1) The verb must agree with the subject (noun) in number and person.
Examples:
*Bird is on the tree.
* Child is beautiful.
2) The verb should agree with the real Noun (subject).
Examples:
* The knowledge of social science is essential for a psychologist.
* The basics of English grammar are essential for a good speaker.
3)Two singular nouns joined by 'and' require a plural verb.
Examples:
* Tariq Jameel and Zakir Naik are the good men.
* Latif and sachal are mystic poets.
4)Two singular nouns suggesting one idea or person must be used with a singular verb.
Examples:
* My friend and her mother recites the Quran daily.
* The teacher and student is free now.
5)Nouns joined by 'with' or 'as well as' must be used with a singular verb.
Examples:
* Sara and her friend Ayesha is intelligent.
* My brother as well as my father is good at english.
6) Two or more nouns connected by'or' or 'nor' require singular verb.
Examples:
*Either ali and nain is clever.
* Neither my friend nor my brother is clever.
Note:a plural verb is required , if one of the subjects is plural.
Examples:
*Either the principal or the teacher are good at teaching.
7) Nouns joined by 'or' or 'nor' differing in person , the verb must agree with the nearest noun.
Examples:
* Either he or I am very serious about it.
* Neither he nor his parents are thinking about the matter.
8) 'Either /neither/each/everyone/ One ' +of+Plural nouns and the phrase 'many a ' must be used with a singular verb.
Examples:
* Either of the two books is interesting.
*Niether of the two sisters is willing to marry him.
*One of my friends is returned from Saudi Arabia.
9) Two nouns qualified by 'each' or 'every' and connected by 'and' must be used with a singular verb.
Examples:
* Each actor and actress is very bad.
* Each poem and story was published.
10) The words 'pains' and 'means' may be used as singular.
Examples:
* A great deal of pains has been taken.
* Car is a means of transport.
Note: but in the sense of income , "means" is plural.
Examples:
* His means are plenty.
11) None may be used as singular or plural.
Examples:
* None of them has agreed with him.
* None of the poets has attended the function.
12) A collective noun treated as a single unit is used as singular but a. Collective noun treated as separate /individual is used as plurals.
* The committee has agreed to the proposal.
*The army have continued fighting bravely.
13) When a proper noun is plural name, the verb must be singular.
Examples:
* The history of Arabs is written by Phillip K. Hitti.
14) Plural nouns denoting quantity /amount/distance/ time must be used with a singular verb.
Examples:
* Ten years is a long time.
* Ten thousand dollars is a large amount.
Comments