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 Agreement of verbs and Agreement of verbs andpronouns with subjects andpronouns with subjects and

antecedentsantecedents

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 Agreement of verbs and pronouns Agreement of verbs and pronouns

with subjects and antecedentswith subjects and antecedents In conversation and writing peopleIn conversation and writing people

frequently make a grammatical error whenfrequently make a grammatical error whena phrase or other elements come betweena phrase or other elements come between

the subject and the verb and thethe subject and the verb and theagreement may not be clear. It is hard toagreement may not be clear. It is hard totell which noun the verb belongs.tell which noun the verb belongs.

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 Agreement of verbs and pronouns Agreement of verbs and pronouns

with subjects and antecedentswith subjects and antecedents Make a verb agree in number with its subject;Make a verb agree in number with its subject;

make a pronoun agree in number with itsmake a pronoun agree in number with itsantecedent.antecedent.

Examples:Examples: The small table around which the boys play is inThe small table around which the boys play is in

the hall.the hall.

The books owned by the student are in the bag.The books owned by the student are in the bag.

The boys sitting in front of the school buildingThe boys sitting in front of the school buildinghave been refused entry into he building.have been refused entry into he building.

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 Verb and subject Verb and subject

In the sentences below, the forms of verbs and theIn the sentences below, the forms of verbs and thesubjects agree grammatically in the following sentencessubjects agree grammatically in the following sentences

Singular: The list of items was long.Singular: The list of items was long. Plural: The lists of items were long.Plural: The lists of items were long. Point to remember:Point to remember: s, or   s, or  eses is Iis I------a plural forming suffix for mosta plural forming suffix for most

nouns and II as singular forming suffix for verbsnouns and II as singular forming suffix for verbs------ those present tense verbs taking third personthose present tense verbs taking third personsingular.singular.

The bell rings.The bell rings. The bells ring.The bells ring. ..

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Pronouns and antecedentPronouns and antecedent

 As a rule a pronoun and its antecedents agree in number: As a rule a pronoun and its antecedents agree in number:EvenEven an animalan animal hashas itsits own territory.own territory.EvenEven animalsanimals havehave theirtheir own territory.own territory.

Singular antecedents for singular pronouns and pl for plurals.Singular antecedents for singular pronouns and pl for plurals.

 A pronoun also agrees with is antecedents in person A pronoun also agrees with is antecedents in personOne readsOne reads for pleasure duringfor pleasure during hishis / her spare time. / her spare time.TheyThey read for pleasure inread for pleasure in theirtheir spare time.spare time.PeoplePeople havehave theirtheir own pursuits.own pursuits.

Two pronouns may have their paired antecedents ofTwo pronouns may have their paired antecedents ofdifferent genders:different genders:

Every father and mothers makes his/her mistakes.Every father and mothers makes his/her mistakes.

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 A: Make a number agree in A: Make a number agree in

number with its subject.number with its subject. 1.1.Do not be misled by nouns or pronounsDo not be misled by nouns or pronouns

intervening between the subject and the verb orintervening between the subject and the verb orsubject and verbs with difficult or pronouncesubject and verbs with difficult or pronounce

Ex:Ex: The repetition of the drum beats helps to stirThe repetition of the drum beats helps to stiremotions.emotions.

Every one of you is invited to the show.Every one of you is invited to the show.

 As a rule the grammatical number of the subject is As a rule the grammatical number of the subject isnot changed by the addition of expression beginningnot changed by the addition of expression beginning

with such words as: accompanied by, along with, aswith such words as: accompanied by, along with, aswell as, in addition to , including, no less than , not towell as, in addition to , including, no less than , not tomention etc mention etc 

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Make a number agree in numberMake a number agree in number

with its subject.with its subject. 2.2.Subjects joined by  and are usually plural.Subjects joined by  and are usually plural.

Ex.Ex. My parents and my uncle do not understand this.My parents and my uncle do not understand this.Building a good marriage and building a good log fire areBuilding a good marriage and building a good log fire aresimilar in many ways.similar in many ways.

