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ERROR SPOTTING - SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT

Important Rules:

If two or more nouns/ adjectives are joined by the conjunction ‘and’, but they denote a single idea/ thing/ summary, we use singular verb.

E.g.: This red and white t-shirt is mine and that black and white t-shirt belongs to my friend.

If two subjects are joined by the conjunction ‘and’, and they represent two different ideas or entities, we use plural verb.

E.g.: Suresh and Mahesh are playing chess.

If two subjects are joined with the help of the words like with, along with, in addition to, besides, as well as, no less than, nothing, like, unlike, etc., the verb should agree with the first subject.

E.g.: a. Manoj is watching cricket along with his friends.

b. They along with their guide are going to visit Ladakh.

If an article comes after a noun/ pronoun and before two or more subjects simultaneously, the same noun/ pronoun is applicable to both the subjects, so singular verb should be used.

E.g.: Mr.Manoj Kumar, the Chairman and Managing Director of the company, has conducted a meeting with his employees.

Note: If an article is used before every noun, then the nouns indicate different subjects. In the previous example, the definite article ‘the’ placed before Chairman and Managing Director, indicated that Mr.Manoj Kumar acted as both the Chairman and Managing Director of the company and singular verb has come. But, if an article is used before every noun, then the nouns indicate different subjects and a plural verb should come.

E.g.: The choreographer and the director have come for the shooting. Here, the choreographer and the director are two subjects, so plural verb ‘have’ is used. ♦ Nouns like civics, economics, mathematics, rickets, ethics, politics etc. are plural in form but they carry singular meaning. So, singular verb should be used for these types of words.

E.g.: a. Mathematics is not my favourite subject.

b. Politics is a dirty game. But, if the above subjects are particularised to someone/ something, they become plural nouns and plural verb should come after the subject.

E.g.: Politics of our Country are becoming dirty. Here, the subject ‘Politics’ has been particularised. So, plural verb has been used.

Model Questions

Directions (Qs. 1 - 26): Find out the error in each of the following sentences. If there is no error in the sentence, select (e) as your answer. Neglect punctuation mistakes (if any).

1. The request for the special reservation (a)/ to women in various organisations (b)/ were supported the majority (c)/ by of leaders in the parliament (d)/  No error (e) Explanation: The ‘request’ is the main subject here, which is singular. So, singular verb should be used. So, ‘was’ should be used in place of ‘were’.

Ans: c

2. The perquisites to (a)/ the white-collar jobs (b)/ makes them even more attractive (c)/ than the salary offered (d)/ No error (e)

Explanation: The meaning of the word ‘perquisites’ is benefits, which is a plural noun. So, we remove ‘s’ from the verb ‘makes’ because, we add ‘s’ or ‘es’ only to the 3rd person singular noun or pronoun. Here, ‘make’ should be used in place of ‘makes’.

Ans: c

3. Rickets are a disease of children (a)/ caused by vitamin-D deficiency, characterized (b)/ by imperfect calcification, softening, and distortion of (c)/ the bones typically resulting in bow legs (d)/ No error (e)

Explanation: ‘Rickets’ looks like plural in form but its meaning is singular (Rickets is a disease). So, singular verb ‘is’ should be used in place of ‘are’.

Ans: a

4. Pooja is one (a)/ of the most (b)/ beautiful girl in (c)/ our college (d)/ No error (e)

Explanation: Every one of/ each of/ each one of/ one of etc. always followed by a plural noun but the verb as well as the pronoun used in remaining sentence is always singular. So, ‘girls’ should be used in place of ‘girl’.

Ans: c

5. Either my brother or (a)/ my sister are (b)/ going to attend (c)/ my friend’s wedding (d)/ No error (e)

Explanation: The verb used after ‘either-or’/ ‘neither-nor’ must agree with the nearest subject. Sister is a singular noun here. So, singular verb ‘is’ should be used in place of ‘are’.

