Each of the winners was awarded a trophy.
4. It’s raining heavily since morning.
5. Is there any objection to the plan?
6. Less sugar is needed for this recipe.
7. He plays cricket every Sunday.

Exercise 4: Rewrite the Sentences as Directed

Rewrite each sentence according to the instruction given.

1. A little information was available. (Change the meaning to suggest almost no information was available.)
2. Many guests attended the wedding. (Change ‘many’ to a determiner suitable for an uncountable noun, and change ‘guests’ to ‘hospitality’.)
3. This laptop belongs to the office. (Change ‘this’ to indicate a plural set of laptops, far from the speaker.)
4. Each player received a medal. (Change ‘each’ to a determiner used for exactly two players.)
5. There is some milk left. (Change the sentence into a negative statement using the appropriate determiner.)

Answers

1. Little information was available.
2. Much hospitality was extended to the guests.
3. Those laptops belong to the office.
4. Either player received a medal.
5. There isn’t any milk left.

Exercise 5: Identify the Type of Determiner

Read each sentence and identify the type of determiner used in bold.

Write one of the following:

Article | Demonstrative | Possessive | Quantifier | Distributive | Interrogative

1. Their house is located near the market.
2. Several volunteers joined the cleanliness drive.
3. Whose notebook is this?
4. Every classroom has a projector installed.
5. That painting was created by a local artist.
6. An opportunity like this rarely appears twice.

Answers

1. Possessive
2. Quantifier
3. Interrogative
4. Distributive
5. Demonstrative
6. Article

Exercise 6: Competency-Based Question

Read the notice given below and complete the paragraph that follows by choosing the correct options.

Notice: Annual Book Fair

‘(i) __________ book fair will be held in the school auditorium next week. (ii) __________ student is encouraged to bring (iii) __________ old books for donation. (iv) __________ contributions, however small, will be appreciated by the organising committee.’

(i)

A. A

B. An

C. The

D. No article

(ii)

A. Each

B. All

C. Some

D. Any

(iii)

A. much

B. a little

C. a few

D. less

(iv)

A. Little

B. Few

C. All

D. Much

Answers

(i) C

(ii) A

(iii) C

(iv) C

Subject–Verb Concord: Rules, Formulas & Solved Examples

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What is Subject–Verb Concord?

Subject–Verb Concord, also called Subject–Verb Agreement, is the grammatical rule that requires a verb to match its subject in number (singular or plural) and, in certain cases, in person. The subject and the verb must agree with each other so that the sentence sounds grammatically correct and communicates meaning clearly.

Examples

• The student writes neatly. (singular subject, singular verb)
• The students write neatly. (plural subject, plural verb)
• Each member of the team is responsible for the result.
• The committee has approved the new proposal.

In every sentence, the form of the verb depends entirely on the subject that governs it — not on any other noun that may appear nearby.

Why is Subject–Verb Concord Important?

Every sentence depends on a correct match between its subject and its verb. A mismatch between the two — even a small one — changes a sentence from grammatically correct to incorrect, regardless of how clear the intended meaning might be.

Consider the following sentence.

The list of items ___ printed on the notice board.

The subject here is list, a singular noun, even though the phrase of items appears close to the verb. The correct sentence is therefore:

The list of items is printed on the notice board.

A sound understanding of Subject–Verb Concord supports:

• accuracy in written and spoken English.
• correct identification of the true subject in a sentence, especially when other nouns appear nearby.
• confident handling of collective nouns, indefinite pronouns and compound subjects.
• stronger performance in grammar-based and competency-based questions.
• clearer, more professional academic and formal writing.

Understanding Subject–Verb Concord

Every sentence contains a subject — the person, place, thing or idea that performs the action or about which something is stated — and a verb, which shows the action or state. The verb must always be selected according to the number of the subject.

A verb, therefore, changes its form depending on whether the subject is singular or plural.

Example

The gardener waters the plants every morning.

Part	Function
The gardener	Subject (singular)
waters	Verb (singular form)
the plants every morning	Object / Adverbial

Since gardener is singular, the verb takes the singular form waters.

Now consider another sentence.

The gardeners water the plants every morning.

Part	Function
The gardeners	Subject (plural)
water	Verb (plural form)
the plants every morning	Object / Adverbial

Here, the subject gardeners is plural, so the verb takes the base form water, without the -s ending.

Sentence Structure & Pattern

The basic pattern of Subject–Verb Concord in the present tense is as follows.

Singular Subject + Verb + s/es Plural Subject + Verb (base form)

Examples

• The child plays in the park. (singular)
• The children play in the park. (plural)
• She writes an essay every week. (singular)
• They write an essay every week. (plural)

The same principle applies with is/am/are, has/have and was/were.

