Andhra Pradesh BIEAP AP Inter 1st Year English Study Material Intermediate 1st Year English Grammar Concord: Agreement of Subject and Verb Questions and Answers.
AP Intermediate 1st Year English Grammar Concord: Agreement of Subject and Verb
Subject verb agreement refers to the fact that the subject noun and noun phrase and verb in a sentence must agree in number. In other words, they both must be singular or they both must be plural. You can’t have a singular subject with a plural verb or vice versa. The tricky part is finding the singular and plural forms of subject nouns and verbs. The following rules can guide you clearly in this regard.
Subject nouns and verbs must agree in number.
The baby cries when he is hungry.
The babies cry when they are hungry.
The words that come between the subject noun and verb do not affect agreement.
The boy who is wearing black jeans, is my best friend.
The boys, who are standing in this line, are my students.
Prepositional phrases between the subject and verb usually do not affect agreement.
The colours of the rainbow are beautiful,
The colour of these walls is dull.
If one of the words “each,” “every,” or “no” comes before the subject noun, the verb is singular. .
No boy or girl is allowed to go out in college timings.
Each of the girls is qualified for the prize.
If two subject nouns are joined by “and,” they typically require a plural verb form.
Ram and Rahim are best friends.
Fruits and Vegetables are the best part of a healthy diet.
But the verb is singular if the two subject nouns are separated by “and,” and refer to the same person or thing.
Bread and Butter is my favourite snack.
My best friend and collegue has come.
If two plural subject nouns or noun phrases are connected by the words “or,” “nor,” “neither … nor,” “either…or,” and “not only … but also” the verb is plural.
Neither girls nor boys are supposed to quit the game in the middle.
Not only my brother’s friends but also my friends are coming to the party.
If one singular subject noun and a plural subject noun are connected by the above mentioned conjunctions, then use the verb form of the subject that is nearer to the verb.
Either my classmates or my brother is waiting for me.
Either my brother or my classmates are waiting for me.
Indefinite pronouns typically take singular verbs.
Someone has taken my pen.
Everybody wants to be loved.
But the pronouns “few”, “many,” “several,” “both,” “all,” and “some” that always take the plural verb.
Few were left alive after the tsunami.
All are invited to the public meeting.
When sentences start with “there” or “here” the subject is not “there” or “here” but always occurs after the verb. So the verb follows that subject.
There are many paths to success.
Here is your book.
Exercise 1
Fill in the blanks choosing the correct alternative from the word in brackets.
1. Four years ____ a long time to spend away from your friends and family. (is / are)
Answer:
is
2. Each and every student and instructor in this programme to be careful. (needs/ need)
Answer:
need
3. One of my best friends coming to my home this weekend. (is / are)
Answer:
is
4. To an outsider, the economics of this country, ____ to be in disarray. (seem / seems)
Answer:
seem
5. Most of the milk ___ gone sour. (has / have)
Answer:
has
6. Six liters of milk ____ still in the refrigerator. (are / is)
Answer:
are
7. Politics ____ sometimes a dirty business. (is / are)
Answer:
is
8. The Prime Minister, together with his wife, ____ the press cordially, (greets, greet)
Answer:
greets
9. The committee ____ these questions carefully. (debates, debate)
Answer:
debates
10. Nobody in the class ___ the answer to this question, (know, knows)
Answer:
knows
11. Every one of those books ____ fiction. (is, are)
Answer:
is
12. Either my mother or my father ____ coming to the meeting. (is, are)
Answer:
is
13. The players, as well as the captain, ____ to win. (want, wants)
Answer:
want
14. Either my books or your bag always on the floor. (is, are)
Answer:
is
15. The girl with the pink ribbon on her hair ____ in our neighbourhood. (lives / live)
Answer:
lives
16. All of the CDs, even the scratched one, ____ in this case, (are /is)
Answer:
are
17. One lakh rupees ____ a lot of money. (is / are)
Answer:
is
18. Mathematics and English ____ my favourite subject, (are / is)
Answer:
are
19. There ____ lions, tigers and bears in the zoo. (are / is)
Answer:
are
20. A box of sweets ____ a perfect gift for her. (is / are)
Answer:
is
21. The famous singer and composer ____ arrived. (has / have)
Answer:
has
22. Man and woman _____ complementary to each other. (is / are)
Answer:
are
23. The brothers as well as their sister to the same class. (belong / belongs)
Answer:
belong
24. Each of the boys ____ given a present (was / were)
Answer:
was
25. Neither of the contestants ____ able to win a decisive victory. (was / were)
Answer:
was
Exercise 2
Correct the following sentences.
Question 1.
The sun is one of the stars that give light to the planets.
Answer:
The Sun is one of the stars that gives light to the planets.
Question 2.
Neither of the computers are working.
Answer:
Neither of the computers is working.
Question 3.
Twelve miles are a long distance to run.
Answer:
Twelve miles is a long distance to run.
Question 4.
Each of the cars in the street are new.
Answer:
Each of the cars in the street is new.
Question 5.
The wicket keeper and Captain were given the man of the match award.
Answer:
The wicket keeper and Captain was given the man of the match award.
Question 6.
Somebody have forgotten to turn off the TV.
Answer:
Somebody has forgotten to turn off the TV.
Question 7.
Ramanujan’s knowledge of mathematics are amazing.
Answer:
Ramanujan’s knowledge of Mathematics is amazing.
Question 8.
Everyone have done the home work as expected.
Answer:
Everyone has done the home work as expected.
Question 9.
This pair of gloves aren’t mine.
Answer:
This pair of gloves isn’t mine.
Question 10.
One of the planets take a year to complete an orbit.
Answer:
One of the planets takes a year to complete an orbit.
Question 11.
Either the workers or the boss deliver the merchandise.
Answer:
Either the workers or the boss delivers the merchandise.
Question 12.
Mumps are one of the most uncomfortable diseases.
Answer:
Mumps is one of the most uncomfortable diseases.
Question 13.
It don’t make any difference.
Answer:
It doesn’t make any difference.
Question 14.
The student, as well as his family members, are excited about the trip.
Answer:
The student, as well as his family members, is excited about the trip.
Question 15.
One of my friends like to cook Italian food.
Answer:
One of my friends likes to cook Italian food.
Question 16.
The number of students in each class vary.
Answer:
The number of students in each class varies.
Question 17.
Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children are my favourite novel.
Answer:
Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children is my favourite novel.
Question 18.
Waiting for the buses are annoying.
Answer:
Waiting for the buses is annoying.
Question 19.
There is no schools for baby birds.
Answer:
There are no schools for baby birds.
Question 20.
The English department assured us that a series of seminars were to be arranged.
Answer:
The English department assured us that a series of seminars was to be arranged.
Question 21.
His jeans is too tight
Answer:
His jeans are too tight.
Question 22.
All the class are going on a field trip.
Answer:
All the class is going on a field trip.
Question 23.
The characters in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night lives in a world that has been turned upside – down.
Answer:
The characters in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night live in a world that has been turned up¬side – down.
Question 24.
The number of people who pursue a PhD degree are few.
Answer:
The number of people who pursue a PhD degree is few.
Question 25.
Everybody among your friends like playing.
Answer:
Everybody among your friends likes playing.