RULES FOR WRITING AN ERROR FREE SENTENCES

Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement
• The verb must agree with the subject in Number and Person.
• If the subject is singular, the verb should also be singular.
• If the subject is plural, the verb should also be plural, e.g.,
He is a good boy. (singular subject, singular verb)
They are good players (plural subject, plural verb)
• When two or more singular subjects are joined together by ‘and’, plural verb is
used. e.g.,
Ram and Sham are playing a game. He and his friends have
arrived.
• If two singular nouns refer to the same person or thing, the verb must be singular,
e.g.,
My friend and benefactor has come.
By the death of Gokhale a great statesman and patriot was lost to
India.
It should be noted that the article is used only once if the two nouns refer to the
same person. If different persons were referred to, the article would be used
before each noun and the verb would be plural. e.g.,
The orator and the statesman are dead.
• If two subjects together express one idea, the verb will be in the singular, e.g.,
Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
Slow and steady wins the race.
• If singular subjects have ‘each’ or ‘every’ before them, the verb is usually
singular.
e.g.,
Every man, woman and child was lost.
Each day and each hour brings its duty.
• Two or more singular subjects connected by ‘or’, ‘nor’, ‘either’, ’neither’ or ‘nor’
take a verb in the singular, e.g.,
Neither Hari nor Ravi has come.
No nook or corner was left unexplored.
• When the subjects joined by ‘or’, ‘nor’ are of different numbers, the verb must be
plural, and the plural subject must be placed next to the verb. e.g.,
Hari or his brothers have done this.
Either the boy or his parents have gone there.
• When the subjects joined by ‘or’, ‘nor’ are of different persons, the verb agrees in
person with the one nearest to it, e.g.,
Either he or I am mistaken.
Neither you nor he is to blame.
• A collective noun takes a singular verb when the collection is thought of as a
whole. e.g.,
The counsel has chosen its president.
The fleet has set sail.
• It should however be kept in mind that if the individuals of which the collective
noun is composed of are thought of, it can take a plural verb. e.g.,
The military work called out.
The crew were taken prisoners.
• Some nouns which are plural in form, but singular in meaning, take a singular
verb,
e.g.,
The news is true.
Physics is a branch of natural science.
• When a plural noun counts between a singular subject and its verb, the verb used
is singular in form. e.g.,
Each of the sisters is clever.
A variety of objects charms the eye.
The quality of the mangoes was not good.
• Words joined to a singular subject by with, together with, in addition to or as well
as are parenthetical and therefore do not affect the number of verb. e.g.,
The chief, with all his men, was killed
Justice as well as mercy, allows.
• When the subject of the verb is a relative pronoun, care should be taken to see that
the verb agrees in number and person with the antecedent of the relative. e.g.,
I, who am your friend, will guard you interest.
You, who are my friend, should not worry me.
• The title of a book, play, story, musical composition and the name of a country,
even though plural in form take a singular verb, e.g.,
Sons and Lovers is an interesting Novel.
The United States of America is a developed country.
1.3 Summary
The basic rules for writing grammatically correct sentences have been discussed.
In a sentence, the verb must agree with its subject with respect to its number and
person.
1.4 Key words
Subject, verb, predicate, noun, pronoun, singular, plural.
1.5 Self Assessment Questions
1.5.1 Set – 1
Fill in the blanks with correct form of the verb:
1. Two and two ……………… four.
2. Bread and butter ……………. take wholesome food.
3. Gulliver’s travels ……………. written by swift.
4. A good man and useful citizen ……………passed away.
5. Each of the boys…………………….rewarded.
6. The jury…………………divided in their opinion.
7. He is one of the authors who…………………destined to be immortal.
8. Neither of the boys…………….quite at his ease.
9. The cost of these articles……………risen.
10. Every leaf and every flower……………..stripped off the tree.
11. The horse and trap………………………been waiting for a long time.
12. The Arabian Nights……………delighted many generations.
13. Kindness as well as justice……………..to be our guide.
14. No news …………………good news.
15. Forty yards ………………a good distance.
16. The meeting …………………..chosen a president.
17. The public……………….requested not to walk on the grass.
18. Iron as well as gold……………………..found in India.
19. Which one of these umbrellas………………..yours?
20. To take pay and then not to do work……………dishonest.