Subject verb agreement

 

Subject verb agreement

Subject verb agreement: The use of verb according to the subject of the sentence is called Subject-verb agreement.

IMPORTANT RULES:

Rule 1. Use of 'is, am, are, was, were':

We use 'is' and 'was' when the subject is SINGULAR 

We use 'are' and 'were' when the subject is PLURAL

Examples:

1. She is in the wrong.
2. It was very hot yesterday.
3. You too are mistaken.
4. Were you present in the meeting?

Rule 2. यदि दो अलग-अलग Noun, एक ही व्यक्ति या वस्तु के लिए प्रयुक्त हो तो Verb-Singular लगती है।

(a) The poet and painter has died.

(b) The Project Director and Additional collector is on tour.

(c) The clerk and counsellor was present in the meeting.

यहाँ poet, painter, Project Director, Additional Collector तथा clerk,counsellor एक ही व्यक्ति के लिये प्रयुक्त हुए हैं। यह भी ध्यान रखें कि ऐसे वाक्यों में Article का प्रयोग पहले Noun के साथ ही होता है।

Rule 3 जब दो Noun, जो लगभग एक-सा भाव या अर्थ रखते हैं, का प्रयोग एक-दूसरे का महत्व बढ़ाने हेत। किया जाता है तो भी Verb-Singular लगती है। जैसे :

(a) The scheme and plan of my life differs from that of yours.

(b) His authority and command is indeed great.

(c) The benefit and advantage from this business is enormous.

Rule 4 दो Noun जो यद्यपि समानार्थक नहीं है लेकिन एक Phrase की तरह प्रयुक्त होते हैं तो भी Verb-Singular लगती है। Actually ये दो Noun एक ही idea को व्यक्त करते हैं। जैसे:

(a) Bread and butter is a good breakfast.

(b) Slow and steady wins the race.

(c) "Early to bed, early to rise" is a good habit.

(d) Pen and ink is needed by me.

Rule: 5 जब दो singular nouns ' either....or, neither..nor से जोड़े गायें हों तो singular verb का प्रयोग किया जाता है:

 (a) No man or woman was present there.

(b) Either Sita or Ram was present in the party

(c) Neither he nor she is responsible for this loss.

Rule 6 जब दो अलग अलग numbers के दो या अधिक noun ' either....or, neither..nor से जोड़े गायें हों तो verb अपने सबसे नजदीक वाले pronoun के अनुसार लगती है और plural noun को verb के पास रखा जाता है।

 (a) Neither the Principal nor the teachers were present in the function.

(b) Either Ramesh or his friends have stolen the watch.

(c) Ramesh or his friends are abusing him.

Rule 7 जब दो अलग अलग numbers के दो या अधिक pronoun ' either....or, neither..nor से जोड़े गायें हों तो verb अपने सबसे नजदीक वाले pronoun के अनुसार लगती है:

(a) Either you or I am to go there.

(c) Neither he nor you are to attend them.

(b) You or Ramesh is responsible for the loss.

(d) He or I am to go there.

Rule 8 जब एक collective noun एक इकाई का काम करे तो उसके बाद singular verb का प्रयोग किया जाता है। परन्तु यदि कोई  collective noun  से अलग अलग व्यक्तियों का बोध हो तो उसके बाद plural verb का प्रयोग किया जा है।

(a) The Parliament has passed the bill.

(b) Army was deployed at the border.

(c) The fleet has reached the port.

(d) The Assembly is in session now-a-days.

(e) The mob moves towards Parliament.

(f) The jury has taken a unanimous decision.

लेकिन यदि collective Noun एक Unit की तरह action नहीं लेती है, बल्कि वाक्य में divided प्रतीत होती

(a) The committee are divided over the proposal.

(b) The jury are divided in opinion.

(c) The audience were getting bored.

Rule 9 यदि एक Plural noun, एक निश्चित quantity या amount को एक Unit की तरह व्यक्त करता है तो Verb-singular लगती है :

(a) Five Kilograms is not a heavy weight.

(b) Hundered rupees is a big amount for him.

(c) Six miles is not a long distance

 (a) Five years have passed.

(b) Two thousand rupees were charged by him.

Rule 10 कछ Nouns जो देखने में Plural लगते हैं लेकिन अर्थ में Singular होते हैं ऐसे Noun के साथ Verb singular Physics, Mathematics, Economics, News, Gallows, Billiards, Innings, Wages, Alms etc.

