Error Spotting – Subject–Verb Agreement | SSC Banking UPSC CAT Grammar | BhashaLab
- Jul 28
- 12 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Section 1 – What is Subject-Verb Agreement and Why Should You Care?
You scan an error-spotting question in the exam hall. The sentence reads smoothly: "One of the most famous authors in India have released a new book." It sounds completely natural to your ears, so you mark No Error and move on. Two weeks later, the answer key drops and you lose 0.25 negative marks! Why? Because the real subject isn't authors – it is one.
Subject-Verb Agreement (SVA) is the fundamental rule that a verb must match its real subject in number (singular or plural). Examiners love testing SVA because spoken English continually tricks our ears into matching the verb with whatever noun sits right next to it, rather than the actual grammatical subject.
💬 "Subject-Verb Agreement बिल्कुल शादी के जोड़े की तरह है – दूल्हा (Subject) जैसा होगा, दुल्हन (Verb) भी उसी के हिसाब से होगी। अगर दूल्हा अकेला (Singular) है, तो क्रिया भी Singular ही होगी। बारात में चाहे कितने भी दोस्त (Middle words/Plural nouns) खड़े हों, दुल्हन का मिलान सिर्फ दूल्हे से ही होगा!"
Subject-Verb Agreement questions form the absolute bedrock of competitive exams, directly accounting for 3 to 5 marks in SSC CGL/CHSL, IBPS/SBI PO, UPSC CSAT, Defence, and State PSC papers.
Section 2 – The Complete Breakdown
Here is everything you need to know about Subject-Verb Agreement. We have broken it down into specific structural rules and traps so you can spot the examiner's tricks instantly.
Sub-Topic 2.1: The Intervening Prepositional Phrase Trap
A) Definition: When a prepositional phrase or additive expression (like along with, as well as, together with, including) comes between the main subject and the verb, it does not change the number of the real subject. The verb strictly agrees with the primary subject.
💬 "जब दो Subjects को along with, as well as, with, या together with से जोड़ा जाए, तो Verb हमेशा पहले वाले Subject के अनुसार ही आती है। दूसरे Noun को पूरी तरह अनदेखा कर दें!"
How to Identify (English) | कैसे पहचानें? (Hindi) |
1. Find the main subject before expressions like as well as, along with, or one of. | 1. As well as, along with, या one of जैसे शब्दों से ठीक पहले वाले मुख्य Subject को पहचानें। |
2. Bracket or cross out the entire prepositional phrase following the subject. | 2. Subject और Verb के बीच वाले पूरे हिस्से (Prepositional Phrase) को ब्रैकेट में रखें या नज़रअंदाज़ करें। |
3. Match the verb strictly with the unbracketed main subject. | 3. अब बची हुई मुख्य क्रिया (Verb) को सिर्फ उस पहले Subject के अनुसार मिलाएँ। |
Quick Examples Table:
Sub-type | Incorrect Structure | Correct Exam Structure |
Intervening Phrase | The captain, along with his team members, were present. | The captain, along with his team members, was present. |
One of + Plural Noun | One of the most severe problems are pollution. | One of the most severe problems is pollution. |
Additive Conjunction | She as well as her parents are coming today. | She as well as her parents is coming today. |
Quality of Items | The quality of these mangoes were not good. | The quality of these mangoes was not good. |
The #1 Exam Rule: Phrases starting with along with, as well as, together with, or in addition to do not alter the subject – the verb strictly agrees with the first noun.
Sub-Topic 2.2: Correlative Conjunctions (Either... Or / Neither... Nor)
A) Definition: When two subjects are connected by correlative conjunctions such as either... or, neither... nor, not only... but also, or or, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it (the proximity rule).
How to Identify (English) | कैसे पहचानें? (Hindi) |
1. Locate correlative pairs: either... or, neither... nor, not only... but also. | 1. वाक्य में either... or, neither... nor, not only... but also जैसी जोड़ियों को ढूँढें। |
2. Locate the verb and look directly at the noun immediately preceding it. | 2. क्रिया (Verb) की जगह देखें और उसके सबसे पास वाले Noun पर ध्यान दें। |
3. Change the verb form to match that closest noun in number. | 3. क्रिया को सिर्फ उस पास वाले Noun (Singular या Plural) के अनुसार बदलें। |
Quick Examples Table:
Structure | Incorrect Usage | Correct Exam Structure |
Neither... Nor | Neither the director nor the actors was available. | Neither the director nor the actors were available. |
Either... Or | Either the teachers or the principal have the keys. | Either the teachers or the principal has the keys. |
Not only... But also | Not only the students but also the teacher were absent. | Not only the students but also the teacher was absent. |
Simple Or | Rahul or his friends is responsible. | Rahul or his friends are responsible. |
The #1 Exam Rule: When subjects are joined by either... or, neither... nor, or not only... but also, the verb strictly agrees with the nearest subject.
