Lesson 2
Subject–Verb Agreement: Indefinite Pronouns and 'One of' Patterns
This lesson groups five rules that students commonly confuse because they look similar on the surface. Find the true subject before looking at the verb. Work through the examples slowly once; speed comes after the pattern is clear.
What you will learn
- Understand and apply: With 'or/nor', agree with the nearer subject.
- Understand and apply: 'Each' and 'every' make a subject singular.
- Understand and apply: 'Each of' and 'every one of' take singular verbs.
- Understand and apply: 'Either' and 'neither' alone are usually singular.
- Understand and apply: 'One of + plural noun' takes a singular verb.
For every rule: spot the trigger → identify the grammatical relationship → apply the form → check meaning.
Before you start
Try the warm-up without checking the rule. The purpose is to expose the instinct you currently use, not to score marks.
Which sentence follows the target grammar pattern?
A. Neither the teachers nor the principal is available today.
B. Neither the teachers nor the principal are available today.
Answer: A. When subjects are joined by or, either...or, or neither...nor, the verb generally agrees with the subject nearest to it.
Rule 1 · G006
With 'or/nor', agree with the nearer subject
When subjects are joined by or, either...or, or neither...nor, the verb generally agrees with the subject nearest to it.
Correct example
Neither the teachers nor the principal is available today.
Incorrect example
Neither the teachers nor the principal are available today.
Interpretation
When subjects are joined by or, either...or, or neither...nor, the verb generally agrees with the subject nearest to it. In a test, do not memorise this as an isolated sentence. Find the true subject before looking at the verb. The correct example shows the pattern in context; compare it directly with the incorrect version and identify the exact word that must change.
Why it matters
Agreement errors are easy to hide inside long CAT/XAT-style sentences because the true subject may be far from the verb.
Common exam trap
The examiner places a plural noun closer to the verb than the actual singular subject, or vice versa.
How to spot it
Box the finite verb, then ask which noun actually controls it. Ignore nearby nouns that belong inside phrases.
3-step solving method
- Find the finite verb.
- Find its true subject, ignoring embedded phrases.
- Match singular/plural number.
Why the incorrect example fails
The target structure requires this rule: When subjects are joined by or, either...or, or neither...nor, the verb generally agrees with the subject nearest to it. In the incorrect version, the repair is to replace “are” with “is”. That is the exact edit a student should be able to justify in an error-spotting question.
Nuance and memory hook
If the sentence has a long phrase between subject and verb, temporarily cross that phrase out and test the shorter sentence.
OR/NOR: look right before the verb — the nearer subject usually controls agreement.
Quick check
Without relying on what 'sounds right', explain which part of this sentence violates the rule: “Neither the teachers nor the principal are available today.”
Reveal quick check answer
Apply With 'or/nor', agree with the nearer subject: When subjects are joined by or, either...or, or neither...nor, the verb generally agrees with the subject nearest to it.
Practice questions
Apply the rule in context
Which sentence is the better choice in standard exam-oriented English?
Explain the error rather than guessing by sound
Why is this sentence problematic in the target rule? “Neither the teachers nor the principal are available today.”
Rule 2 · G007
'Each' and 'every' make a subject singular
A noun modified by each or every is treated as singular for agreement.
Correct example
Every mock test reveals a different weakness.
Incorrect example
Every mock test reveal a different weakness.
Interpretation
A noun modified by each or every is treated as singular for agreement. In a test, do not memorise this as an isolated sentence. Find the true subject before looking at the verb. The correct example shows the pattern in context; compare it directly with the incorrect version and identify the exact word that must change.
Why it matters
Agreement errors are easy to hide inside long CAT/XAT-style sentences because the true subject may be far from the verb.
Common exam trap
The examiner places a plural noun closer to the verb than the actual singular subject, or vice versa.
How to spot it
Box the finite verb, then ask which noun actually controls it. Ignore nearby nouns that belong inside phrases.
3-step solving method
- Find the finite verb.
- Find its true subject, ignoring embedded phrases.
- Match singular/plural number.
Why the incorrect example fails
The target structure requires this rule: A noun modified by each or every is treated as singular for agreement. In the incorrect version, the repair is to replace “reveal” with “reveals”. That is the exact edit a student should be able to justify in an error-spotting question.
Nuance and memory hook
If the sentence has a long phrase between subject and verb, temporarily cross that phrase out and test the shorter sentence.
EACH = one at a time.
Quick check
Without relying on what 'sounds right', explain which part of this sentence violates the rule: “Every mock test reveal a different weakness.”
Reveal quick check answer
Apply 'Each' and 'every' make a subject singular: A noun modified by each or every is treated as singular for agreement.
Practice questions
Apply the rule in context
Which sentence is the better choice in standard exam-oriented English?
Explain the error rather than guessing by sound
Why is this sentence problematic in the target rule? “Every mock test reveal a different weakness.”
Rule 3 · G008
'Each of' and 'every one of' take singular verbs
The head word each/every one is singular even when followed by a plural noun.
Correct example
Each of the passages requires careful reading.
Incorrect example
Each of the passages require careful reading.
