GRAMMAR: VERB

AGREEMENT OF THE SUBJECT WITH THE VERB:

A verb must agree with its subject in number and person. Often due to “Error of Proximity” the verb is made to agree in number with a noun near it instead of with its proper subject.

For example:

(a) The quality of the mangoes were not good. (Wrong since subject is quality, a singular and not mangoes.)

(b) The quality of the mangoes was not good (Right).

(d) His knowledge of Indian vernaculars is far beyond the common (Right)

Verb should be singular even when some words are joined to a singular subject by ‘with’, ‘as well as’ etc.

For example:

(a) The chairman, with the directors, is to be present.

(b) Silver, as well as cotton, has fallen in prices.

Two or more singular subjects connected by ‘or’, ‘nor’ require singular verb.

For example:

(a) No nook or corner was left unexplored.

(b) Our happiness or our sorrow is largely due to our own actions.

If two singular nouns express one idea, the verb is in the singular.

For example:

(a) Bread and Butter are essential for one’s life. (Incorrect)

(b) Bread and Butt essential for one’s life. (Correct)

Either, neither, each, everyone, many a must be followed by a singular verb.

For example:

(a) Neither of the two men was very strong.

(b) Every one of the prisons is full.

(d) He asked whether either of the applicants was suitable.

When the subjects joined by ‘or’, ‘nor’ are of different numbers, the verb must be plural, and the plural must be placed next to the verb.

For example:

(a) Neither Rekha nor her friends was present at the party. (Incorrect)

(a) Neither Rekha nor her friends were present at the party. (Correct)

When a plural noun denotes some specific quantity or amount considered as a whole, the verb is generally singular.

For example:

(a) Five hours are too short a time to judge one’s character. (Incorrect)

(b) Five hours is too short a time to judge one’s character. (Correct)

This is so because five hours is considered as one chunk.

Two nouns qualified by each or every, even though connected by ‘and’ require a singular verb.

For example: Every boy and every girl was given a packet of sweets.

‘None’ though singular commonly takes a plural verb.

For example: None are as deaf as those who will not hear.

Tell which sentence is correct.

(a) Put in to bat first, a huge total was expected from India.

(b) Put in to bat first, India was expected to pile up a huge total.

Now: who has been put in to bat first? A huge total of India? Common sense tells us it must be India. But the sentence a, as it stands, appears otherwise. So, sentence b is correct.

(a) Being a rainy day, I decided to take my umbrella.

(b) It being a rainy day, I decided to take my umbrella.

The sentence a, as it stands, gives us the impression that being a rainy day qualifies I. This is simply not true. I am not a rainy day. So sentence b is correct.