Sub-Topic 2.3: Quantitative Distinctions, Amounts, & Titles
A) Definition: Quantities expressing a single unified amount (time, money, distance, weight) take a singular verb. However, when fractional or percentage expressions (a number of vs. the number of) are used, a number of takes a plural verb, whereas the number of takes a singular verb.
How to Identify (English) | कैसे पहचानें? (Hindi) |
1. Check if a plural unit (like miles, rupees, years) represents a single total amount. | 1. देखें कि क्या दूरी, समय या पैसे की बड़ी संख्या मिलकर एक इकाई (Single Unit) बना रही है। |
2. Identify the exact phrase: a number of vs. the number of. | 2. पहचानें कि वाक्य में a number of लिखा है या the number of। |
3. Apply plural verb for a number of; apply singular verb for the number of and unified sums. | 3. A number of के साथ Plural Verb और the number of या एकमुश्त राशि के साथ Singular Verb लगाएँ। |
Quick Examples Table:
Category | Incorrect Form | Correct Exam Form |
Unified Distance/Sum | Ten thousand rupees are a huge amount for him. | Ten thousand rupees is a huge amount for him. |
A number of | A number of applicants has applied for the post. | A number of applicants have applied for the post. |
The number of | The number of seats have been reduced. | The number of seats has been reduced. |
Book Title/Collective | The Arabian Nights are an interesting book. | The Arabian Nights is an interesting book. |
The #1 Exam Rule: Remember the formula: A number of + Plural Verb vs. The number of + Singular Verb.
Section 3 – The Exam Traps (Don't Fall for These)
EXAM TRAP 01
What students think: In "One of the candidates who...", the verb after who must be singular because of one. Correct answer: Relative pronouns (who/which/that) refer to the immediate plural antecedent (candidates), requiring a plural verb. Rule: When a relative pronoun follows "one of the + plural noun", the verb inside the relative clause is plural. Seen in: SSC CGL, IBPS PO
EXAM TRAP 02
What students think: Words like as well as or together with function like and to make a compound subject. Correct answer: These are prepositional modifiers and do not create compound subjects; the verb agrees only with the primary subject. Rule: Parenthetical expressions introduced by as well as do not pluralize the subject. Seen in: SBI PO, SSC CHSL
EXAM TRAP 03
What students think: The phrase neither of requires a plural verb because it is followed by a plural noun. Correct answer: Neither as a pronoun means "not one or the other" and strictly takes a singular verb. Rule: Neither of and either of are always followed by plural nouns but singular verbs. Seen in: CDS, NDA
EXAM TRAP 04
What students think: In inverted sentences starting with here or there, the word there is the subject. Correct answer: There is never the subject; the true subject appears after the verb. Rule: In sentences beginning with there/here, match the verb to the noun that follows it. Seen in: IBPS Clerk, RRB NTPC
EXAM TRAP 05
What students think: Collective nouns like committee, jury, or audience always take a singular verb.
Correct answer: If the members are divided or acting individually, the collective noun takes a plural verb.
Rule: Collective nouns take singular verbs when acting as a unit, but plural verbs when divided.
Seen in: UPSC CSAT, Bank PO
EXAM TRAP 06
What students think: Plural-sounding subjects like mathematics, news, or measles require a plural verb.