(a) No news is good news.

(b) Physics/Economics/Maths is a good subject

(c) Billiards is a game.

(d) First innings was spoiled due to rain.

Rule 11 यदि each या every से जुड़े दो noun किसी sentence के subjects हों तो verb singular लगती है:

(a) Each boy and girl has to attend the function.

(b) Every man, woman and child was happy to meet with the President.

(c) Each minute and each second is precious.

(d) Each male and every female was protesting against that law.

Rule 12 कुछ nouns दिखने में singular होते हैं परन्तु वे plural होते हैं। ऐसे nouns के साथ plural verbs का प्रयोग किया जाता है। ऐसे nouns निम्नलिखित होते हैं:

Dozen, Hundred, Million, Cattle, People, Score, Thousand, Gentry, Police, Peasantry, Company, Alphabet, Progeny, Offspring, Clergy, Infantry etc.

(a) The cattle are grazing in the field.

(b) A score were saved by him.

(c) Not less than a dozen were injured.

(d) The people were fully satisfied.

Rule 13 जब दो Subjects, Not only ....but also से जुड़े हों तो Verbअपने पास वाले subject के अनुसार लगाई जाती है।

(a) Not only the Principal but also the teachers were playing the match.

(b) Not only the students but also the class teacher was also involved in the discussion.

Rule 14 यदि दो nouns जो ‘as well as', 'with', 'along with', 'together with', 'and not', 'In addition to', 'but', 'besides', 'except', 'rather than', 'accompanied by', 'like', 'unlike, ‘no less than’,  'nothing but' से जोड़े हुए हों तो verb singular पहले noun के अनुसार लगती है 

(If two subjects are joined by ‘as well as', 'with', 'along with', 'together with', 'and not', 'In addition to', 'but', 'besides', 'except', 'rather than', 'accompanied by', 'like', 'unlike, ‘no less than’,  'nothing but'the verb is used according to the first noun:

(a) Ram and not his friends was present there.

(b) The house with all its belongings was sold.

(c) The President as well as the members has come.

(d) The pigeon like other birds has wings.

(e) Four questions in addition to the first question have to be answered.

Rule 15 जब किसी वाक्य में Other या another के बाद कोई Noun आये तो ध्यान रखें, other के बाद Plural Noun एवं Plural Verb लगती है तथा another के बाद Singular Noun एवं Singular Verb का प्रयोग किया जाता है:

(a) There are so many other hotels better than this.

(b) There is another hotel near the Railway station.

Rule 16 The poor, The rich, The disabled, The young, The old, The English, The French के बाद plural verb का प्रयोग किया जाता है 

(a) The poor are trustworthy.

(b) The rich are generally unkind to the poor.

Rule 17 दो singular nouns जब दो nouns जुड़े हों तो plural verb का प्रयोग किया जाता है:

(a) He and she were present in the function.

(b) Sohan and Mohan are friends.

Rule 18 Hair (बाल) का प्रयोग singular में किया जाता है एवं singular verb लगती है लेकिन यदि बालों की Counting के हिसाब से इसका प्रयोग हो तो लगेगी।

(a) His hair is black.

(b) Five hairs of the horse are needed by him.

Rule 19 No के बाद चाहे singular noun आये चाहे plural noun आये verb हमेशा plural होती है

(a) No air is present on the Mars.

(b) No student is absent today.

Rule 20. One third of/ three fourth of/ the rest of/ a quarter of/ part of, ten percent of/ thirty percent of के बाद अगर uncountable noun आये तो verb हमेशा singular होती है:

(a) One third of the work has been finished.

Rule 20. One third of/ three fourth of/ part of, ten percent of/ thirty percent of  के बाद अगर plural countable noun आये तो verb हमेशा plural होती है:

(a) One third of the students have been passed.

Rule 21 most of/ some/ some of/ half of/ enough/ enough of/ Not enough of/ plenty of/ a lot of/ lots of  के बाद अगर uncountable noun आये तो verb हमेशा singular होती है:

(a) Most of the knowledge is gained by experience.

(b) Most of the milk was impure.

Rule 22 most of/ some/ some of/ half of/ enough/ enough of/ Not enough of/ plenty of/ a lot of/ lots of  के बाद अगर plural countable noun आये तो verb हमेशा plural होती है:

(a) Most of the girls are absent today.

(b) Most of the persons are dishonest.  

