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Free SSC English lesson

SSC English Subject–Verb Agreement

Find the subject. Match the verb.

The form of a finite verb often depends on its subject. A nearby plural noun can distract you from a singular subject, and an ending such as -s does not always mean that a noun is plural. Read the whole subject before choosing the verb.

Foundation to intermediate12 original questions20–25 minutes suggested study time

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What you will learn

  • Identify the head of a subject phrase.
  • Match singular and plural subjects with suitable verb forms.
  • Handle common patterns with each, everyone, pair and number.

Locate the subject

Ask who or what the clause is about.

Find its head

Separate the main noun or pronoun from describing phrases.

Check the verb group

Agreement may appear in an auxiliary such as is, are, has or have.

Reread the clause

Keep the intended time and complete the whole sentence.

Understand before you answer

The rules and clues to remember

A describing phrase does not become the subject head

In the label on these boxes, the head is label. The phrase on these boxes describes it. A plural noun inside that phrase does not make label plural.

SingularThe label on these boxes is faded.
PluralThe labels on this box are faded.

Remember: Do not match the verb to the nearest noun without checking its role.

Each and everyone are singular in these patterns

Each followed by a singular noun and the pronoun everyone take singular agreement in the standard written patterns taught here.

EachEach applicant receives a number.
EveryoneEveryone has a place to sit.

Remember: Everyone means all the people, but its grammatical agreement is singular.

A pair is different from the items in it

A pair of gloves has singular pair as its head. Scissors is normally treated as plural when it names the tool without a singular pair expression.

PairA pair of scissors is in the drawer.
ToolThese scissors are sharp.

Remember: Read whether the subject is pair or scissors.

Number has two common patterns

The number of counts how many there are and takes singular agreement. A number of usually means several and takes plural agreement with the plural noun following it.

CountThe number of requests has increased.
SeveralA number of requests have arrived.

Remember: Do not transfer the agreement of one expression to the other.

Keep ordinary meaning and standard written usage in view

News is normally uncountable and takes singular agreement. In standard written existential clauses, there are introduces a plural noun phrase. Collective nouns such as team can allow different agreement depending on meaning and variety; this practice avoids making those alternatives compete.

NewsThe news is welcome.
Existential clauseThere are two gates beside the office.

Remember: A spelling ending and a memorised shortcut cannot replace the actual construction.

See the reasoning

Two worked examples

Example 1

Complete: The colour of the curtains ___ too dark. Options: is / are / be / have.

Answeris

Colour is the singular head of the subject. Curtains belongs to the of-phrase. Are does not agree with colour; be is not a finite present form here; have does not complete this description.

Example 2

Complete: A number of visitors ___ asked for a map. Options: have / has / is / be.

Answerhave

A number of visitors means several visitors, so have agrees with the plural group and forms have asked. Has gives singular agreement; is asked changes the construction and does not agree; be is not a finite form here.

Try it yourself

12 questions, with every choice explained

Choose the form that completes each sentence in standard written English. Keep the stated meaning and tense. These items avoid treating acceptable collective-noun alternatives as errors.

Write down A, B, C or D before opening each answer. Work at your own pace. These exercises use no exam timer or negative marking.

Question 1 · Singular head

The bouquet of yellow flowers ___ fresh.

  1. A.smells
  2. B.smell
  3. C.smelling
  4. D.to smell
Show answer and explanations for question 1

Answer A: smells

Completed textThe bouquet of yellow flowers smells fresh.
  1. Correct. Smells agrees with singular bouquet and completes the present-tense clause.
  2. Not correct. Smell does not agree with singular bouquet in this affirmative present-tense clause.
  3. Not correct. Smelling alone does not supply the finite verb needed here.
  4. Not correct. To smell is an infinitive and cannot serve as the finite verb here.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 2 · Plural head

The keys to the storage cabin ___ missing.

  1. A.has
  2. B.is
  3. C.are
  4. D.be
Show answer and explanations for question 2

Answer C: are

Completed textThe keys to the storage cabin are missing.
  1. Not correct. Has neither agrees with keys nor completes the intended description before missing.
  2. Not correct. Is disagrees with plural keys.
  3. Correct. Are agrees with the plural head keys.
  4. Not correct. Be is a base form, not the finite form required in this clause.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 3 · Each

Each ticket ___ a unique code.

  1. A.have
  2. B.has
  3. C.having
  4. D.be
Show answer and explanations for question 3

Answer B: has

Completed textEach ticket has a unique code.
  1. Not correct. Have does not agree with each ticket in this affirmative clause.
  2. Correct. Has agrees with singular each ticket and expresses possession.
  3. Not correct. Having does not supply the finite verb required here.
  4. Not correct. Be does not express the intended possession or provide the required finite present form.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 4 · Everyone

Everyone in the workshop ___ a safety badge.

  1. A.to need
  2. B.need
  3. C.needing
  4. D.needs
Show answer and explanations for question 4

Answer D: needs

Completed textEveryone in the workshop needs a safety badge.
  1. Not correct. To need is an infinitive, not the finite verb required here.
  2. Not correct. Need does not agree with everyone in this affirmative present-tense clause.
  3. Not correct. Needing is an -ing form and does not supply the finite verb.
  4. Correct. Needs agrees with the singular pronoun everyone.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 5 · Two people joined by and

Describe their current routine: Rahul and Sita ___ in the archive every weekday.

