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1732527420165.IX CB Eng Subject Verb Concord

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12 views3 pages

1732527420165.IX CB Eng Subject Verb Concord

Uploaded by

avaneeshpokale19
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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PODAR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

TSD
Subject: English Std: IX Topic: Subject-Verb Concord

Basic Rule. A singular subject takes a singular verb whereas a plural subject takes a plural
verb.

Rule 1. The subject will come before a phrase beginning with of.
This is a key rule for understanding subjects.
The word of causes most subject-verb mistakes.
Incorrect: A bouquet of yellow roses lend colour and fragrance to the room.
Correct: A bouquet of yellow roses lends . . . (bouquet lends, not roses lend)
Example: The list of items is/are on the desk.
If you know that list is the subject, then you will choose is for the verb.

Rule 2. Two singular subjects connected by or, either/or, or neither/nor require a


singular verb.
Examples:
My aunt or my uncle is arriving by train today.
Neither Manav nor Rohan is available.
Either Karan or Navin is helping today with stage decorations.

Rule 3. The verb in an or, either/or, or neither/nor sentence agrees with the noun or
pronoun closest to it.
Examples:
Neither the plates nor the serving bowl is on the shelf.
Neither the serving bowl nor the plates are on that shelf.
Note: For example, if I is one of two (or more) subjects, it could lead to this odd sentence:
Neither she, my friends, nor I am going to the festival.
If possible, it's best to reword such grammatically correct but awkward sentences.
Better:
Neither she, I, nor my friends are going to the festival.
OR
She, my friends, and I are not going to the festival.

Rule 4. As a general rule, use a plural verb with two or more subjects when they are
connected by and.
Example: A car and a bike are parked in the garage.
But note these exceptions:

CB/IX/24-25 Subject Verb Concord Page 1 of 3


Exceptions:
Breaking and entering is against the law.The bed and breakfast was charming.
In those sentences, breaking and entering and bed and breakfast are compound nouns.

Rule 5a. Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by such words as along
with, as well as, besides, not, etc. These words and phrases are not part of the subject.
Ignore them and use a singular verb when the subject is singular.
Examples:
The managing director, along with the officers, is expected shortly.
Excitement, as well as nervousness, is the cause of her trembling.
Rule 5b. Parentheses are not part of the subject.
Example: Reena (and her pet) was always welcome in our house.

Rule 6. In sentences beginning with here or there, the true subject follows the verb.
Examples:
There are four hurdles to jump.There is a high hurdle to jump. Here are the keys.

Rule 7. Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc., when
considered as a unit.
Examples:
Three miles is too far to walk. Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
but
Ten rupees (i.e., notes) were scattered on the floor.

Rule 8. With words that indicate portions—e.g., a lot, a majority, some, all—
Rule 1 given earlier in this section is reversed, and we are guided by the noun after of. If
thenoun after of is singular, use a singular verb. If it is plural, use a plural verb.
Examples:
A lot of the cake has disappeared.
A lot of the cakes have disappeared.
A third of the city is unemployed.
A third of the people are unemployed.All of the cake is gone.
All of the cakes are gone.
Some of the cake is missing.
Some of the cakes are missing.

Rule 9. With collective nouns such as group, jury, family, audience, population, the verb
might be singular or plural, depending on the writer's intent.
Examples:
All of my family has arrived OR have arrived.
Most of the jury is here OR are here.
A third of the population was not in favour OR were not in favour of the bill.

CB/IX/24-25 Subject Verb Concord Page 2 of 3


Rule 10. The word were replaces was in sentences that express a wish or are contrary to
fact:
Example: If Tina were here, you'd have some help with the farm work.
Shouldn't Tina be followed by was, not were, given that Tina is singular? But Tina isn't
actually here, so we say were, not was. The sentence demonstrates the subjunctive
mood, which is used to express things that are hypothetical, wishful, imaginary, or
factually contradictory. The subjunctive mood pairs singular subjects with what we
usually think of as plural verbs.
Examples:
I wish it were Friday.
She requested that he raise his hand.
In the first example, a wishful statement, not a fact, is being expressed; therefore, were,
which we usually think of as a plural verb, is used with the singular it. (Technically, it is the
singular subject of the object clause in the subjunctive mood: it were Friday.)
Normally, he raise would sound terrible to us. However, in the second example, where a
request is being expressed, the subjunctive mood is correct.

Note: The subjunctive mood is losing ground in spoken English but should still be used in
formal speech and writing.
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CB/IX/24-25 Subject Verb Concord Page 3 of 3

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