Subject Type	Be-verb	Have-verb
Singular	is / was	has
Plural	are / were	have

Characteristics of Subject–Verb Concord

Before the individual rules are studied one by one, it helps to understand a few general features of how concord operates across different parts of a sentence.

1. Concord is most visible in the present tense.

Only the present tense clearly changes its form according to the subject. The past tense, apart from the verb be (was/were), stays the same regardless of whether the subject is singular or plural.

Examples

• The student writes carefully. → The students write carefully. (present tense changes)
• The student wrote carefully. → The students wrote carefully. (past tense unchanged)
• The guest was late. → The guests were late. (the verb ‘be’ still changes in the past tense)

2. Modal verbs never change according to the subject.

Words such as can, will, should, must and may remain identical whether the subject is singular or plural, so concord issues do not arise with them directly — attention instead shifts to the base verb that follows.

Examples

• The student can finish the task early.
• The students can finish the task early.

3. Agreement also involves person, not number alone, particularly with the verbs ‘be’ and ‘have’.

The forms am/is/are and has/have change according to whether the subject is first, second or third person, in addition to changing for number.

Person	Be-verb (present)	Have-verb
I (first person, singular)	am	have
You (second person)	are	have
He / She / It (third person, singular)	is	has
They / We (plural)	are	have

4. The grammatical subject may be a single word, a phrase, or an entire clause — the verb must still agree with it as a whole.

Examples

• Reading improves vocabulary. (a single word acting as subject)
• What the committee decided remains unclear. (an entire clause acting as a singular subject)

Key Rules of Subject–Verb Concord

1. Singular Subject, Singular Verb

A singular subject takes a singular verb form.

Examples

• The teacher explains the lesson clearly.
• The artist paints beautiful landscapes.
• The bridge connects the two villages.

Note:  In the simple present tense, a singular subject requires a verb ending in -s or -es.

2. Plural Subject, Plural Verb

A plural subject takes a plural verb form, without the -s ending.

Examples

• The teachers explain the lesson clearly.
• The artists paint beautiful landscapes.
• The bridges connect several villages.

Note:  A plural verb in the present tense uses the base form of the verb.

3. Two Subjects Joined by ‘And’

Two singular subjects joined by and usually form a plural subject and take a plural verb.

Examples

• The captain and the coach discuss strategy before every match.
• Bread and butter are kept on the table.
• Honesty and hard work lead to success.

Exception When the two nouns joined by and refer to a single person, thing or idea, the verb remains singular.

Examples

• The Chairman and Managing Director is attending the meeting. (one person holding both roles)
• Slow and steady wins the race. (a single idea)
• Bread and butter is a simple breakfast. (regarded as one dish)

4. Subjects Joined by ‘Or’ / ‘Nor’ / ‘Either…Or’ / ‘Neither…Nor’

When two subjects are joined by or, nor, either…or or neither…nor, the verb agrees with the subject nearer to it.

Examples

• Either the manager or the employees are responsible for the delay.
• Neither the players nor the coach was satisfied with the result.
• Either she or her brothers are going to the exhibition.

Note:  This rule is sometimes called the rule of proximity — the verb takes the number of whichever subject stands closest to it.

5. Subjects Joined by ‘As Well As’, ‘Along With’, ‘Together With’, ‘In Addition To’

When the main subject is followed by phrases such as as well as, along with, together with or in addition to, the verb agrees only with the main subject, not with the noun that follows the phrase.

Examples

• The principal, along with the teachers, is visiting the exhibition.
• The captain, as well as the players, was praised for the victory.
• The manager, together with the staff, has organised the event.

Note:  Phrases beginning with these expressions add extra information but do not form part of the grammatical subject.

6. Collective Nouns

A collective noun refers to a group treated as a single unit — such as team, committee, family, jury, class or audience. Such nouns usually take a singular verb when the group acts as one unit, and a plural verb when the individual members are being emphasised.

Examples

• The committee has approved the new policy. (acting as a single unit)
• The committee have expressed different opinions on the matter. (members acting individually)
• The team is practising for the finals.
• The family were arguing among themselves about the plan. (individual members)

Note:  In most everyday CBSE-level usage, collective nouns are treated as singular unless the sentence clearly emphasises the individual members of the group.

7. Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns such as each, every, either, neither, everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, anyone, anybody, no one and nobody are treated as singular and take a singular verb.

Examples

• Each of the students has submitted the project.
• Everyone in the hall was silent during the announcement.
• Neither of the answers is correct.
• Nobody knows the exact reason for the delay.