  1. A.working
  2. B.works
  3. C.work
  4. D.to work
Show answer and explanations for question 5

Answer C: work

Completed textRahul and Sita work in the archive every weekday.
  1. Not correct. Working alone does not form the finite present-simple verb.
  2. Not correct. Works is the third-person singular form, but this subject names two people.
  3. Correct. Rahul and Sita names two people, so work gives plural present-simple agreement.
  4. Not correct. To work is an infinitive and cannot complete this main clause on its own.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 6 · A pair of

A pair of woollen gloves ___ on the chair.

  1. A.is
  2. B.are
  3. C.have
  4. D.be
Show answer and explanations for question 6

Answer A: is

Completed textA pair of woollen gloves is on the chair.
  1. Correct. Is agrees with singular pair, the head of the subject.
  2. Not correct. Are would agree with gloves alone, but the subject head is pair.
  3. Not correct. Have does not agree with pair and does not complete the intended location statement.
  4. Not correct. Be is not the finite present form needed here.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 7 · Plural tool noun

These scissors ___ blunt.

  1. A.be
  2. B.is
  3. C.was
  4. D.are
Show answer and explanations for question 7

Answer D: are

Completed textThese scissors are blunt.
  1. Not correct. Be is a base form rather than the finite form needed here.
  2. Not correct. Is is singular and disagrees with these scissors.
  3. Not correct. Was is also singular and does not agree with these scissors.
  4. Correct. Are agrees with plural these scissors.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 8 · Uncountable news

The news about the repairs ___ encouraging.

  1. A.are
  2. B.is
  3. C.have
  4. D.be
Show answer and explanations for question 8

Answer B: is

Completed textThe news about the repairs is encouraging.
  1. Not correct. Are gives plural agreement, which does not fit news here.
  2. Correct. News is normally uncountable and takes singular is in this use.
  3. Not correct. Have neither gives the required agreement nor completes this description.
  4. Not correct. Be is not the finite present form required here.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 9 · The number of

The number of errors in the latest draft ___ fallen.

  1. A.has
  2. B.have
  3. C.are
  4. D.be
Show answer and explanations for question 9

Answer A: has

Completed textThe number of errors in the latest draft has fallen.
  1. Correct. The number is the singular subject head, so has forms the present perfect has fallen.
  2. Not correct. Have wrongly agrees with errors rather than the number.
  3. Not correct. Are fallen does not form the required present-perfect construction and gives plural agreement.
  4. Not correct. Be does not provide the finite perfect auxiliary needed here.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 10 · A number of

A number of lamps ___ failed during the test.

  1. A.be
  2. B.has
  3. C.is
  4. D.have
Show answer and explanations for question 10

Answer D: have

Completed textA number of lamps have failed during the test.
  1. Not correct. Be is not a finite perfect auxiliary in this construction.
  2. Not correct. Has gives singular agreement rather than the plural agreement used with a number of lamps.
  3. Not correct. Is does not agree with lamps or form the required present-perfect group.
  4. Correct. A number of lamps means several lamps, so have gives plural agreement in have failed.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 11 · There are

In standard written English: There ___ three sealed envelopes on the desk.

  1. A.is
  2. B.are
  3. C.has
  4. D.be
Show answer and explanations for question 11

Answer B: are

Completed textThere are three sealed envelopes on the desk.
  1. Not correct. Is gives singular agreement; the question asks for standard written agreement with the plural noun phrase.
  2. Correct. Are matches the plural noun phrase three sealed envelopes in this existential clause.
  3. Not correct. Has does not form this existential location statement.
  4. Not correct. Be is a base form, not the finite form required here.
Review the method ↑Next question ↓

Question 12 · Subject with a relative clause

The researcher who studies migratory birds ___ published a report.

  1. A.are
  2. B.have
  3. C.has
  4. D.being
Show answer and explanations for question 12

Answer C: has

Completed textThe researcher who studies migratory birds has published a report.
  1. Not correct. Are gives plural agreement and does not form the present perfect required before published here.
  2. Not correct. Have wrongly gives plural agreement to singular researcher.
  3. Correct. Has agrees with singular researcher; the relative clause does not change the main subject.
  4. Not correct. Being does not supply the finite perfect auxiliary needed here.
Review the method ↑Review your learning ↓

Make the learning stick

Review what changed your answer

  1. Underline the subject head before looking at the options again.
  2. Write the complete sentence and explain which word controls agreement.
  3. Compare the number of with a number of in two fresh examples.

Keep a simple note: question number → your reason → the correct rule or evidence → one new example. A mistake is useful when you can explain the correction.

SSC English hub →SSC English Tenses →SSC English Prepositions →Error spotting →

Original ESS learning material. Not official SSC questions or a previous-year paper. ESS is independent of SSC. These are untimed skill lessons, not full exam simulations.

References and exam scope

Scope: CGL 2026 Tier-II, Paper-I, Section-II; CHSL 2026 Tier-I and Tier-II English. These are topic lessons, not complete mocks. These topics are included in the linked SSC examination notices. The lesson wording, examples, passages and questions are original ESS teaching material. Check your exam’s current notice and subsequent corrections for its full syllabus, scoring and timing.

Sources reviewed: 3 November 2026. Study-time estimates are suggestions, not official exam limits.