Rule 1: Singular subject → singular verb; Plural subject → plural verb
- The boy runs. The boys run.
Rule 2: Two subjects joined by "and" → plural verb
- Rice and fish are the staple food.
- Exception (same entity): "The poet and novelist has come." (one person)
- Exception (same entity — two articles = two people): "The poet and the novelist have come."
Rule 3: Either...or / Neither...nor / Not only...but also → verb agrees with nearer subject
- Neither the teacher nor the students were present.
- Not only the students but also the teacher was present.
Rule 4: "With / along with / together with / as well as / including / besides" → verb agrees with FIRST subject
- The teacher, along with his students, is going. (teacher = singular)
- The students, as well as the teacher, are going. (students = plural)
Rule 5: Collective nouns → singular verb (when acting as one unit)
- The team is ready. The committee has decided.
- But: "The jury were divided in their opinion." (when members act separately)
Rule 6: Uncountable nouns → singular verb
- Water is essential. Furniture is expensive. News is good. Information is important.
Rule 7: "Each / Every / Everyone / Everybody / Everything / Nobody / Nothing" → singular verb
- Each boy has a pen. Everyone is present.
Rule 8: "None" → usually singular (formal), sometimes plural
- None of them was selected. (formal)
Rule 9: "Many a / More than one" → singular verb
- Many a student has failed. More than one person was injured.
Rule 10: "A lot of / Plenty of / Some of / Most of / All of" → depends on the noun
- A lot of water is wasted. (uncountable → singular)
- A lot of students are absent. (countable → plural)
Rule 11: Distances, amounts, time periods → singular verb
- "Fifty miles is a long distance." "Two thousand taka is enough."
Rule 12: Titles of books, countries, organizations → singular
- "The United States is a powerful country." "Gulliver's Travels is a famous novel."