Next CSE-PPT: 14 March 2027 · Professional & Subprofessional
Civil Service Exam English reviewer on subject–verb agreement: indefinite pronouns, either/neither, collective nouns, amounts, words ending in -s, "there is/are", "a number of" and phrases between subject and verb.
Subject–verb agreement is one of the most frequently tested grammar points in the English part of Verbal Ability. The rule is simple: a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb. The difficulty lies in finding the true subject when it is hidden behind phrases, joined by "or" or "nor", or looks plural but is singular.
For each item, first find the subject, then ignore phrases such as "of the clerks", "along with" or "as well as" that come between the subject and the verb.
Correct answer: A. has
The subject is "each", which is singular, so it takes "has". The phrase "of the clerks" only describes the subject and does not make it plural. The same rule applies to "every one", "either" and "neither" used alone.
Read detailsCorrect answer: B. meets
A collective noun such as "committee" takes a singular verb when the group acts as one unit. Here the committee meets as a single body, so "meets" is correct.
Read detailsCorrect answer: D. were
With "neither … nor" and "either … or", the verb agrees with the subject closer to it. "Staff members" is plural and closest to the verb, so "were" is correct.
Read detailsCorrect answer: A. signs
The verb agrees with the nearer subject in "either … or" constructions. "The director" is singular and closest to the verb, so "signs" is correct. Putting the plural subject last often sounds smoother.
Read detailsCorrect answer: B. is
An amount of distance, time or money treated as a single quantity takes a singular verb. "Ten kilometres" here refers to one distance, so "is" is correct.
Read detailsCorrect answer: C. is
Names of subjects that end in -s, such as mathematics, economics and physics, are singular and take singular verbs. The -s ending does not make them plural.
Read detailsCorrect answer: D. is
"News" is an uncountable noun that is always singular, even though it ends in -s. The phrase "about the exam results" does not change the subject, so "is" is correct.
Read detailsCorrect answer: A. are
In sentences beginning with "there", the subject comes after the verb. Here the subject is "several applicants", which is plural, so "are" is correct.
Read detailsCorrect answer: B. are
"A number of" means "several" and takes a plural verb: a number of employees are. By contrast, "the number of" refers to a single figure and takes a singular verb: the number of employees is growing.
Read detailsCorrect answer: B. is
The subject is "one", which is singular. "Of the reports" is a prepositional phrase describing it. A common error is to make the verb agree with "reports", the plural noun closest to it.
Read detailsCorrect answer: C. is
Phrases such as "as well as", "along with", "together with" and "in addition to" do not make a singular subject plural. The subject is "the secretary", so the verb is "is".
Read detailsCorrect answer: B. is
Indefinite pronouns ending in -one, -body and -thing, such as everyone, somebody and nothing, are singular. "In the three offices" does not change that, so "is" is correct.
Read detailsCorrect answer: A. is
Two nouns joined by "and" usually take a plural verb, but when they form a single idea or dish, such as "bread and butter", the subject is treated as singular.
Read detailsCorrect answer: C. are
Nouns for things made of two parts, such as scissors, trousers and pliers, take plural verbs. With "a pair of", the verb becomes singular: a pair of scissors is in the drawer.
Read detailsCorrect answer: D. is
A sum of money treated as a single amount takes a singular verb. "Five hundred pesos" is one fee, so "is" is correct. Compare "Five hundred pesos were found in the drawer", where the bills are thought of separately.
Read detailsCorrect answer: C. is
The name of a single organisation, country or work is singular even when it looks plural, so "The United Nations is" is correct. The same applies to "The Philippines is an archipelago".
Read detailsCorrect answer: A. has
With fractions and words such as "half", "some", "most" and "all", the verb agrees with the noun after "of". "Budget" is singular, so "has" is correct. Compare: half of the forms have been signed.
Read detailsCorrect answer: D. were
With "not only … but also", the verb agrees with the subject nearer to it. "The supervisors" is plural and closest, so "were" is correct.
Read detailsCorrect answer: D. B
The subject is "the list", which is singular, so the verb should be "is posted". "Of qualified applicants" is a phrase describing the list and does not make the subject plural.
Read detailsCorrect answer: C. B
"Measles" is the name of a disease and is singular, so it should be "is a highly contagious disease". Other diseases ending in -s, such as mumps, also take singular verbs.
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