Rule 1 : Indefinite pronouns
The indefinite pronouns anyone, everyone, someone, noone, nobody are always singular and therefore, require singular verbs.
Examples:
Everyone has done his/her homework. Everyone is category of indefinte pronouns so this subject is Singular so the verb is must be singular too.
Somebody has left her purse
Nobody is in the room
But in this rule we have some exception that sometimes make us confused to choose the subject is singular or plural. This is the Exception.....
exception 1: All & some
some indefinite pronouns such as all, some are singular or plural depending on what they're referring to. (Is the thing referred to countable or not?)
Examples:
Some of the books are missing.
Some of the water is gone.
exception 2: none
None can be singular or plural depending on the noun that follows.
Examples:
None of the students are in the class.
None of the food is fresh.
special case: Each
Each is always singular. Don't be confused/distracted with the plural nouns following it.
ex:
Each of the students is responsible for his/her homework
Each of the cars has different color.
Rule 2: Together with, as well as, along with.
Phrases such as Together with, as well as, along with are not the same as and. They don't add or compound the subject. Compound subject is use plural verb.
Examples:
The mayor, as well as his brothers, is going to prison.
The mayor and his brothers are going to jail.
My friends, together with Rani, are at school.(depending on subject subject in this sentence is my friends. My friends(Plural subject) are followed by plural verb too )
Additional explanation
Sometimes, the subject is separated from the verb by word such as along with, as well as, besides, or not. Ignore these expressions when determining whether to use a singular or plural verb,
Examples:
The politician, along with the newsmen, is expected shortly.
Excitement, as well as nervousness, is teh cause of her shaking.
Rule 3: Subject separated from the verb / appositives
Sometimes modifiers will get between a subject and its verb, but these modifiers must not confuse the agreement between the subject and its verb.
Examples:
The mayor who has been convicted along with his four brothers on four counts of various crimes but who also seems, like a cat, to have several polotical lives, is finally going to jail.
Rule 4: The pronouns of adjective clause
Sometimes the pronoun Who, That or Which is the subject of a verb in the middle of the sentences. The pronouns Who, That, and Which become singular or plural according to the noun directly in front of them. So, if that noun is singular, use a singular verb. If its plural subjects, use a plural verb.
Examples:
Salma is the scientist who writes the reports
He is one of the men who does the work.
Rule 5: Either + Or and Neither + nor
Or doesn't conjoin (as and does): when Nor or Or is used the subject closer to the verb determines the number of the verb. Whether the subject comes before or after the verb doesn'r matter:
Examples:
Either my father or my brothers are going to sell the house.
Neither my brothers nor my father is going to sell the house
Are either my brothrs or my father responsible?
Is either my father or my brothers responsible?
Pronouns: Either and neither
The pronouns neither and either are singular and require seingular verbs even though the seem to be referring, isn sense, to two things.
Examples:
Neither of the two traffic lights is working.
Either of us is capable of doing the job
Rule 6 : Pseudo Subject
The words there and here are never subjects. The real subjects come after the verbs.
Example
There are two reasons(Plural Subject two reasons) for this
There is no reason for this
Here are two apples
Here is the key
Rule 7 : Third Party Singular (He , She , It , Personal Name)
Verb in the present tense for third person , singular subjects have s-endings. Other verbs do not add s-endings.
Example :
She teaches english(Singular subject so we use s-endings).
Rani teaches english
The cat eats fish
It eats fish
But when the verb have change it to has because the subject is singular Example
He has good personality
It has beautiful fur