Ans: b

6. The knowledge you acquire (a)/ depend upon the people (b)/ you associate yourselves (c)/ with wise and good-natured people (d)/ No error (e)

Explanation: The word ‘knowledge’ is a singular noun (3rd person singular). So, singular verb with suffix ‘s’ should be used. Here, ‘depends’ should be used in place of ‘depend’.

Ans: b

7. Patience as well as (a)/ perseverance are necessary (b)/ for success (c)/ in life (d)/ No error (e)

Explanation: When two subjects are joined by ‘as well as’, ‘with’, etc., then the verb that follows should be in accordance with the former subject. ‘Perseverance’ is a singular noun, so singular verb ‘is’ should be used in place of ‘are’.

Ans: b

8. Hundred yards beyond (a)/ that office was (b)/ seen hundreds (c)/ of angry demonstrators (d)/ No error (e)

Explanation: ‘Hundreds of demonstrators’ is the main subject of the sentence given here, which is a plural. So, plural verb ‘were’ should be used in place of ‘was’.

Ans: b

9. If Martin Luther King was (a)/ alive, he would feel sorry for (b)/ the destitute who still (c)/ struggle every day to make both ends meet (d)/ No error (e)

Explanation: While representing imaginary sentences, ‘were’ form of ‘be’ is used. So, ‘were’ should be used in place of ‘was’.  

Ans: a

10. A rise in prices (a)/ of metals and cars (b)/ have been found to (c)/ go together (d)/ No error (e)

Explanation: ‘Rise’ is the main subject of this sentence, which is singular. So, singular verb ‘has’ should be used in place of ‘have’.

Ans: c

11. This is a strange world (a)/ where each one (b)/ pursue their own dreams and laughs (c)/ at others for doing the same (d)/ No error (e)

Explanation: ‘Each one’ is singular subject (3rd person singular). So, singular verb with suffix ‘s’ should be used. ‘Pursues his’ or ‘pursues her’ should be used in place of ‘peruse their’.

Ans: c

12. I wish I (a)/ was the Chief (b)/ Executive Officer of (c)/ Microsoft company (d)/ No error (e)

Explanation: While representing imaginary sentences, ‘were’ form of ‘be’ is used. Here, ‘were’ should be used in place of ‘was’.

Ans: b

13. The effect of (a)/ all the fears, anxieties and (b)/ vexations are clearly (c)/ visible on his face (d)/ No error (e)

Explanation: The main subject (effect) of the given sentence is singular. So, the verb which is used should also be singular. Here, ‘is’ should be used in place of ‘are’.

Ans: c

14. Most of the funds we (a)/ get from the trust is (b)/ used to build temples, convention (c)/ halls and other infrastructure (d)/ No error (e)

Explanation: ‘Funds’ is the main subject of the given sentence, which is plural. So, plural verb ‘are’ should be used in place of ‘is’.

Ans: b

15. Every mother in the (a)/ world definitely hopes that their (b)/ son will be a humble and kind (c)/ man when he grows up (d)/ No error (e)

Explanation: ‘Every mother’ is singular subject. So, singular verb and singular pronoun should be used here. So, ‘her’ should be used in place of ‘their’.

Ans: b

16. One of my (a)/ ambitions are to (b)/ become a dance (c)/ icon one day (d)/ No error (e)

Explanation: Every one of/ each of/ each one of/ one of etc. always followed by a plural noun but the verb as well as the pronoun used in remaining sentence is always singular. So, ‘is’ should be used in place of ‘are’.

Ans: b

17. Many a men have (a)/ succumbed to (b)/ this temptation (c)/ on tobacco (d)/ No error (e)

Explanation: ‘Many a’ should be followed by a singular noun and singular verb. Here, ‘man’ should be used in place of ‘men’ and ‘has’ should be used in place of ‘have’.

Ans: a

18. Every one of the books (a)/ you suggested (b)/ are absolutely (c)/ worth reading (d)/ No error (e)

Explanation: Every one of/ each of/ each one of/ one of etc. always followed by a plural noun but the verb as well as the pronoun used in remaining sentence is always singular. So, ‘is’ should be used in place of ‘are’.

