9. When two subjects are joined together by “ and ” but the two subjects refer to only one person or thing , a singular verb should be used .
Example :
Our principal and
mathematics teacher knows me .
In the above sentence , Our
principal and mathematics teacher is not two different people but , our
principal is also our mathematics teacher , hence the subject is our principal
, and it is a singular noun , hence , singular verb .
Now consider this example
–
Our principal and the
mathematics teacher .
This is quite different
from the first sentence because Our principal and the mathematics teacher
are two different subjects because of the use of “ the ” Mathematics teacher .
Hence , in this second
sentence , you use a plural verb .
10. When amount or, unit is
mentioned in a statement , units such as five thousand , three hundred ,
percent , twenty meters , five times , and so on . The next verb must be
singular .
Example :
(i) Two pounds of flour is (not
are) too few to bake a cake .
(ii) Ten percent of my earnings
goes (not go) to my wife .
11. When mathematical facts
such as subtraction , multiplication , addition , division , and so on , are
used , the verb will be any of singular and plural , that is , a singular or
plural verb can be used when mathematical facts are used .
Example :
(i) Ten plus ten is / are ( are and is are both
correct) twenty .
(ii) Ten multiplied by two is / are twenty .
Both singular and plural are correct .
12. (a) Every + plural :
When every precedes a plural , the next verb is plural .
Example : Every ten liters of oil bought come (not
comes) with a bonus of an extra liter .
But when “every” appears without any plural number,
the verb is singular.
Example : Every man (not men) likes cricket .
(b) When “ and ” joins two
or more subjects with every or each , the verb should be singular .
Example :
(i) Every man and woman speaks
( not speak) good English here .
(ii) Every student and teacher comes ( not come) to school early .
(c) When “ most ” is used ,
the verb will either be singular or plural , depending on whether the referent
is a countable or uncountable noun .
Example :
(i) Most of the boys (countable noun) are
tall .
(ii) Most of the time (uncountable noun) , John has (not have) always been there for her .
(d) When “ much ” is used in
a statement , the verb to be used must be singular .
Example :
Much of the water has
(not have) been spilled .
(e) When “ all ” appears , it means either
everything or all the people .
When all means everything , the verb to be used should
be Singular but when all means all the people , the verb to be used should be
plural .
Example :
(i) All are
already seated in the hall .
In the above sentence , “All” means all the people are
already seated in the hall hence a plural verb .
But ,
(ii) All is
well with me .
In the above sentence , “All” means everything is well
with me hence a singular verb.
(f) When “ all but ” is
used, the following verb should be plural
Example :
All but John are (not is) on the bus . That means ,
only John is absent .
13. Either or neither :
When either or neither joins two singular nouns
together , the following verb should be singular .
Example :
(i) Either John or Jackson knows
(not know) me.
(ii) Neither Mary nor her friend was (not were) here.
But , when either or neither joins two subjects (one
singular and the other plural), the verb should be chosen by considering the
nearer of the two subjects .
Example :
Either James or his friends know me .
You can see that the word “ friends ” is nearer to the
verb gap than it is near James .
# # These rules also apply , when “but or but even” joins two subjects .
Example :
(i) Not only Sola but even teachers laugh in school .
(ii) Not Lawrence but James speaks good English .
You can see that the word James is nearer to the verb
gap than it is near Lawrence, hence, you use singular verb .
14. Each and one of :
When “ each ” appears , a singular noun + a singular
verb will be chosen .
Example :
Each boy (not boys) has a car .
But , when “ each of or one of ” appears , the next noun should be plural but
the next verb should be singular .
Example :
Each of the candidates (not candidate) stands (not stand) a good chance
to win a scholarship .
15. (a) When a negative
sentence is written, the ‘do’ verb is used and it has to match the subject.
Example :
(i) The children do not like working out trigonometry
problems .
(ii) My father does not work at the bank anymore .
(b) Interrogative sentences
take the help of the ‘ do ’ verb . As far as the subject-verb agreement of
interrogative sentences is concerned , the first verb (‘be’ verb or ‘do’ verb)
has to be aligned with the subject of the sentence .
Example :
(i) Do you read romantic novels ?
(ii) Doesn’t he know you already ?
(iii) Is Rap happy with the new phone ?
(iv) Were you looking for me ?
(v) Has Sara submitted her final project yet ?
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