Subject Verb Concord Advanced

 

Important rules with examples: 

Rule -1 Head of the subject is to be noticed. Error of proximity to be avoided. Head of the subject decides the verb.

Examples : 

1. The people of the village are poor. ( Here 'head of the subject' is 'people')
2. A group of birds is flying. ( Here 'head of the subject' is 'group')
3. The quality of the mangoes was not good. 

Rule -2. Two or more singular nouns or pronouns joined by 'and' require a plural verb. 

Examples : 

1. Gold and silver are precious metals. 
2. Fire and water do not agree. 
3. Knowledge and wisdom have no connection. 

Rule -3. But if the nouns suggest one idea to the mind, or refer to the same person or thing, the verb is singular ; as, 

1. Time and tide waits for no man. 
2. The horse and carriage is at the door. 
3. Bread and butter is his only food. 
4. My friend and benefactor has come. 

Rule- 4. Singular verb after a singular subject with 'as well as', "with", "along with". 

1. The house, with its contents, was insured. 
2. The Mayor, with his councillors, is to be present.
2. The ship, with its crew, was lost.

Rule - 5. If there is 'either', 'or', "neither', 'nor', the verb follows the nearest subject: 

1. Either he or l am mistaken.   
2. Either you or he is mistaken.  
3. Neither he nor they are to blame.

Rule - 6. But when one of the subjects joined by "or" or "nor" is plural, the verb must be plural, and the plural subject should be placed nearest to the verb ; as, 

1. Neither the Chairman nor the directors are present. 

Rule - 7. Two or more singular subjects connected by "or" or "nor" require a singular verb, as

1. No nook or corner was left unexplored. 
2. Our happiness or our sorrow is largely due to our own actions. 
3. Either the cat or the dog has been here. 

Rule - 8. 'Either', 'neither', 'each', 'everyone', 'many a', must be followed by a Singular verb ; as, 

1. He asked me whether either of the applicants was suitable. 
2. Neither of the two men was very strong. 
3. Each of these substances is found in India. 

Rule - 9. Singular verb with indefinite pronouns like 'each', 'either', 'neither', 'other', 'anybody', 'anyone', 'anything', 'somebody', 'someone', 'something', 'everybody', 'everyone', 'everything', 'nobody', 'one' etc.

1. Every boy and every girl was given a packet of sweets. 
2. Each and every criminal will be punished. 
3. Each student and each teacher was given a prize. 
4. Each knows my name. 

Rule - 10. Some nouns which are plural in form, but singular in meaning, take a singular verb; as, 

1. The news is true. 
2. Politics was with him the business of his life. 
3. The wages of sin is death.  
4. Mathematics is a branch of study in every school. 

Rule - 11. Some nouns which are singular in form, but plural in meaning take a plural verb ; as, 

1. According to the present market rate twelve dozen cost one hundred rupees. 
2. The police have caught him. 
3. People are gathering here. 

Rule  12. A Collective noun takes a singular verb when the collection is thought of as one whole; plural verb when the individuals of which it is composed are thought of ; as, 

1. The Committee has issued its report. 
2. The Committee are divided on one minor point.
 

Rule - 13. When the plural noun is a proper name for some single object or some collective unit, it must be followed by a singular verb ; as. 

1. The Arabian Nights is still a great favourite. 
2. The United States has a big navy. 
3. Plutarch's Lives is an interesting book. 
4. Gulliver's Travels was written by Swift. 

Rule - 14. When a plural noun denotes some specific quantity or amount considered as a whole, the verb is generally singular ; as, 

1. Fifteen minutes is allowad to each speaker. 
2. Ten kilometers is a long walk.   
3. Fifty thousand rupees is a large sum. 
4. Three parts of the business is left for me to do. 

Rule 15. The antecedent of the relative pronoun decides the verb

1. It is Mira who has made mistake. 
2. It is I who am to take the decision.  
3. It is you who are to take the decision. 
4. It is he who is to take the decision. 

Rule 16. Infinitive or gerund takes singular verb 

5. To walk is a good exercise. 
6. To swim is good for health. 
7. Walking is a good exercise. 
8. Swimming is good for health. 

Rule 17. Noun clause takes a singular verb:

12. How he stood first is a mystery.   
13. What they did it is not understandable.

Rule 19. If the noun after 'a lot of', a majority of', 's 'a number of' refers to numeral sense, they take plural verb. If they refer to an amount, they take singular verb. 

1. A lot of paper is missing. 
2. A lot of pens are missing. 
3. A majority of water is wasted. 

Rule 20. Indefinite pronouns like 'both', 'few', 'many', 'several' etc are plural:  

1. Both of them have come here. 
2. Both want to win. 
3. Few were left alive. 

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