Interpretation
The head word each/every one is singular even when followed by a plural noun. In a test, do not memorise this as an isolated sentence. Find the true subject before looking at the verb. The correct example shows the pattern in context; compare it directly with the incorrect version and identify the exact word that must change.
Why it matters
Agreement errors are easy to hide inside long CAT/XAT-style sentences because the true subject may be far from the verb.
Common exam trap
The examiner places a plural noun closer to the verb than the actual singular subject, or vice versa.
How to spot it
Box the finite verb, then ask which noun actually controls it. Ignore nearby nouns that belong inside phrases.
3-step solving method
- Find the finite verb.
- Find its true subject, ignoring embedded phrases.
- Match singular/plural number.
Why the incorrect example fails
The target structure requires this rule: The head word each/every one is singular even when followed by a plural noun. In the incorrect version, the repair is to replace “require” with “requires”. That is the exact edit a student should be able to justify in an error-spotting question.
Nuance and memory hook
If the sentence has a long phrase between subject and verb, temporarily cross that phrase out and test the shorter sentence.
EACH = one at a time.
Quick check
Without relying on what 'sounds right', explain which part of this sentence violates the rule: “Each of the passages require careful reading.”
Reveal quick check answer
Apply 'Each of' and 'every one of' take singular verbs: The head word each/every one is singular even when followed by a plural noun.
Practice questions
Apply the rule in context
Which sentence is the better choice in standard exam-oriented English?
Explain the error rather than guessing by sound
Why is this sentence problematic in the target rule? “Each of the passages require careful reading.”
Rule 4 · G009
'Either' and 'neither' alone are usually singular
When either or neither is the subject by itself, formal standard English normally uses a singular verb.
Correct example
Neither of the answers is convincing.
Incorrect example
Neither of the answers are convincing.
Interpretation
When either or neither is the subject by itself, formal standard English normally uses a singular verb. In a test, do not memorise this as an isolated sentence. Find the true subject before looking at the verb. The correct example shows the pattern in context; compare it directly with the incorrect version and identify the exact word that must change.
Why it matters
Agreement errors are easy to hide inside long CAT/XAT-style sentences because the true subject may be far from the verb.
Common exam trap
The examiner places a plural noun closer to the verb than the actual singular subject, or vice versa.
How to spot it
Box the finite verb, then ask which noun actually controls it. Ignore nearby nouns that belong inside phrases.
3-step solving method
- Find the finite verb.
- Find its true subject, ignoring embedded phrases.
- Match singular/plural number.
Why the incorrect example fails
The target structure requires this rule: When either or neither is the subject by itself, formal standard English normally uses a singular verb. In the incorrect version, the repair is to replace “are” with “is”. That is the exact edit a student should be able to justify in an error-spotting question.
Nuance and memory hook
Plural agreement is increasingly common in informal speech after 'neither/either of + plural noun', but formal tests often expect singular agreement.
When either or neither is the subject by itself, formal standard English normally uses a singular verb.
Quick check
Without relying on what 'sounds right', explain which part of this sentence violates the rule: “Neither of the answers are convincing.”
Reveal quick check answer
Apply 'Either' and 'neither' alone are usually singular: When either or neither is the subject by itself, formal standard English normally uses a singular verb.
Practice questions
Apply the rule in context
Which sentence is the better choice in standard exam-oriented English?
Explain the error rather than guessing by sound
Why is this sentence problematic in the target rule? “Neither of the answers are convincing.”
Rule 5 · G010
'One of + plural noun' takes a singular verb
In one of the..., the grammatical subject is one, so the main verb is singular.
Correct example
One of the candidates has withdrawn.
Incorrect example
One of the candidates have withdrawn.
Interpretation
In one of the..., the grammatical subject is one, so the main verb is singular. In a test, do not memorise this as an isolated sentence. Find the true subject before looking at the verb. The correct example shows the pattern in context; compare it directly with the incorrect version and identify the exact word that must change.
Why it matters
Agreement errors are easy to hide inside long CAT/XAT-style sentences because the true subject may be far from the verb.
Common exam trap
The examiner places a plural noun closer to the verb than the actual singular subject, or vice versa.
How to spot it
Box the finite verb, then ask which noun actually controls it. Ignore nearby nouns that belong inside phrases.
3-step solving method
- Find the finite verb.
- Find its true subject, ignoring embedded phrases.
- Match singular/plural number.
Why the incorrect example fails
The target structure requires this rule: In one of the..., the grammatical subject is one, so the main verb is singular. In the incorrect version, the repair is to replace “have” with “has”. That is the exact edit a student should be able to justify in an error-spotting question.
Nuance and memory hook
If the sentence has a long phrase between subject and verb, temporarily cross that phrase out and test the shorter sentence.
In one of the.
Quick check
Without relying on what 'sounds right', explain which part of this sentence violates the rule: “One of the candidates have withdrawn.”
Reveal quick check answer
Apply 'One of + plural noun' takes a singular verb: In one of the..., the grammatical subject is one, so the main verb is singular.
Practice questions
Apply the rule in context
Which sentence is the better choice in standard exam-oriented English?
Explain the error rather than guessing by sound