5. SINGULAR SUBJECT—SINGULAR VERB The child is crying. That lady is very poor. The train has reached on time. The brave soldier has died in the war. The boyis singing well. PLURAL SUBJECT-----PLURAL VERB The children are crying. Those ladies are very poor. The trains have reached on time today. The brave soldiers have died. The boys are singing well.
6. A VERB MUST AGREE WITH ITS SUBJECT IN NUMBER AND PERSON. TWO OR MORE SINGULAR SUBJECTS JOINED BY “AND “ USUALLY TAKE A PLURAL VERB. Ruby and Rohanare getting married next month. 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 sonteach well. EXCEPTION: If two subjects joined by “AND” refer to the same person, idea or thing , Use SINGULAR VERB: My friend and philosopher has died. Slow and steady wins the rain.
7. TWO OR MORE SINGULAR NOUNS OR PRONOUNS CONNECTED BY: OR, NOR, EITHER----OR, NEITHER---NOR TAKE A SINGULAR VERB. Neither my brother nor my sister is going to Agra. Either Rani or Renuhas cooked this delicious dish. 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 I am mistaken. 2.Neither Rohan nor his friends have come. 3. Neither my 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.The tigress, with her cubs, was sleeping in the cage. 2. The teacher, as well as her husband, has gone to London.
9. A PLURAL VERB THAT COMES BETWEEN A SINGULAR SUBJECT AND ITS VERB, TAKES THE SINGULAR VERB. Each of the girls has performed very well. One of his brothers is a renowned doctor.
10. A COLLECTIVE NOUN MAY TAKE A SINGULAR OR A PLURAL VERB. IF THE GROUP IS THOUGHT OF AS WHOLE IT TAKES A SINGULAR VERB. IF THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE GROUP ARE THOUGHT OF , IT TAKES A PLURAL VERB. The class was punished for misbehaving with a teacher. The mob has dispersed. The police have arrested the four convicts. 4.The Committee are divided on one minor point.
11. NOUN THAT IS PLURAL IN FORM BUT SINGULAR IN MEANING TAKES SINGULAR VERB. Thenews is true. Mathematics is an interesting subject. Politics is a complex job for an honest person. Physics is a branch of study in every school. The wages given to the employees in this company is poor.
12. For the formal introductory THERE, the verb agrees with the real subject that comes after the verb. There isa blind boy in this class. There arebeautiful flowers in my garden.
13. A LOT OF AND PLENTY TAKE A PLURAL VERB WHEN THEY DENOTE NUMBER,AND A SINGULAR VERB WHEN THEY DENOTE QUANTITY OR AMOUNT. A lot of people were present. (number) A lot of water has been stored.(quantity) There is plenty of time.(quantity) There are plenty of fruits in the basket.(number)
14. A NUMBER OF TAKES A PLURAL VERB. There have been a number of thefts in this area. A number of books are also missing.
15. One-third, two-third, one-fifth, three-fifths--------are fractions FRACTIONS REPRESENTING ANY QUANTITY, AMOUNT, AREA, TIME ETC TAKE A SINGULAR VERB FRACTIONS REPRESENTING NUMBER (WHICH CAN BE COUNTED), TAKE A PLURAL VERB. 1.Two-thirds of the city was in darkness.(area) 2. One-fifth of the people are illiterate.(number)