ubject- Verb Concord 4

the following sentences

Read speaker

He
is a good speakers.
are good
They the Subject "he' is in the Singular Number; the Verb 'is' is also in the Singular. But
sentene the
Subject 'they' is in the Plural Number; the Verb 'are is also in the Plural.
sentence( i )
Verb C o n c o r d m e a means fusion of subject and verb, that is, verb will always be in consonance
n
the
Subject-V
n i t ht h es u l e c t

Eramples: a poem.
is recifing
Sham
does not speak
the truth
Mv
brother
his sister does not.
milk but h
likes
He
a test.
are taking
Boys
() were weeping bitterly.
Women
their work.
They
have not jinished
sentences:
these
2.Now study his lesson daily.
He learns
not replied to my letter.
You have
a scholarship.
I sure to win
am
know
Verbs have changed according to the persons of the Subjects. Thus
we
above
In thea
sentences, the
agrees
with the Subject in Number and Person.
that the Verb he, 'it'; is 'she' or 'am' and 'was' when the subject is 'I while
We 15e 'is' and 'was' when theissubject In all other tenses we use a Plural Verb with
and 'were' when the subject we, 'you' 'they.
or
d

Tand 'you'.
Examples:
She/he is in the wrong.
It was very hot yesterday
I am also ready to go.
You too are mistaken.
Were you present in the meeting ?

Irespect my elders
Do you also approve of this decision?
take Plural Verb; as
3.(0)Two ormore Singular Subjects joined by 'and'
a

Shashi and Indu are sisters.

Two and two make four.
You, he andI play together.
with the first
'as well as', verb will be in consonance

nen two subjects will get connected with

Subject, as
Ias well as you am in the wrong8
His parents as well as he are illiterate.

197
 198
Grammar
takeWhen two or more Singular Subjects are connected by 'or, 'nor, 'either
a Verb
in
Singular ; as- Ma,'either-or, 'neither
Either you or he has stolen the watch.
Neither he nor his friend is guilty.
her-nor e
She or her sister is present here.
Butwhen there are trwo
subjects ofdiferent persons joined by Neither--nor or
in
person with the subject
nearest
to it;
"Either--or
Either he or his
as the Verb
companions were guilty.
Either his companions or he was guily. qzes
a

Either she or her parents are mistaken.

Either her parents or she is mistaken.
a) Either, neither, each,
every and everyone will always have Singular Verb,
Either of the two brothers is at fault. as:

Neither of these two roads leads to the

hospital.
Each of them is honest.
Every Scout honours the Scout Law.
Everyone of the girls likes her dress.
4. (a) When two Singular Nouns
Article is then not refer
to the same person or
thing, the Verb
repeated; as-
The poet and
must be
he Singula. The
c

philosopher is dead.
My friend and colleague has come.
(b) If two Subjects
together express one idea, the Verb may be in the
Slow and steady wins the race. Singular; as-
Rice and curry is
my favourite dish.
) When a Plural Noun
in Singular; as- expresses some specific quantity or amount considered as a
whole. tha tu.
Nine hundred
rupees is not much for this cow.
Twenty kilometres is a long distance.
5. When two or
than, the Verb is in
more
Singular Subjects are connected by with, together with, and
Singular;
as not, besides,1
, no less
The suitcase with all its
contents was stolen.
Kamal together with her
sisters, is present.
He, and not you, is to blame.
No besides the nurse knows this
one
He
secret.
less than you is
no
6. The Verbs guilty.
agree with the number of the Nouns
There is no leaf on the
tree.
that follow the Verb; as-
There are six
boys in the class-room.
There were
many players present there.
7. (a) Some nouns
which look
plural but in
Mathematics is my favourite meaning are singular will have
Economics has no charm for him. subject. singular verbs, a5
This news is false.
The wages of sin is
death.
(b) A Plural Noun which is the name
Singular Verb; as of a country or province or the
title of a book, is ya
The United States has a fine foliow
navy.
 Subject-Vertb Concord 199

Arabian ights aomtais interesting stories.

The
Expectations interesting novel.
5 an

n generally takes a Singular Verb when the subject stands for the collection as
4Cllertire
erb when the subject stands for the individuals of which it is composed ; as-
a Plural Ve
cass *
absent.
whole
The sed.
dispersed
has
mob
The on the chairs
s sting
The gentry members
a s tour
TheJury different opinions
harr
The Jury arrested.
were
&nr
The
Relative
ronoun must agre with its antecedent in Gender, Number and Person; as-
Prono

blame.
who a to
Ttishe blame.
who a r e to
Itis they
blame.
who a r e to
t is you
to blame.
It isIwho am
the cow uhich gives milk
He has sold
followingsentences carefully:
Rudrthe
book is easy.
thirds of this
Two
lire in slums.
Many people
under the table.
A pair
of shoes is lying
at the match.
A large
gathering s expected
sprzads fast.
l news
friends has not come.
One of my
of the mangoes ras not good.
The quality
e r e arrested.
but all his companions
Not only he
but also I am to blame.
Not only you
in the Use of Verbs.
Errors
Common Correct
Incorrect
To thousand rupees is a good sum.
are a good sum.
! Tv thousamd rupes The king and poet is here.
here.
Te cing ard poet present there.
are

with his sons w e r e present

there. Thefaiher with his sons was

Tefath2r is illiterate.
illiterate.
He as well as his parents
Heas well as his parents are food.
Bread and buter is my only
food.
Breai amd buter are my only brother has done this.
Either you or your
have done this.
Ether you or your brother Either of these two boys is guiliy
Eitir of these two boys are guiliy. mind.
The jury was of one
The rury were of one mind book.
an interesting
Gulliver's Travels' is
an interesting
book brother.
Cllier's Trarels' are
Neither you came here nor did your
brother did.
Tthr you here nor your present there.
large number ofpeople
came were
A
there
Aarge mumber ofpeople was present The majority of the applicamts
are girls

Ihe majority of the applicants is girls. War front is not encouraging

The neus from the
not encouraging.
RES trom the War front are
None of them is right.
Noe of them are right. of his business
What I say and do
are n o n e

a t I say and do is none of his business.