Note:  Even when these pronouns are followed by a plural phrase such as of the students, the verb still agrees with the singular pronoun, not with the plural noun that follows.

8. Uncountable Nouns

Uncountable (non-count) nouns — such as information, furniture, advice, luggage, knowledge, news and equipment — do not have a plural form and always take a singular verb.

Examples

• The information provided is accurate.
• New furniture has been placed in the office.
• The advice given was extremely useful.

Note:  These nouns describe a mass or a concept rather than countable individual items, so no -s is added, and the verb remains singular.

9. Nouns Plural in Form but Singular in Meaning

Some nouns end in -s but are treated as singular because they refer to a single subject, discipline or unified concept — such as mathematics, physics, economics, civics, news, measles and mumps.

Examples

• Mathematics is taught by Mr Sharma this year.
• The news was broadcast at nine o’clock.
• Physics requires regular practice of numerical problems.

Note:  Although these words end in -s, they refer to a single subject or a single body of knowledge, so a singular verb is used.

10. Nouns Always Used in the Plural Form

Certain nouns — usually referring to objects made of two joined parts — are always treated as plural, such as scissors, trousers, spectacles, jeans, shorts and binoculars.

Examples

• The scissors are kept in the top drawer.
• These trousers fit perfectly.
• His spectacles were broken during the match.

Note:  When such nouns are preceded by a pair of, the verb agrees with pair, which is singular.

Example A pair of scissors is placed on the table.

11. ‘A Number Of’ and ‘The Number Of’

The phrase a number of means several or many, and it takes a plural verb. The phrase the number of refers to a specific total or count, and it takes a singular verb.

Examples

• A number of students have volunteered for the cleanliness drive.
• The number of students in the class is forty-two.

Note:  This distinction depends entirely on whether the article used is a or the.

12. Subject Separated from the Verb by a Phrase

When a phrase or a clause comes between the subject and the verb, the verb must still agree with the actual subject, not with the noun closest to it.

Examples

• The box containing old books is kept in the attic.
• The results of the survey have been published.
• One of the main reasons for the delay is heavy traffic.

Note:  Words such as of, with, including, together with and as well as, along with the phrases that follow them, are not part of the grammatical subject.

13. Inverted Sentence Order — ‘There is / There are’

In sentences beginning with there, the verb agrees with the noun that follows it, since there itself is not the true subject.

Examples

• There is a beautiful garden behind the school.
• There are several reasons for the change in schedule.
• There has been no response to the notice so far.

Note:  The noun placed immediately after the verb determines whether is/are or has/have should be used.

14. Relative Pronoun as Subject

When a relative pronoun such as who, which or that functions as the subject of a clause, the verb agrees with the noun (the antecedent) to which the pronoun refers.

Examples

• The student who studies regularly performs well in examinations.
• The students who study regularly perform well in examinations.
• This is one of the schools that offer excellent sports facilities.

Note:  In the phrase one of the ___ that, the verb generally agrees with the plural noun, since that refers back to the group, not to one.

15. Percentages, Fractions and Quantities

With percentages, fractions and expressions of quantity, the verb agrees with the noun that follows the phrase of.

Examples

• Fifty per cent of the work is already completed.
• Two-thirds of the students have submitted their projects.
• A large portion of the funds has been utilised.

Note:  Sums of money, distances, weights and periods of time, when regarded as a single amount, generally take a singular verb.

Example –Five hundred rupees is a reasonable price for the book.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Incorrect Usage	Correct Usage
The bouquet of flowers were placed on the table.	The bouquet of flowers was placed on the table.
Each of the players have received a medal.	Each of the players has received a medal.
Neither of the answers are correct.	Neither of the answers is correct.
The news were shocking for everyone.	The news was shocking for everyone.
A number of complaints has been received.	A number of complaints have been received.
The number of accidents have increased this year.	The number of accidents has increased this year.
There is many reasons for the delay.	There are many reasons for the delay.
Mathematics are a compulsory subject.	Mathematics is a compulsory subject.
The committee were unanimous in their decision.	The committee was unanimous in its decision. (acting as one unit)

Note:  Most errors in Subject–Verb Concord occur because the verb is made to agree with the noun standing closest to it rather than with the actual grammatical subject.

Frequently Confused Cases

This section looks at a few cases that do not fit neatly under a single rule and are worth learning as individual points.

1.‘None’ as Subject

None may take a singular or a plural verb, depending on whether it refers to a single item or several items in the context.

Examples

• None of the food was left after the party.
• None of the guests have arrived yet.