(c) Most of apples are rotten.  

(d) Most of the sugar was wet with water.

Rule 23. The percentage of के बाद चाहे uncountable noun आये या countable noun, verb हमेशा singular होती है:

The percentage of unsuccessful candidates is ten.

Rule 24. More than one के बाद plural countable noun आता है और verb हमेशा singular होती है:

More than two thieves have been caught.

Rule 25. More + Plural countable noun + than one के बाद verb हमेशा Plural होती है:

More thieves than one were caught.

Rule 26 All के साथ यदि Countable noun आता है तो वह Noun भी Plural होगा एवं verb भी Plural लगाई जायेगी। लेकिन यदि all के साथ कोई Uncountable noun आता है तो Verb-Singular लगाई जाती है। जैसे:

(a) All the tigers are wild animals.

(b) All the money was taken away by the thief.

Rule 27. There के बाद आने वाली Verb Plural या Singular होगी, यह इस तथ्य पर निर्भर होगी कि वाक्य का Subject Plural है या Singular। जैसे:

(a) There is a girl in the room.

(b) There are ten students in the class.

(c) There was a queen.

(d) There were several ministers in the party.

Rule 28. कछ nouns, जैसे furniture, luggage, information, advice, work, knowledge, equipment, behaviour, scenery, traffic, fruit, electricity, music, progress, weather, nonsense, sense, etc. uncountable noun हैं इनको Plural नहीं किया जा सकता है अर्थात् furniture को furnitures लिखना या information को informations लिखना पूर्णतया गलत है। इनसे पहले article -a/an का प्रयोग भी नहीं किया जा सकता है एवं इनके साथ हमेशा Singular Verb का प्रयोग होता है। जैसे :

(a) Work is worship.

(b) Knowledge is power.

(c) His behaviour was not proper.

(d) His advice in the matter is trustworthy.

(e) The scenery of Kashmir is indeed beautiful.

इस तरह की Nouns को Countable बनाने के लिए इनके साथ कुछ शब्द जैसे : a piece of information, a piece of advice, a packet of furniture लगाया जा सकता है।

Rule 29. As follows (एक phrase) की जगह as follow लिखना गलत है। अंग्रेजी में as follows ही लिखा जाता है 

(a) The main points are as follows.(not as follow)

(b) The details are as follows.(not as follow)

Rule 30. The following एवं the undersigned का प्रयोग यदि singular subject के लिये हुआ तो Verb Singular लगती है। जैसे :

(a) The following are the new prices of the items.

(b) Undersigned has taken a decision.

(c) We, the undersigned request the pleasure of your company.

S. K. Jain P. K. Jain.

(d) The following is the summary of the discussions held in the meeting.

Rule 31. कई वाक्यों में Singular noun का Repetition, preposition के बाद होता है ऐसे वाक्यों में Singular Verb लगती है। जैसे :

(a) Man after man was coming there.

(b) One month after another has passed.

(c) Ship after ship is arriving regularly.

(d) He begs from door to door.

Rule 32 कछ Noun जो दिखने में भी Plural लगते हैं दो भागों में बने होते हैं जैसे :

Scissors, pants, trousers, binoculars, tongs, spectacles, shorts, breeches, shoes, scales, glasses, googles etc. इनके साथ Verb  plural लगती है। जैसे :

 (a) My shoes are new.

(b) The scissors are blunt.

(c) His pants are tight.

(d) Her spectacles are beautiful.

(a) Only a pair of shoes is required.

(b) A pair of scissors was purchased by me.

Rule 33. कुछ nouns ऐसे हैं जो Singular एवं Plural दोनों forms में एक ही रूप में रहते हैं। इनके साथ Verb  singular or plural लगती है। जैसे :

Noun : Sheep, fish, deer, pice etc.

(a) A sheep is a beautiful animal.

(b) Many sheep are grazing there.

(c) I found a pice.

(d) I found five pice.

(d) There are many fishes in the pond. Incorrect

There are many fish in the pond. Correct

Rule 34. यदि किसी वाक्य में infinitive, gerund, phrase, या कोई clause, subject का कार्य करता है, ऐसे वाक्यों में Singular Verb लगती है। जैसे :  

(1) Swimming is a good exercise.

 (2) To swim is good for you.

 (3) How to start it is a big question.

 (4) That she is poor is known to me.