Correct answer: These are singular uncountable nouns and take singular verbs. Rule: Nouns ending in -s that represent single fields, diseases, or games are singular. Seen in: SSC MTS, State PSC
Section 4 – Solved Examples (Exam Style)
Q1. The manager, along with all the senior executives, (a) / have decided to implement (b) / the new policy from next month. (c) / No error (d) [SSC Style] [Difficulty: Easy] a) The manager, along with all the senior executives, b) have decided to implement c) the new policy from next month. d) No error
✅ Correct: b) have decided to implement
Explanation (English): The primary subject of the sentence is The manager, which is singular. The phrase along with all the senior executives is a parenthetical prepositional phrase and does not pluralize the subject. Therefore, the auxiliary verb must be changed from have to has. समझाएं (Hindi - Std 8 level): इस वाक्य का असली Subject The manager (एकवचन) है। Along with के बाद लिखे लोगों से Subject पर कोई फर्क नहीं पड़ता। इसलिए क्रिया have की जगह एकवचन क्रिया has का प्रयोग होगा। Rule tested: Subject-Verb Agreement with Intervening Expressions
Q2. Neither the project leader nor the team members (a) / was present in the meeting (b) / when the client called. (c) / No error (d) [Banking Style] [Difficulty: Moderate] a) Neither the project leader nor the team members b) was present in the meeting c) when the client called. d) No error
✅ Correct: b) was present in the meeting
Explanation (English): When two subjects are connected using neither... nor, the verb must agree with the subject closest to it. Here, the closest subject to the verb is the team members, which is plural. Thus, was should be replaced with were. समझाएं (Hindi - Std 8 level): जब दो शब्दों को neither... nor से जोड़ा जाता है, तो क्रिया हमेशा अपने सबसे पास वाले शब्द के हिसाब से आती है। यहाँ क्रिया के पास team members (बहुवचन) लिखा है, इसलिए was की जगह were सही उत्तर है। Rule tested: Proximity Rule with Correlative Conjunctions
Q3. He is one of those rare officers who (a) / performs his duties with utmost (b) / sincerity and dedication. (c) / No error (d) [UPSC/CAT Style] [Difficulty: Hard] a) He is one of those rare officers who b) performs his duties with utmost c) sincerity and dedication. d) No error
✅ Correct: b) performs his duties with utmost
Explanation (English): In this sentence structure, the relative pronoun who refers back to the antecedent rare officers (plural), not one. Consequently, the verb inside the relative clause must be plural (perform instead of performs). समझाएं (Hindi – Std 8 level): यहाँ who शब्द rare officers (अधिकारियों) के लिए आया है, जो कि बहुवचन है। इसलिए who के बाद आने वाली क्रिया भी बहुवचन यानी perform होनी चाहिए, न कि performs. Rule tested: Relative Clause Agreement after "One of those... who"
Q4. The jury was divided in their opinions (a) / regarding the verdict of (b) / the high-profile criminal case. (c) / No error (d) [Defence/Railways Style] [Difficulty: Moderate] a) The jury was divided in their opinions b) regarding the verdict of c) the high-profile criminal case. d) No error
✅ Correct: a) The jury was divided in their opinions
Explanation (English): When a collective noun like jury exhibits division among its members (as evidenced by divided and their opinions), it functions as a plural entity. The singular verb was must be replaced by the plural verb were. समझाएं (Hindi – Std 8 level): जब किसी समूह (Jury) के सदस्य अलग–अलग राय रखते हैं या बँट जाते हैं, तो उन्हें बहुवचन (Plural) माना जाता है। इसलिए यहाँ was को हटाकर were लगाना पड़ेगा। Rule tested: Split Collective Nouns
Section 5 – Common Errors Indian Students Make
ERROR TYPE: Misinterpreting "One of the" Constructions
❌ Wrong: One of my friend is going to Canada next week.
✅ Correct: One of my friends is going to Canada next week.
Why: The phrase one of the requires a plural noun (choosing one out of many), but the main verb remains singular to agree with one.
💬 Hindi: हिंदी भाषी छात्र 'मेरा एक दोस्त' सोचकर one of my friend लिख देते हैं। सही सोच यह है कि 'मेरे कई दोस्तों में से एक', इसलिए Noun हमेशा Plural (friends) होगा और Verb Singular (is) होगी. Seen in: SSC CGL, IBPS Clerk, Railway Exams
ERROR TYPE: Proximity Error with Prepositional Phrases
❌ Wrong: The cost of all these necessary items have increased.
✅ Correct: The cost of all these necessary items has increased.
Why: The real subject is the singular noun cost, not the plural object of the preposition items. The verb must be singular.
💬 Hindi: क्रिया के ठीक पहले items लिखा देखकर छात्र धोखा खा जाते हैं और have लगा देते हैं। जबकि मुख्य बात cost (कीमत) की हो रही है, जो कि Singular है.
Seen in: SBI PO, SSC CHSL, CDS
ERROR TYPE: Confusion with "A number of" vs "The number of"
❌ Wrong: A number of students is standing outside the hall.
✅ Correct: A number of students are standing outside the hall.
Why: A number of means "many" and takes a plural verb, whereas the number of denotes a specific total and takes a singular verb.
💬 Hindi: छात्र A number में 'A' देखकर इसे Singular समझ लेते हैं। याद रखें: A number of का अर्थ 'अनेक' होता है, इसलिए इसके साथ Plural Verb (are) ही आती है.
Seen in: Bank PO, UPSC CSAT
ERROR TYPE: Treating Titles/Subjects as Plural
❌ Wrong: Mathematics are a difficult subject for many students.
✅ Correct: Mathematics is a difficult subject for many students.
Why: Names of academic subjects ending in -s (like Mathematics, Physics) represent a single field of study and require a singular verb.
💬 Hindi: अंत में 's' देखकर छात्र इसे Plural मान बैठते हैं। यह सिर्फ एक विषय का नाम है, इसलिए इसके साथ is का प्रयोग ही सही है.
