Sentence Improvement
🔒 Log in to trackAgreement and verb-form fixes
🔒 Log in to trackWhen the bold part holds a verb, first find the real subject. Phrases like of the students or as well as the players often stand between the subject and the verb. They do not change the number of the verb.
Find the real subject
When the bold part has a helper like was / were, has / have, is / are, run three checks.
- Find the noun the sentence is about. That is the real subject.
- Cross out the extra phrase. Phrases with of, with, along with, as well as, together with, besides, including never hold the subject.
- Match the helper to the number of the real subject.
Example: The captain, as well as the openers, was blamed. Cross out the extra phrase. What is left is The captain was blamed.
Phrases that hide the subject
- The bundle of old files was sent. (bundle, not files)
- The quality of the mangoes was poor.
- The list of holidays has been announced.
- One of the students has won.
One of, each of, neither of
These openers are always singular. The plural noun after of is a decoy.
- One of my cousins has settled in Wellington.
- Each of the candidates is to report at nine.
- Neither of the two answers was acceptable.
The nearer-subject rule
With either ... or, neither ... nor and not only ... but also, the verb agrees with the nearer subject.
- Either the secretary or the joint secretaries are responsible.
- Not only the students but also the warden was honoured.
Quantity and group words
| Phrase | Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a number of + plural noun | plural | A number of films have been censored. |
| the number of + plural noun | singular | The number of films has fallen. |
| many a + singular noun | singular | Many a farmer has shifted to drip irrigation. |
| an amount seen as one unit | singular | Ten thousand rupees is a big amount. |
Collective nouns like jury and committee usually take a singular verb with its.
Two subjects joined by and
Two nouns joined by and take a plural helper: The principal and the secretary were present. These are two people.
One person with one article is singular: The principal and secretary was present. Here one person holds both posts.
In the passive, the same check runs on the be helper. The bridge was built. The bridges were built. The participle never changes.
Tip: Fix only the helper. Keep the rest of the bold part as it is. If the original already agrees, choose No substitution required.
Verb form after a helper
- After did, does, do: use the base verb. Did he arrive? (not did he arrived)
- After have, has, had: use the past participle.
- After be: use -ing (continuous) or the participle (passive).
Question types you will see
Each type: how to recognise it, the method step by step, and one question to try.
Phrase between subject and helper
The bold helper (was / were, has / have) comes after 'X of Y' or 'X, as well as Y,' and was matched to the wrong noun.
Cross out the of / with / as-well-as phrase.
Read only the real subject and the helper.
Pick the helper that matches the subject. Leave the participle alone.
The extra phrase sounds like the subject. Crossing it out removes the illusion.
The captain, as well as the openers, were blamed for the collapse. (was / No substitution required / have been / are)
Show solutionHide solution
Cross out 'as well as the openers'.
The subject is 'the captain', which is singular.
So the helper is 'was'.
was
One of / each of / neither of
The subject begins with one of, each of or neither of, and the bold helper is plural.
Spot the opener: one, each or neither.
Remember that all three are singular. The plural noun after 'of' is a decoy.
Choose the singular helper: has, is or was.
These three openers are always singular, so the fix is mechanical.
Each of the shortlisted candidates are to report by nine tomorrow. (is / No substitution required / were / have been)
Show solutionHide solution
The head word is 'each', which is singular.
'Candidates' is only the decoy after 'of'.
So the helper is 'is'.
is
Nearer-subject rule (or / nor / not only ... but also)
Two subjects are joined by either ... or, neither ... nor or not only ... but also. The bold helper agrees with the first subject.
Ignore the first subject.
Look at the subject just before the helper.
Match the helper to that nearer subject.
This rule beats every other in paired subjects. Setters make the two subjects differ in number.
Either the secretary or the joint secretaries is responsible for the circular. (are / No substitution required / was / has been)
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The nearer subject is 'joint secretaries'.
That subject is plural.
So the helper is 'are'.
are
Quantity phrase (a number of / many a)
The subject is a quantity phrase: a number of, the number of or many a. The helper's number goes against the phrase's rule.
Read the phrase slowly: 'a number of' is plural and 'the number of' is singular.
'Many a' + a singular noun is singular.
Match the helper and keep the rest of the bold part.
One small word before 'number' controls the verb. 'Many a' hides a singular verb under a plural meaning.
A number of films has been censored this month. (have been / No substitution required / are been / was)
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'A number of' means 'many'.
So the subject is plural.
The helper is 'have been'.
have been
Two subjects joined by and
Two nouns with 'and' come before the bold helper, and the helper is singular.
Check whether the nouns are two different people or things.
Two subjects with 'and' take a plural helper.
Only a pair naming one thing, like bread and butter, is singular.
Each noun with its own article names a separate person, so the number is plural.
The principal and the vice-principal was present at the function. (were / No substitution required / is / has been)
Show solutionHide solution
'The principal' and 'the vice-principal' are two people.
Two subjects with 'and' are plural.
Past tense plural helper: 'were'.
were
Shortcuts that save time
Cover 'of the students' type phrases with a finger. Read what is left: 'One ___ won'. The right helper is now easy.
One of the students have won the quiz. (has / were / are / No substitution required)
Show solutionHide solution
Cover 'of the students'.
The skeleton is 'One ___ won'.
'One' is singular, so the helper is 'has'.
has
did takes the base verb, have takes the participle, be takes -ing or the participle. If the bold part has a helper, check its partner form first.
Two subjects joined by 'and' take a plural verb. The exception is a pair that names one thing, like 'bread and butter is'.
Mistakes to avoid
Where most students lose marks on this subtopic.
Agreeing with the nearest noun instead of the real subject.
Cross out the of-phrase and find the head noun.
Writing a participle after 'did' (did he arrived).
After did, use the base verb: did he arrive.
Choosing an option that changes active to passive or adds a doer.
Fix only the helper. Keep the meaning.
Accepting a plural verb after 'each of the + plural noun'.
Each, one and neither stay singular.
Treating 'as well as' like 'and'.
As well as only adds information. It does not make the subject plural.
Quick revision
Read this the night before the exam.
of, with, along with, as well as: these phrases never hold the subject.
one of, each of, neither of, many a: singular helper.
either ... or, neither ... nor, not only ... but also: agree with the nearer subject.
a number of: plural. The number of: singular. An amount as one unit: singular.
Fix only the helper. Leave a correct participle alone.
did + base verb; have + participle; be + -ing or participle.
Practice: 12 questions
Sets of 10, mixed across the question types above. Every answer has a step-by-step explanation.
Topic test · 12 questions
Suggested time 7 min · wrong answers go to your mistake notebook automatically.