Rule 35 कुछ वाक्यों में noun के बाद Preposition एवं फिर noun आता है, ऐसे वाक्यों में verb पहले noun के अनुसार आती है:

(1) The quality of these goods is well known.

(2) Financial help from all the countries was received.

(3) The colour of this shirt is liked by all.

(4) Your views on this matter are supported by all.

(5) The details of the accident were not received by us so far.

(6) The cost of production of steel goods is increasing.

(7) Economic cooperation between India and Pakistan is increasing.

(8) The smell of these flowers is liked by all.

Rule 36 यदि वाक्य में A number या The number का प्रयोग हुआ है तो ध्यान रखें the number के साथ हमेशा singular verb लगती है तथा A number के साथ हमेशा Plural verb लगती है।

The number का अर्थ होता है एक निश्चित संख्या यह collective noun की तरह प्रयुक्त होता है एवं Singular verb का प्रयोग किया जाता है।

 (1) The number of students opted English in Administrative Services is generally small.

(2) The number of candidates appeared in SSC this year was very large.

(3) A number of English books are available in library.

(4) There were a number of students waiting for their turn.

Rule 37 (A) यदि किसी वाक्य का Subject, कोई Relative pronoun जैसे who, which, that है तो verb, इस Relative Relative pronoun के पहले आने वाला noun या pronoun यदि Singular है तो Verb भी Singular, यदि Plural हो तो Verb Plural लगेगी या यह कहें कि Relative Pronoun से पूर्व आने वाला noun या pronoun ही verb को अनुशासित करता है। जैसे:

(1) It is I who have telephoned you.

(2) It is he who is responsible for this loss.

(3) The book that is here is mine.

(4) The books that are here are mine.

(5) The woman, who is in black saree, is my wife.

(6) The women, who are standing there are my sisters.

(B) कुछ वाक्य ऐसे होते हैं जिनमें one of के साथ Relative Pronoun भी आता है। जैसे :

(1) He is one of those who do not attend the meeting.

(2) It is one of the problems that hamper the work. .

ऐसे वाक्यों में one of के बाद आने वाले Noun या Pronoun के अनुसार Verb लगाई जाती है। उपरोक्त दोनों वाक्यों में one of के बाद (noun/pronoun) Those एवं problems आये हैं अतः verb; do एवं hamper भी Plural है।

Rule 38 -जब वाक्यों में 'Nothing but' आता है तो Verb हमेशा Singular ही लगेगी चाहे Nothing but के बाद आने वाला noun; singular हो या Plural। जैसे :

(1) Nothing but hill is seen.

(2) Nothing but birds is seen.

(3) Nothing but girls is there.

(4) Nothing but a student is there.

Rule 39 यदि दो Singular nouns के पहले 'no' का प्रयोग हो तो verb- singular लगती है। जैसे :

(1) No boy and no girl was present in the party,

(2) No man and no woman was swimming at that time.

Rule 40 जब दो अंकगणितीय figures, and से जोड़े जाते हैं तो verb-singular भी हो सकती है और plural भी। जैसे: 

(1) Four and four is eight

(2) Four and four are eight.

जब Singular verb का प्रयोग होता है तो इसका अर्थ है कि and से संयुक्त अंकों को एक Unitary Concept माना गया है। जब Plural Verb का प्रयोग होता है तो इन्हें अलग-अलग माना गया है। इस सम्बन्ध में Norman Lewis के निम्न कथन पर ध्यान दें:

Five and five is ten : Right-

But don't jump to the conclusion that 'five and five are ten' is wrong both verbs are equally accepted.-Norman Lewis

साधारणतया Singular verb का प्रयोग उचित रहता है।

Rule 41 कई वाक्य ऐसे होते हैं जिनमें 'as' का प्रयोग करते समय as के बाद subject का प्रयोग नहीं करते हैं (या subject understood होता है) ऐसे वाक्यों में verb का प्रयोग वाक्य के अर्थ के अनुसार ही करना चाहिए - अर्थात यदि अर्थ के अनुसार subject singular है तो verb- singular एवं यदि अर्थ के अनुसार subject-plural है तो verb-plural लगेगी। जैसे:

(1) There were not so many workers as were required.

(2) There were not so many workers as was expected.