Seen in: SSC MTS, State PSC
ERROR TYPE: Distance/Currency Pluralization Trap
❌ Wrong: Fifty kilometers are a long distance to travel on foot.
✅ Correct: Fifty kilometers is a long distance to travel on foot.
Why: When a plural number denotes a single unified quantity or distance, it takes a singular verb.
💬 Hindi: 'पचास किलोमीटर' को एक पूरी दूरी (Single Unit) के रूप में देखा जा रहा है, इसलिए यहाँ Plural verb are की जगह Singular verb is आएगा. Seen in: NDA, SSC CGL
Section 6 – Previous Year Questions – Test Yourself
1. Knowledge of at least two languages (a) / are required to pass (b) / the entrance examination. (c) / No error (d) [SSC CGL] a) Knowledge of at least two languages b) are required to pass c) the entrance examination d) No error
Answer: b) are required to pass
Explanation (English): The main subject is Knowledge (uncountable, singular), not languages. Replacing are with is fixes the Subject–Verb Agreement error.
समझाएं (Hindi – Std 8 level): वाक्य में मुख्य Subject Knowledge (ज्ञान) है, जो Singular है। इसलिए languages को देखकर are लगाना गलत है, सही Verb is होगा।
2. Either the accountant or the clerks (a) / has committed the fraud (b) / in the audit report. (c) / No error (d) [IBPS PO] a) Either the accountant or the clerks b) has committed the fraud c) in the audit report d) No error
Answer: b) has committed the fraud
Explanation (English): In either... or structures, the verb agrees with the closer subject (clerks, plural). Replace has with have.
समझाएं (Hindi - Std 8 level): Either... or नियम के अनुसार Verb के सबसे पास वाले Noun (clerks) को देखा जाएगा। चूंकि clerks बहुवचन है, इसलिए has की जगह have आएगा।
3. The majority of the members (a) / favors the new amendment (b) / proposed by the chairman. (c) / No error (d) [UPSC CSAT] a) The majority of the members b) favors the new amendment c) proposed by the chairman d) No error
Answer: b) favors the new amendment
Explanation (English): When majority refers to countable individuals (members), it functions as a plural subject requiring a plural verb (favor).
समझाएं (Hindi - Std 8 level): यहाँ majority शब्द का प्रयोग सदस्यों (members) की गिनती के लिए हो रहा है, जो Plural हैं। इसलिए Verb भी Plural यानी favor होगी।
4. Every man and every woman (a) / in the village were invited (b) / to the community feast. (c) / No error (d) [CDS] a) Every man and every woman b) in the village were invited c) to the community feast d) No error
Answer: b) in the village were invited
Explanation (English): When subjects joined by and are preceded by every or each, the verb strictly remains singular (was invited).
समझाएं (Hindi – Std 8 level): जब Nouns के आगे Every लग जाता है, तो and से जुड़े होने के बावजूद वाक्य Singular ही रहता है। इसलिए were की जगह was आएगा।
5. There is many options available (a) / for students pursuing (b) / higher education in science. (c) / No error (d) [RRB NTPC] a) There is many options available b) for students pursuing c) higher education in science d) No error
Answer: a) There is many options available
Explanation (English): In sentences beginning with There, the subject follows the verb. Since many options is plural, the verb must be are.
समझाएं (Hindi - Std 8 level): There से शुरू होने वाले वाक्यों में असली Subject बाद में आता है। यहाँ असली Subject many options (बहुवचन) है, इसलिए is की जगह are आएगा।
Section 7 – Practice Worksheet
Test your concepts with our interactive online practice module. It contains 20 exam-realistic questions spanning all difficulty levels with detailed step-by-step solutions and instant scoring.
[PRACTICE WORKSHEET WILL BE EMBEDDED HERE]
Section 8 – Exam-wise Quick Strategy
SSC (CGL / CHSL / MTS): Focus on prepositional phrases intervening between subject and verb, one of the structures, and each/every rules. Solve each SVA question in under 12–15 seconds.
Banking (IBPS PO / SBI PO / Clerk): Look out for long clauses separating subject and verb, either... or proximity rules, and fractional/percentage expressions (a/the number of). Allocate 20 seconds per question.
UPSC / CAT / CLAT: Pay close attention to relative clauses starting with who/which/that, split collective nouns, and subtle inverted subject-verb orders. Take up to 30 seconds to parse the clause framework.
Defence / Railways / State PSC: Expect direct rule checks on titles, subjects ending in -s, distances/amounts, and basic correlative conjunction pairs (neither... nor). Aim to clear these in 10 seconds flat.
For the complete exam-wise strategy guide, download our full PDF notes on this topic – link below.
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