2. Titles, Names and Single Entities

Titles of books, films, and names of countries or organisations are treated as singular, even when they appear plural in form.

Examples

• ‘The Panchatantra Tales’is a well-known collection of stories.
• The United States has signed the agreement.

Special Cases & Exceptions

Some sentences bring more than one rule together at the same time. In such cases, one rule usually takes priority over the others. Working through a few combined examples step by step builds the judgement needed for error-spotting and editing questions, which frequently test more than a single isolated rule.

Case 1: Collective Noun + Phrase Between Subject and Verb

Sentence: The team of young cricketers ___ (has/have) qualified for the state finals.

• Step 1: Identify the true subject. The phrase of young cricketers sits between the subject and the verb, so it is set aside first (Rule 12).
• Step 2: The true subject is team, a collective noun.
• Step 3: Since the team is acting as a single unit — qualifying together as one entity — the collective noun takes a singular verb (Rule 6).
• Correct sentence: The team of young cricketers has qualified for the state finals.

Case 2: Indefinite Pronoun + Compound Structure

Sentence: Neither of the two students ___ (has/have) completed the assignment.

• Step 1: The structure neither of the… signals an indefinite pronoun functioning as the subject (Rule 7), not the plural noun students that follows it.
• Step 2: Indefinite pronouns such as neither, either and each are always treated as singular, regardless of the plural noun in the following phrase.
• Correct sentence: Neither of the two students has completed the assignment.

Case 3: ‘As Well As’ + Collective Noun

Sentence: The audience, as well as the performers, ___ (was/were) moved by the tribute.

• Step 1: The phrase as well as the performers is an added phrase, not part of the grammatical subject (Rule 5), so the verb must agree only with audience.
• Step 2: Audience is a collective noun. Since the sentence describes a shared, unified reaction, it is treated as singular (Rule 6).
• Correct sentence: The audience, as well as the performers, was moved by the tribute.

Case 4: ‘There is/are’ + Uncountable Noun

Sentence: There ___ (is/are) enough information available for the report.

• Step 1: In sentences beginning with there, the verb agrees with the noun that follows it, not with there itself (Rule 13).
• Step 2: The noun that follows is information, an uncountable noun that always takes a singular verb (Rule 8).
• Correct sentence: There is enough information available for the report.

Key Takeaway

When more than one rule appears to apply, the first step is always to strip away any distracting phrase and locate the true grammatical subject. Once the actual subject is identified, only one rule usually governs the verb form — the challenge lies in finding that subject correctly, not in memorising exceptions separately.

Quick Decision Checklist

Before selecting a verb, working through the following questions in order helps in identifying the correct form quickly, especially under examination conditions.

1. Is there a phrase or clause between the subject and the verb? If so, that phrase is ignored, and the word before it is treated as the subject.
2. Is the subject an indefinite pronoun (each, everyone, neither, nobody, and similar words)? If so, a singular verb is required, regardless of any plural noun nearby.
3. Are two subjects joined by ‘and’? If they refer to two separate things, a plural verb is required; if they refer to one combined idea, a singular verb is required.
4. Are two subjects joined by ‘or’/’nor’? The verb agrees with whichever subject stands nearer to it.
5. Is the subject a collective noun (team, jury, family, committee)? A singular verb is used if the group acts as one unit; a plural verb is used if individual members are being emphasised.
6. Does the sentence begin with ‘there’? The verb agrees with the noun that follows, not with ‘there’.
7. Is the noun uncountable, or plural in form but singular in meaning (news, mathematics)? A singular verb is required.

Working through these steps in sequence — rather than reacting to the noun that simply looks closest to the verb — is the most reliable way to avoid the errors most frequently tested in CBSE grammar questions.

Summary & Quick Revision

Subject Type	Verb Form
Singular subject	Singular verb
Plural subject	Plural verb
Two subjects joined by ‘and’ (referring to different things)	Plural verb
Two subjects joined by ‘and’ (referring to one idea/person)	Singular verb
Subjects joined by ‘or’/’nor’	Verb agrees with nearer subject
Subject followed by ‘as well as’ / ‘along with’	Verb agrees with main subject
Collective noun (as one unit)	Singular verb
Collective noun (as individual members)	Plural verb
Indefinite pronouns (each, everyone, nobody, etc.)	Singular verb
Uncountable nouns	Singular verb
Nouns plural in form, singular in meaning	Singular verb
Nouns always plural (scissors, trousers, etc.)	Plural verb
‘A number of’	Plural verb
‘The number of’	Singular verb
‘There is / There are’	Verb agrees with the noun that follows

Points to Remember

• The verb must always agree with the true subject of the sentence, not with a nearby noun.
• Phrases such as as well as, along with, together with and in addition to do not affect the number of the verb.
• Indefinite pronouns such as each, everyone and nobody always take a singular verb.
• Collective nouns may be singular or plural, depending on whether the group acts as one unit or as separate individuals.
• Nouns joined by or/nor follow the rule of proximity — the verb agrees with the subject nearer to it.
• Certain nouns are always plural in form (scissors, trousers) or singular despite ending in -s (mathematics, news).
• With there is/there are, the verb agrees with the noun that follows, not with there itself.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Choose the correct verb form to complete each sentence.