Occasionally , such compound subject takes aOccasionally , such compound subject takes asingular verb because it denotes one person ofsingular verb because it denotes one person ofsingle unit.single unit.ExceptionsExceptions: occasionally they take singular verb like:: occasionally they take singular verb like:The inventor and chief practitioner is Pakistani.The inventor and chief practitioner is Pakistani.

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Make a number agree in numberMake a number agree in number

with its subject.with its subject.EveryEvery oror eacheach calls for singular verb:calls for singular verb:

Each one of us has to be here.Each one of us has to be here.

Every pierce of the furniture has to be polished.Every pierce of the furniture has to be polished.

Placed after plural subject,Placed after plural subject, eacheach does not affect does not affect the verb form.the verb form.

Ex. TheEx. The cat and the dogcat and the dog each haveeach have theirtheir ownown

foods. ( category)foods. ( category)Some writers: The cat and the dog each has itsSome writers: The cat and the dog each has its

own food.( individual)own food.( individual)

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Make a number agree in numberMake a number agree in number

with its subject.with its subject. 3.3.Singular subjects joined by or, eitherSingular subjects joined by or, either  or, neitheror, neither--nornor

usually take a singular verb:usually take a singular verb:EX:EX: Either the Principal or the headmaster is going to speak toEither the Principal or the headmaster is going to speak tothe staff.the staff.

Neither the captain.Neither the captain.If one subject is singular and one is plural, the verb usuallyIf one subject is singular and one is plural, the verb usuallyagrees with the nearest subjectagrees with the nearest subject..Ex:Ex: Neither the quality norNeither the quality nor the prices havethe prices have changed.changed.Neither the prices norNeither the prices nor the quality hasthe quality has changed.changed.The verb also agrees with the nearer subject in person inThe verb also agrees with the nearer subject in person in

sentence like these below:sentence like these below:Ex:Ex: Doesnt he or I deserve this?Doesnt he or I deserve this?Dont I or he deserve it?Dont I or he deserve it?

 You or Ali is to go. You or Ali is to go. Ali or You are to go. Ali or You are to go.

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Make a number agree in numberMake a number agree in number

with its subject.with its subject.4.4.Do not let inverted word order (verbDo not let inverted word order (verb

+subject) or the structure there + verb+subject) or the structure there + verb

+subject) cause you commit mistakes in+subject) cause you commit mistakes inagreement.agreement.

Ex:Ex: Hardest hit by the high temperature and theHardest hit by the high temperature and thedrought drought werewere PakistanPakistan farmers.farmers.

StudentsStudents scoring more than 80 percent scoring more than 80 percent werewereconsidered for the award.considered for the award.

ThereThere were angerwere anger andand hatredhatred in the voice.in the voice.

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Make a number agree in numberMake a number agree in number

with its subject.with its subject. 5.A relative pronoun (who, what, which,5.A relative pronoun (who, what, which,

that..) has the same number as itsthat..) has the same number as itsantecedent.antecedent.It is the producerIt is the producer who iswho is to get the award.to get the award.TheThe complainantscomplainants that approached youthat approached youwerewere given personal hearing.given personal hearing.

6.when used as subjects, such as each,6.when used as subjects, such as each,everyone , anyone, they take singulareveryone , anyone, they take singular

verb:verb:Ex: Neither likes the friend of other.Ex: Neither likes the friend of other.Everyone has his own faults.Everyone has his own faults.

..

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Make a number agree inMake a number agree in

number with its subjectnumber with its subject 7.Collective nouns( and phrases denoting7.Collective nouns( and phrases denotinga fixed quantity ) take a singular verba fixed quantity ) take a singular verbwhen they refer to the group as a unitwhen they refer to the group as a unitand take a plural verb when they referand take a plural verb when they refer

to individual or parts of the group.to individual or parts of the group.EXEX. (singular) My family has it own problems.. (singular) My family has it own problems.This number is very large.This number is very large.(Plural) A number were absent.(Plural) A number were absent.

