7 structures · CEFR A2–B2
English subject verb agreement
Agreement is the parts of a sentence matching: a singular subject takes a singular verb. It sounds trivial and it is the most frequently broken rule in written Indian English, because the subject and the verb are often separated by several words and the agreement gets attached to the nearest noun instead of to the real subject. This family also covers how English says no — one negative per clause, never two.
Common agreement & negation mistakes
Every one of these is a sentence Indian-English speakers genuinely produce — not a textbook example.
| Commonly said | Correct English |
|---|---|
The list of items are ready. | The list of items is ready. The subject is "the list", not "items". Subject–verb agreement → |
The manager, along with two staff, were present. | The manager, along with two staff, was present. The subject is still "the manager" alone. When the subject is far away → |
Everybody have finished. | Everybody has finished. "Everybody" is singular, so the verb is "has". each, every, everyone → |
Neither the manager nor the staff was informed. | Neither the manager nor the staff were informed. "Staff" is nearest to the verb, so the verb matches it. either / neither / or → |
The police is looking for him. | The police are looking for him. "Police" has no singular form and always takes a plural verb. The team is / are → |
I didn't tell nobody. | I did not tell anybody. Two negatives cancel out — the second one becomes "anybody". no, not, none, never → |
All the students did not pass, so nobody passed. | Not all the students passed, but most did. "All … did not" is ambiguous — for "some did not", put the "not" first. not all, not always → |
All 7 agreement & negation structures
Grouped by CEFR band so you can start where you actually are, rather than at the top.
A2 · Everyday
1 structure at this level.
B1 · Independent
2 structures at this level.
B2 · Confident
4 structures at this level.
Dimmed tiles are structures whose example bank is still being written. The explanation and the mistake are there; the sentences are not, yet.
Reading it is not the same as saying it.
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