Living English

L-10Subject- Verb Agreement

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqIJnvl9pL0

A verb must agree with its subject in number and person

Plural

1. Two or more singular subjects joined by ‘and’ take a plural verb.

E.g.:- Ashok and Raman have

passed

Singular

1. If two or more subjects joined by ‘and’ represent one idea or one person then it takes singular verb.

E.g.:- Slow and steady wins the race.

Plural Singular

2. If article is used more than once then two nouns refer to the different person then take plural verb.

E.g.:- A poet and a philosopher are dead.

2. If article is used once for two or more nouns refer to the same person then take singular verb.

E.g.:- The poet and philosopher are is

dead.

Plural Singular

3. Noun or pronoun joined with ‘or’ / ‘nor’ if second noun is plural it takes plural verb.

E.g. John or his brothers are wrong.

3. Singular nouns joined with ‘or’ / ‘nor takes singular verb

E.g. John or his brother is wrong.

Plural Singular4. Either/ neither + plural subject take plural verb

E.g. Either Ashok or his brothers are wrong.

4. Either neither with singular subject take singular verb

E.g. Either Ashok or his brother is wrong

• Two nouns joined with as well as / with take singular verb

E.g. 1)King with his followers was shot dead.

2)Ashok as well as Raman is going to join the camp

Some Singular Nouns

• Each / every / any / any one

• The quality / the cost

• One third

• A thousand rupees

• Four weeks

• One of the

Etc.

Ex. 29 In each of the following supply a verb in agreement with its subject.

1) One of the pupils in our class owns a car. (owns/own)

2) Ten Kilometers is a ling way to walk.( is/are)3) None of the boys has bought their books

yet.(has/have)4) The cost of all these articles has risen.(has/have)5) One of the workers was killed in the

explosion.(was/were)6) Most of the workers are still under the

suspension.(is/are)

7) Each of these minerals is found in India.(is/are)

8) No sound but their own voices wereheard.(was/were)

9) Marathi as well as English is taught in our school.(is/are)

10) Every shop and every restaurant wasclosed.(was/were)

11) Many an attempt has been made to climb Everest.(has/have)

12) Twenty thousand rupees is a large um of money.(is/are)

13) One of his sisters is studying in college. (is/are)

14) Vegetable prices have gone up.(have/has)

15) Neither of two girls is eligible for the scholarship.(is/are)

Ex. 30 Fill in the blanks with one of the two verbs given in the bracket.

1) Not one of her children is intelligent. (is, are)

2) A knowledge of modern languages isessentials. (is, are)

3) Neither of the explanations is correct. (is, are)

4) A large number of people were killed in the riots. (was, were)

5) The long and the short of the matter is this. (is, are)

6) Half of the cake is already eaten. (is, are)

7) A list of weak boys in our class has been prepared. (has, have)

8) This is the only one of his novels that is worth reading. (is, are)

9) Raman and not you has on the prize. (has, have)

10) She is one of the noblest women that haveever lived. (has, have)

11) The dacoit, with his followers, was shot dead. (was, were)

12) Neither the boy nor his brother is to blame. (is, are)

13) Kindness as well as justice requires this. (requires, require)

14) Bread and butter is his favourite food. (is, are)

15) The majority of voters do not know the value of their votes. (does, do)

Ex. 32 Complete the following sentences, using ‘is’ or ‘are’.

1) All the student of this class are going to take the test.

2) Both Mary and Tom are fond of music.

3) Mathematics is my favourite subject.

4) Measles is an infectious disease.

5) Is either of these pens yours.

6) The news is too good to be true.

7) A hundred pounds is not a lot of money today.

8) The herd of horses is worth a lot of money.

9) Either George or Peter is going to accompany us.

10) The pair of scissors is not very sharp.

11) This knife is very sharp.

12) The police is looking for you.

13) My trousers are torn.

14) None of the students is standing.

15) Neither of the teachers is in the classroom.

16) The Outcastes is a good movie.

17) The mother of these children is not rich.

18) Politics is his main interest.

19) Physics is an interesting subject to study.

20) Everyone of these things is new.