TwoTwo--third of these have been finished.third of these have been finished. A large number A large number --------followed by plural noun.followed by plural noun.The numberThe number--------followed by singular noun.followed by singular noun.

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Make a number agree in numberMake a number agree in numberwith its subject.with its subject.

8.A linking verb agrees with its subject;8.A linking verb agrees with its subject;His problem is headaches.His problem is headaches.Frequent headaches are his problem.Frequent headaches are his problem.

9.nouns plurals in form but singular in meaning9.nouns plurals in form but singular in meaningtake a singular verb:take a singular verb:

EX.EX. No news is that good.No news is that good.Physics has its own problems.Physics has its own problems.Mathematics is hard subject.Mathematics is hard subject.

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Title of a single workTitle of a single work

10.10. TThe title of a single work or ahe title of a single work or aword spoken of even when plural inword spoken of even when plural inform take singular verb:form take singular verb:

EX::Romeo and JulietEX::Romeo and Juliet is a famous playis a famous playby Shakespeare.by Shakespeare. Arabian Nights Arabian Nights is a famous story.is a famous story.

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B: Make a pronoun agree inB: Make a pronoun agree innumber with its antecedent.number with its antecedent.

 A singular antecedent is referred to by a singular pronoun A singular antecedent is referred to by a singular pronoun::Ex: An actorEx: An actor during early rehearsalsduring early rehearsals forgets hisforgets his lines.lines.

1.1.Use singular pronoun to refer to such antecedents asUse singular pronoun to refer to such antecedents aseach, every, neither, none etc.each, every, neither, none etc.Ex:Ex: Each of these companies isEach of these companies is producing this drug.producing this drug.

2.2.Two or more antecedents joined byTwo or more antecedents joined by andand are referred to byare referred to bya plural pronoun; two or more singular antecedents joineda plural pronoun; two or more singular antecedents joinedbyby oror oror nornor are referred to by a singular pronoun.are referred to by a singular pronoun.Ex.Ex. Ali Ali andand Ahmad often disagree between themselves. Ahmad often disagree between themselves.

 Ali or Ahmad is going to take the charge. Ali or Ahmad is going to take the charge.

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ExerciseExercise

Complete the sentences using correct verbsComplete the sentences using correct verbsand pronouns where necessary.and pronouns where necessary.

Example:Example: PeoplePeople read for pleasure duringread for pleasure duringtheirtheir spare time.spare time. EvenEven animalanimal hashas ------ territory.territory.

The mother of 4 childrenThe mother of 4 children worswors/ / wrokswroks in the kitchenin the kitchen

from morning till evening.from morning till evening. The boy is doingThe boy is doing ------ work.work.

The man has forgottenThe man has forgotten--------car key.car key.

Even animals haveEven animals have------..

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ExerciseExercise

Neither the quality nor the pricesNeither the quality nor the prices -------- improved.improved.

Every man and woman have/has their/ his/herEvery man and woman have/has their/ his/her---------- choice.choice.

Either AliEither Ali oror Ahmad has/ have done it. Ahmad has/ have done it. Every knife, fork and plate has/ have to beEvery knife, fork and plate has/ have to be

washed.washed.

Pushing and shoving is/ are Pakistani culture.Pushing and shoving is/ are Pakistani culture.

TheThe repetitionrepetition of drum beatsof drum beats helps/helphelps/help to stirto stiremotions.emotions.

TheThe scientists askscientists ask several pertinent questionsseveral pertinent questions

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ExerciseExercise

There is/are a large number of There is/are a large number of ----------cars/car on the road.cars/car on the road.

a wrench and a hubcap is/area wrench and a hubcap is/are----------missing.missing. Every one of youEvery one of you --------invited.invited.

ThereThere ------------ is/are several reasons for hisis/are several reasons for his

failure.failure. A fountain and a hanging basket  A fountain and a hanging basket ----------------

adorn/adorns the entrance.adorn/adorns the entrance.

If any one of the students need/ needs aIf any one of the students need/ needs a