AGREEMENT OF THE VERB WITH THE SUBJECT

01: A Verb must agree with its Subject in Number and Person.Often, by what is called
the Error of Proximity the verb is made to agree in number with a noun near it instead
of with its proper subject.
Examples;
The quality of the mangoes was not good.
His knowledge of Indian vernaculars is far beyond the common
02: Two or more singular nouns or pronouns joined by and require a plural verb ;
Examples;
Gold and silver are precious metals.
He and I were playing.
But if the nouns suggest one idea to the mind, or refer to the same person or thing,
the verb is singular ; as ,
Examples;
Bread and butter is his only food.
The novelist and poet is dead
03: Words joined to a singular subject by with, as well as, are parenthetical. The verb
should therefore be put in the singular ; as,
Examples;
The ship, with its crew, has fallen in price
Justice, as well as mercy, allows it
04: Two or more singular subjects connected by or or nor require a singular verb; as,
Examples;
No nook or corner was left unexplored.
Neither food nor water was to be found there.
But when one of the subjects joined by or or nor is plural, the verb must be plural, and
the plural subject should be placed nearest the verb ; as;
Example;
Neither the chairman nor the directors are present.
05: When the subjects joined by or or nor are of different person the verb agrees with
the nearer as:
Examples;
Either he or I am mistaken.
Neither you nor he is to blame.
But it is better to avoid these constructions, and to write;
He is mistaken, or else I am.
06: Either, neither, each, everyone, must be followed by a singular verb ; as,
Examples;
Many a man has done so.
Everyone of the prisons is full.
07: Two nouns qualified by each or every, even thought connected by and, require a
singular verb ; as,
Examples;
Every boy and every girl was given a packet of sweets.
08: Some nouns which are plural in form, but singular in meaning, take a singular verb ;
as,
Examples;
The news is true.
The wages of sin is death.
09: Pains and means take either the singular or the plural verb, but the construction
must be consistent ; as,
Examples;
Great pains have been taken.
Much pains has been taken.
In the sense of income, the word means always takes a plural verb; as ,
Examples;
His means are ample.
10: Some nouns which are singular in form, but plural in meaning take a plural verb ; as ,
Examples;
According to the present market rate twelve dozen cost one hundred rupees.
11: None, though properly singular, commonly takes a plural verb ; as,
Examples;
None are so deaf as those who will not hear.
12: A collective noun takes a singular verb when the collection is thought of as one
whole ; plural verb when the individuals of which it is composed are thought of ; as,
Examples;
The committee has issued its report.
The committee are divided on one minor point.
But we must be consistent. Thus we should says :
Example;
The committee has appended a note to its report.
13: When the plural noun is a proper name for some single object or some collective
unit, it must be followed by a singular verb ; as,
Examples;
The Arabin Nights is still a great favourite.
Gulllivers Travels was written by Switt
14: Wen a plural noun denotes some specific quantity or amount considered as a whole,
the verb is generally singular ; as,
Examples;
Fifteen minutes is allowed to each speaker.
Three parts of the business is left for me to do.