1. THE VERB: AGREEMENT WITH THESUBJECT

2. VERBS HAVE THREEPERSONS-----

THEFIRSTPERSON

3. THESECONDPERSON 4. THE THIRDPERSONTHE VERB SHOULD BE OF THE
SAME PERSON AS THE SUBJECT.

SINGULAR SUBJECT

TAKESA SINGULARVERB.

PLURALSUBJECT

TAKESAPLURALVERB.
I go. We go. They go. You go.
She/ he/itgoes.
I eat. We eat. They eat. You eat.
She/he/it eats.
5. SINGULARSUBJECTSINGULAR VERB
Thechildiscrying.
Thatladyisverypoor.
Thetrainhas reachedon time.
Thebravesoldierhasdiedin the war.
Theboyissingingwell.
PLURALSUBJECT-----PLURALVERB
The children are crying.
Those ladies are very poor.
The trains have reached on time today.
Thebrave soldiers have died.
The boys are singing well.
6. A VERBMUST AGREE WITH ITS SUBJECT IN NUMBERANDPERSON.
TWO OR MORE SINGULAR SUBJECTSJOINED BY AND
USUALLYTAKEA PLURALVERB.
Ruby andRohanare gettingmarriednextmonth.
The old lady and her daughter have lost all their money.
Rakesh and his brother drive rashly.
Renu and her friends have fared well in their exams.
Professor Bakshi and his sonteachwell.
EXCEPTION:
IftwosubjectsjoinedbyANDreferto thesameperson, ideaor thing ,Use SINGULARVERB:
My friend and philosopherhasdied.
Slow and steady wins the rain.
7. TWOORMORE SINGULARNOUNSOR
PRONOUNS
CONNECTEDBY:OR,NOR, EITHER----OR,
NEITHER---NOR
TAKEASINGULARVERB.
Neithermybrothernor my sisterisgoingto Agra.
EitherRaniorRenuhascookedthisdeliciousdish.
When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or pronoun joined by or or nor,
the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is nearer the verb.The plural verb must be placed near the verb
Either she or Iam mistaken.
2.Neither Rohan nor his friends have come.
3. Neithermy mother nor his sister knows driving.
8. TWO OR MORE NOUNS CONNECTED WITHAS WELL AS, TOGETHER WITH OR IN ADDITION TO , THE VERB must agree with the first noun
1.Thetigress, with her cubs, was sleeping in the cage.
2. The teacher, as well as her husband, has goneto London.
9. APLURALVERB THATCOMES
BETWEENASINGULARSUBJECT
AND ITSVERB,
TAKESTHESINGULARVERB.
Eachofthegirlshasperformedverywell.
Oneofhisbrothersisarenowneddoctor.
10. ACOLLECTIVENOUNMAYTAKEA
SINGULARORAPLURALVERB.
IF THE GROUP IS THOUGHTOFASWHOLE
ITTAKESASINGULARVERB.
IF THE INDIVIDUALSINTHEGROUP
ARE THOUGHT OF,
IT TAKESAPLURALVERB.
Theclasswaspunishedformisbehavingwitha teacher.
Themobhasdispersed.
Thepolicehavearrestedthefourconvicts.
4.TheCommitteearedividedononeminorpoint.
11. NOUNTHAT ISPLURALINFORM
BUTSINGULARINMEANING
TAKESSINGULARVERB.
Thenewsistrue.
Mathematicsisaninterestingsubject.
Politicsisacomplex jobforanhonestperson.
Physicsisabranchofstudyineveryschool.
Thewagesgivento theemployeesinthiscompanyis poor.
12. FortheformalintroductoryTHERE,
theverbagreeswiththerealsubject
thatcomesaftertheverb.
Thereisablindboyinthisclass.
Therearebeautifulflowersinmygarden.
13. ALOTOF
ANDPLENTY
TAKEAPLURALVERB
WHENTHEYDENOTENUMBER,AND
ASINGULARVERB
WHENTHEYDENOTEQUANTITYORAMOUNT.
Alotofpeoplewerepresent. (number)
Alotofwaterhasbeenstored.(quantity)
Thereisplentyoftime.(quantity)
Thereareplentyoffruitsinthebasket.(number)
14. ANUMBEROF TAKESAPLURALVERB.
Therehavebeenanumberoftheftsinthisarea.
Anumberofbooksarealsomissing.
15. One-third,two-third, one-fifth, three-fifths--------arefractions
FRACTIONSREPRESENTING
ANYQUANTITY,
AMOUNT,
AREA, TIME ETC
TAKEASINGULARVERB
FRACTIONSREPRESENTINGNUMBER
(WHICHCANBECOUNTED),
TAKEAPLURALVERB.
1.Two-thirdsofthecitywasindarkness.(area)
2.One-fifthofthepeopleareilliterate.(number)
16. MADE BY :
AJIT SINGH
ENGLISH TRAINER