Ans: c

19. He walked twenty kilometres which (a)/ are really a great distance for (b)/ a man like him who is (c)/ not only old but also physically challenged (d)/ No error (e)

Explanation: Twenty kilometres has been taken as a singular unit here. So, singular verb ‘is’ should be used in place of ‘are’.

Ans: b

20. With regard to implementation (a)/ of the new laws passed in the (b)/ parliament, the committee was (c)/ divided in their opinion (d)/ No error (e)

Explanation: When the members of collective noun act individually, then the collective noun is used as a plural subject and is followed by plural verbs and plural pronoun. Here, ‘were’ should be used in place of ‘was’.

Ans: c

21. Knowledge of at (a)/ least two chapters (b)/ are required to (c)/ pass the examination (d)/ No error (e)

Explanation: ‘Knowledge’ is the main subject of this sentence here, which is a singular noun. So, singular verb ‘is’ should be used in place of ‘are’.

Ans: c

22. Whether I should go for (a)/ M.Tech or whether I (b)/ should become a loco pilot (c)/ are my personal choice (d)/ No error (e)

Explanation: The word ‘whether’ is used to take a choice from two options, which is singular in form. So, singular verb ‘is’ should be used in place of ‘are’.

Ans: d

23. S.P. Bala Subramayam was one of (a)/ those musician who was (b)/ regarded (c)/ all over the world (d)/ No error (e)

Explanation: Every one of/ each of/ each one of/ one of etc. always followed by a plural noun but the verb as well as the pronoun used in remaining sentence is always singular. So, ‘Musicians’ should be used in place of ‘musician’

Ans: b

24. I immediately quit (a)/ the job in which the enhancement (b)/ of neither increment nor (c)/ promotion were expected (d)/ No error (e)

Explanation: The subject in the given sentence is ‘enhancement’, which is singular. So, the verb used also should be singular. Here, ‘was’ should be used in place of ‘were’.

Ans: d

25. Due to absence of any witness (a)/ or evidence, neither of the (b)/ six accused could (c)/ be jailed (d)/ No error (e)

Explanation: ‘Neither of’ is used for denoting ‘two’ persons, whereas ‘none of’ is used for more than two persons. Here, ‘None of’ should be used in place of ‘neither of’.

Ans: b

26. Neither of them (a)/ are going to have (b)/ any problem as far as (c)/ staying in the hostel is concerned (d)/ No error (e)

Explanation: The noun following ‘neither’ is plural, but the verb following the ‘noun’ should be singular. So, ‘is’ should be used in place of ‘are’.

Ans: b

Posted Date : 12-12-2021

గమనిక : ప్రతిభ.ఈనాడు.నెట్‌లో కనిపించే వ్యాపార ప్రకటనలు వివిధ దేశాల్లోని వ్యాపారులు, సంస్థల నుంచి వస్తాయి. మరి కొన్ని ప్రకటనలు పాఠకుల అభిరుచి మేరకు కృత్రిమ మేధస్సు సాంకేతికత సాయంతో ప్రదర్శితమవుతుంటాయి. ఆ ప్రకటనల్లోని ఉత్పత్తులను లేదా సేవలను పాఠకులు స్వయంగా విచారించుకొని, జాగ్రత్తగా పరిశీలించి కొనుక్కోవాలి లేదా వినియోగించుకోవాలి. వాటి నాణ్యత లేదా లోపాలతో ఈనాడు యాజమాన్యానికి ఎలాంటి సంబంధం లేదు. ఈ విషయంలో ఉత్తర ప్రత్యుత్తరాలకు, ఈ-మెయిల్స్ కి, ఇంకా ఇతర రూపాల్లో సమాచార మార్పిడికి తావు లేదు. ఫిర్యాదులు స్వీకరించడం కుదరదు. పాఠకులు గమనించి, సహకరించాలని మనవి.

 

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