Section outline

  • Rules to use singular verbs:

    1. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular.

    Examples:

    • Tom is a clever boy.
    • The girl runs very fast.

    Here, the subjects 'Tom & girl' are singular; hence singular verbs 'is & runs' are used. 

    2. With third person (he, she, it).

    Examples:

    • She lives in Mumbai.
    • It is a lovely place.

    Here, the subjects 'she & it' are singular; hence we use singular verbs 'lives & is'.

    3. With first person 'I' (speaker), singular form of auxiliary verb.

    Example: I am hungry.

    Exception:

    But plural (i.e. root form) of action verb is used, though 'I' is a singular subject.

    Example: I live in Mumbai.

    Here, 'live' is action verb which is used in its root form with pronoun 'I'.

    4. With collective nouns as the entire collection is one whole thing.

    Examples:

    • The bouquet of flowers is beautiful.
    • The crowd was silent.

    Here, there are many flowers or people but the entire group is a whole & hence singular verb is used. 

    5. With nouns which are plural in form but singular in meaning.

    Example: This jeans is new.

    Words like 'scissors, shoes, pants, etc.' which are always in plural form but are one pair, hence singular & take singular verb.

    6. When two or more nouns are connected by 'either/or, neither/nor, each/every'.

    Examples:

    • Neither my mother nor my father is at home.
    • Each and every vehicle is being searched.
    7. With indefinite pronouns.

    Examples: 

    • Everyone has to dance.
    • Each of the cars is new.

    Common indefinite pronouns are: each, everyone, anybody, somebody, no one, anything, someone.

    8.When plural number is used for distance, amount of money, weight, etc. but shows a specific quantity or amount.

    Examples:

    • Hundred rupees is enough.
    • Ten kilometers is a long distance to walk.
    9. With two or more nouns or adjectives if they refer to same person or thing.

    Example: 

    The orange and pink dress is not mine.

    10. When one verb in a sentence is singular then all the others are also singular.

    Example:

    Jack sings well and plays the piano also.

    11. With words like news, a lot of, plenty of, much little, etc.

    Examples: 

    • Plenty of water was wasted.
    • This is the latest news.
    12. When two subjects are referred to as one.

    Example:

     Bread and butter is available in the store.

    13. When subjects are gerunds (verbs ending in "-ing" used as nouns) or infinitives.

    Examples: 

    • Swimming is fun.
    • To read story books is fun.

    ** In this section, for rules to use singular action verbs refer to basic concepts.