1. The basket of apples __________ (is/are) placed near the door.
2. Each of the participants __________ (has/have) received a certificate.
3. Neither the teacher nor the students __________ (was/were) informed about the change.
4. Mathematics __________ (is/are) considered a difficult subject by many.
5. A number of trees __________ (has/have) been planted this year.
6. The number of absentees __________ (is/are) increasing steadily.
7. There __________ (is/are) several ways to solve this problem.
8. The quality of the products __________ (has/have) improved significantly.

Answers

1. is
2. has
3. were
4. is
5. have
6. is
7. are
8. has

Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Answer

1. The jury __________ divided in its opinion.

a) is

b) are

c) were

d) have

2. Everyone in the hall __________ silent when the results were announced.

a) was

b) were

c) have been

d) are

3. Either the manager or the staff __________ responsible for the error.

a) is

b) are

c) has

d) were

4. A pair of scissors __________ lying on the table.

a) is

b) are

c) were

d) have

5. Two-thirds of the audience __________ satisfied with the performance.

a) was

b) were

c) is

d) has

Answers

1. a) is
2. a) was
3. b) are
4. a) is
5. b) were

Exercise 3: Error Correction

Each sentence contains an error in Subject–Verb Concord. Rewrite it correctly.

1. The list of items are printed on the board.
2. Each of the students have submitted the assignment.
3. Neither of the answers are correct.
4. The news were shocking for everyone.
5. A number of complaints has been received.
6. The number of accidents have increased this year.
7. There is many reasons for the delay.
8. Mathematics are a compulsory subject.

Answers

1. The list of items is printed on the board.
2. Each of the students has submitted the assignment.
3. Neither of the answers is correct.
4. The news was shocking for everyone.
5. A number of complaints have been received.
6. The number of accidents has increased this year.
7. There are many reasons for the delay.
8. Mathematics is a compulsory subject.

Exercise 4: Rewrite the Sentences as Directed

Rewrite each sentence, changing the subject as instructed and adjusting the verb accordingly.

1. The student completes the project on time. (Change ‘student’ to ‘students’.)
2. The committee has approved the plan. (Change to emphasise individual members disagreeing.)
3. There is a solution to this problem. (Change ‘a solution’ to ‘several solutions’.)
4. A number of guests has arrived. (Correct the verb without changing the subject.)
5. Neither the coach nor the players was ready. (Correct the verb according to the rule of proximity.)

Answers

1. The students complete the project on time.
2. The committee have expressed differing opinions on the plan.
3. There are several solutions to this problem.
4. A number of guests have arrived.
5. Neither the coach nor the players were ready.

Exercise 5: Identify the Rule Applied

Read each sentence and identify which rule of Subject–Verb Concord applies.

Write one of the following:

Collective Noun | Indefinite Pronoun | Rule of Proximity | Uncountable Noun | Phrase Between Subject and Verb | There is/are

1. Each of the players has received new equipment.
2. The information provided is accurate.
3. There are many opportunities for growth.
4. The basket of mangoes is kept on the table.
5. Either the students or the teacher is responsible.
6. The team is celebrating its victory.

Answers

1. Indefinite Pronoun
2. Uncountable Noun
3. There is/are
4. Phrase Between Subject and Verb
5. Rule of Proximity
6. Collective Noun

Exercise 6: Competency-Based Question

Read the notice given below and complete the paragraph that follows by choosing the correct options.

Notice: Inter-House Cultural Fest

‘A number of events (i) __________ been planned for the fest. Each student (ii) __________ expected to participate in at least one event. The committee in charge of arrangements (iii) __________ finalising the schedule, and there (iv) __________ still a few slots open for registration.’

(i)

A. has

B. have

C. was

D. is

(ii)

A. are

B. is

C. were

D. have

(iii)

A. are

B. is

C. were

D. have been

(iv)

A. is

B. has

C. are

D. was

Answers

(i) B

(ii) B

(iii) B

(iv) C

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