SPI English · Grammar
Agreement and Conjunctions
A verb must match its real subject in number, and a conjunction is the joining word whose meaning decides how two ideas fit together.
Why this matters
Eight questions in the bank: 6 EASY and 2 MODERATE, and one is from the 2022 paper. Three ask which verb agrees with a tricky subject; five ask you to spot, count or choose a joining word.
Concept 1 of 3: Finding the real subject before choosing the verb
Long subjects hide the one word the verb must agree with. Cover up the extra words, find that word, and ask whether it is one thing or many.
Definition
- A singular subject takes a singular verb (is, was, has); a plural subject takes a plural verb (are, were, have).
- Words added with along with, as well as, together with, with do not change the number: the verb follows the first subject.
- With neither ... nor and either ... or, the verb agrees with the subject nearer to it.
- Two subjects joined by and take a plural verb.
- Uncountable nouns such as furniture, news, information, luggage and advice are singular.
| Subject pattern | Verb follows | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A as well as B | A, the first subject | The teacher, as well as her pupils, was excited. |
| Neither A nor B | B, the nearer subject | Neither my brother nor my parents were at home. |
| Either A or B | B, the nearer subject | Either the boys or their father has the key. |
| A and B | plural | Ravi and Meena are cousins. |
| Each, every, everyone | singular | Every student has a locker. |
| Uncountable noun | singular | The news is good. |
Cover the words between commas and the verb's real subject is left standing.
Practice this conceptself-check · 5 quick reps
The same idea in a real exam question:
SPI · 2022 · SPI Entrance Examination 2022 · Q141Easy
Example 1 · Grammar · Agreement and Conjunctions
Next five questions have a word or a group of words underlined. Three alternatives are suggested for this underlined word or the group of the words. Choose the most appropriate alternative to improve the sentence. If there is no improvement then choose (d).
The player alongwith his supporters were sent to the hall.
Letting the nearest plural noun choose the verb
In 'The leader with his followers', the verb follows 'leader', not 'followers'. Only neither ... nor and either ... or use the nearer subject.
Treating furniture or news as plural
Furniture, news, luggage and information have no plural form. They always take a singular verb: 'The luggage is heavy.'
Concept 2 of 3: Conjunctions and what each one means
A conjunction joins words or whole sentences, and each one carries a meaning: adding, contrasting, choosing, giving a reason, a result, a condition or a time. Prepositions and determiners look similar but join nothing.
Definition
- A conjunction joins two words, phrases or clauses: and, but, or, so, because, if, though, although, unless, till, until, than, when, while.
- A preposition (on, at, through, under, with) sits before a noun and joins no clauses.
- A determiner or pronoun (some, many, this) is not a conjunction.
- An interjection (hurrah, alas, oh) shows a feeling and joins nothing.
| Conjunction | Job | Example |
|---|---|---|
| and | adds | She cooked and I washed up. |
| but, though | contrasts | He is rich but unhappy. |
| or | offers a choice | Will you walk or take the bus? |
| so | gives a result | It was late, so we left. |
| because, as | gives a reason | We stayed in because it was cold. |
| if, unless | gives a condition | Call me if you need help. |
| till, until, when | gives a time | Wait until the bell rings. |
| than | compares | She is taller than her sister. |
To test a word, try joining two short sentences with it. If it cannot join them, it is not a conjunction.
Practice this conceptself-check · 5 quick reps
The same idea in a practice question:
Practice questionModerate
Example 2 · Grammar · Agreement and Conjunctions
From the list given below find out the number of conjunctions mentioned.
Shambhavi, and, on, jump, if, so, through, though, hurrah, amazing, at
Counting prepositions as conjunctions
On, at, through and under are prepositions: they come before a noun. Through and though look alike, but only though is a conjunction.
Mixing up than and then
Than compares ('taller than') and is a conjunction. Then means 'after that' and is an adverb of time.
Concept 3 of 3: Joining two sentences with the right conjunction
Before you join two sentences, decide how they are related. If the second adds to the first, use and; if it goes against it, use but; if it follows from it, use so.
Definition
- Decide the link: addition (and), contrast (but), result (so), reason (because, as), choice (or).
- Keep both verbs in the same tense unless the meaning changes.
- Do not change the facts: a conjunction such as neither ... nor or as can add a meaning the two sentences never had.
Worked example
Join with a conjunction: The road was wet. We drove slowly.
Practice this conceptself-check · 4 quick reps
The same idea in a practice question:
Practice questionEasy
Example 3 · Grammar · Agreement and Conjunctions
There was a table in the room. There were no chairs in the room. (conjunction)
Joining a contrast with 'and'
'And' only adds. When the second fact goes against the first, the joining word is 'but'.
Changing the tense while joining
Two past actions stay past: 'bought a pen and gave it away', not 'bought a pen and give it away'.
Summary — formulas & gotchas at a glance
A revision cheat-sheet for the formulas and gotchas above. Click any concept name to jump back to its full explanation.
Reference tables (2)
Finding the real subject before choosing the verb6 rows
| Subject pattern | Verb follows | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A as well as B | A, the first subject | The teacher, as well as her pupils, was excited. |
| Neither A nor B | B, the nearer subject | Neither my brother nor my parents were at home. |
| Either A or B | B, the nearer subject | Either the boys or their father has the key. |
| A and B | plural | Ravi and Meena are cousins. |
| Each, every, everyone | singular | Every student has a locker. |
| Uncountable noun | singular | The news is good. |
Cover the words between commas and the verb's real subject is left standing.
Conjunctions and what each one means8 rows
| Conjunction | Job | Example |
|---|---|---|
| and | adds | She cooked and I washed up. |
| but, though | contrasts | He is rich but unhappy. |
| or | offers a choice | Will you walk or take the bus? |
| so | gives a result | It was late, so we left. |
| because, as | gives a reason | We stayed in because it was cold. |
| if, unless | gives a condition | Call me if you need help. |
| till, until, when | gives a time | Wait until the bell rings. |
| than | compares | She is taller than her sister. |
To test a word, try joining two short sentences with it. If it cannot join them, it is not a conjunction.
Watch out for (6)
- Letting the nearest plural noun choose the verb→ Finding the real subject before choosing the verb
- Treating furniture or news as plural→ Finding the real subject before choosing the verb
- Counting prepositions as conjunctions→ Conjunctions and what each one means
- Mixing up than and then→ Conjunctions and what each one means
- Joining a contrast with 'and'→ Joining two sentences with the right conjunction
- Changing the tense while joining→ Joining two sentences with the right conjunction
Test yourself on a real paper
Sit a past SPI paper, timed and marked the way the exam marks it. You see your score and every answer the moment you finish. Free to start.