पहले वाक्य में as के बाद 'they' subject understood है। अतः 'were' Plural verb का प्रयोग हुआ है। दूसरे नामें के बाद subject 'it' understood है। अतः 'was' singular verb का प्रयोग किया गया है।

Rule 42 कई वाक्यों में 'as' के समान ही than के बाद Subject understood होता है। यदि यह subject-singular है तो verb singular एवं यदि यह subject, plural है तो plural verb का प्रयोग किया जाता है। जैसे :

(1) There were more casualties than was reported.

(2) There were more books than were required.

पहले वाक्य में than के बाद 'it understood है एवं दसरे वाक्य में than के बाद 'they' understood है। अतः 

Rule 43 Everyone, Everybody, Nobody, Somebody, No one, Each one, Someone के साथ singular verb का प्रयोग किया जाता है:

(1) Everyone was happy to get this news.

(2) Somebody is coming here.

(3) Each one was given a gift.

(4) Someone is there in the hall.

Rule 44 Either of, Each of, Neither of के साथ भी singular verb का प्रयोग होता है। ध्यान रखें, Either of,Each of एवं Neither of के बाद Subject (noun) plural आता है। जैसे :

(a) Each of the students was given a gift.

(b) Either of the magazines is useful.

(c) Neither of the books is cheap.

(d) Neither of the girls was beautiful.

                          Exercise

1. Mohan along with all students......................going on a picnic. (is/are)
2. He as well as I..............................reading in the class. (is/am/are)
3. The book on the table......................mine. (is/are)
4. The books on the table....  ………mine. (is/are)
5. I who.. .................your friend, will go with you. (is/am/are)
6. He, who....................my friend, will read with me. (is/are)
7. I bought the car which.....................very costly. (was/were)
8. Not only she but also I. .................this pen. (want/wants)
9. Not only Sohan but also other students............. ............running. (is/am/are)
10. More than one boy.......................found guilty. (was/were)
11. More than one hundred boys.....................present. (was/were)
12. Whom........................you want to meet? (do/does)
13. Ram with his friends......................come. (has/have)
14. All his friends with Ram......................already come. (has/have)
15. The number of boys.....................forty. of (is/are)
16. Nothing but roses..............seen here.  (are / is)
17. She behaves as though she........mad. (were / was)
18. She .............. not work hard. (needs / need)
19. I wish I ................ a bird. (was / were)
20. The eyes of an elephant .............. very small.(is / are)
21. The poor...................... miserable.(is/are)
22. Every boy and every girl ................. got an orange. (has/have)
23. The police ........ arrested the robbers. (has / have)
24. Who ……………….that boy? (is/ are)
25. Who ………………..those girls? (is/ are)
26. The Indians ………………laborious. (is/ are)
27. Walking………………….good for health. (is/ are)
28. Drinking and gambling …………………..bad habits.
29. What he said……………….not heard. (is/ are)
30. Most of the mango………………..rotten. (is/ are)
31. Most of the mangoes………………..rotten. (is/ are)
32. A lot of apples.........................rotten. (is/ are)
33. Ten rupees........................not a big sum. (is/ are)
34. The Headmaster and Secretary..........................present. (is/are)
35. Neither Neetu nor her sisters..........................lazy. (is/are)
36. Not only the lame boy but also his parents........................sad. (is/are)
37. The cups on the table...............lovely. (look/looks)
38. The cattle ............grazing. (is/are)
39. The news ................. correct. (is/are)
40. Ten miles .. ........... not a long distance. (is/are)
41. The dumb ............... not speak. (does/do)
42. There.........................a large number of boys in his class. (is/are)
43. A number of boys.........................caught copying. (was/were)
44. The military...............................called out. (was/were)
45. The news of his accident. ………………..true. (was/were)
46. Neither of the men........................very tall. (was/were)
47. Each one of our houses.....................to let. (is/are)
48. Two third population of the country......................in villages. (live/lives)
49. The cost of all these articles.....................risen. (has/have)
50. The tallest of the three boys......................to meet me daily. (comė/comes)
51. All the students of my class......................... English.(learn/learns)
52. Every man, woman and child..................present in the festival. (was/were)
53. Either Hari or his brother.............................taken my purse. (has/havė)
54. Hari besides his sisters.........................to school by car. (go/goes)
55. The number of questions in this paper....................twenty five. (is/are)
56. Cattle............................grazing in the field. (is/are)
57. The poor.............. honest. (is/ are)
58. The great poet and scholar..............dead.
59. All my friends............gone. (has/ have)
60. Mathematics ................ very difficult to me. (is/ are)
61. If I………...you, I would do it. (was/ were)