Agreement of the Verb with the Subject

  

AGREEMENT OF THE VERB WITH THE SUBJECT

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. This should be avoided as shown in the following examples:-

The quality of the mangoes was not good.

The introduction of tea and coffee and such other beverages has not been without some effect.

His knowledge of Indian vernaculars is far beyond the common.

The state of his affairs was such as to cause anxiety to his creditors.

If it were possible to get near when one of the volcanic eruptions takes place, we should see a grand sight.

The results of the recognition of this fact are seen in the gradual improvement of the diet of the poor.

Two or more singular nouns or pronouns joined by and require a plural verb; as, Gold and silver are precious metals.

Fire and water do not agree.

Knowledge and wisdom have oft-times no connection. Are your father and mother at home?

In him were centred their love and their ambition. 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,

Time and tide waits for no man.

The horse and carriage is at the door.

Bread and butter is his only food.

Honour and glory is his reward.

The rise and fall of the tide is, due to lunar influence.

My friend and benefactor has come.

The novelist and poet is dead.

Words joined to a singular subject by with, as well as, etc., are parenthetical. The verb should therefore be put in the singular; as,

            The house, with its contents, was insured. The Mayor, with his councillors, is to be present.

            The ship, with its crew, was lost.

            Silver, as well as cotton, has fallen in price.

            Sanskrit, as well as Arabic, was taught there.

            Justice, as well as mercy, allows it.

            The guidance, as well as the love of a mother, was wanting.

      Two or more singular subjects connected by or or nor require a singular verb; as.

No nook or corner was left unexplored.

Our happiness or our sorrow is largely due to our own actions.

Either the cat or the dog has been here.

Neither food nor water was to be found there.

Neither praise nor blame seems to affect him.

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, Neither the Chairman nor the directors are present.

When the subjects joined by or or nor are of different persons, the verb agrees with the nearer; as,

Either he or I am mistaken. Either you or he is mistaken. Neither you nor he is to blame. Neither my friend not I am to blame.

But it is better to avoid these constructions, and to write:-

He is mistaken, or else I am.

You are mistaken, or else he is.

He is not to blame, nor are you.

My friend is not to blame, nor am I.

   Either, neither, each, everyone, many a, must be followed by a singular verb; as,

He asked me whether either of the applicants was suitable.

Neither of the two men was very strong.

Each of these substances is found in India.

Every one of the prisons is full.

Every one of the boys loves to ride.

Many a man has done so.

Many a man does not know his own good deeds.

Many a man has succumbed to this temptation.

Two nouns qualified by each or every, even though connected by and, require a singular verb; as,

Every boy and every girl was given a packet of sweets.

Some nouns which are plural in form, but singular in meaning, take a singular verb ;

as,

The news is true.

Politics was with him the business of his life. The wages of sin is death.

Mathematics is a branch of study in every school.

Pains and means take either the singular or the plural verb, but the construction must be consistent; as,

Great pains have been taken. Much pains has been taken.

All possible means have been tried.

The means employed by you is sufficient.

In the sense of income, the word means always takes a plural verb; as,

My means were much reduced owing to that heavy loss.

His means are ample.

Some nouns which are singular in form, but plural in meaning take a plural verb; as, According to the present market rate twelve dozen cost one hundred rupees.

        None, though properly singular, commonly takes a plural verb as, None are so deaf as those who wilt not hear.

Cows are amongst the gentlest of breathing creatures; none show more passionate tenderness to their young.

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, The Committee has issued its report.

The Committee are divided on one minor point. But we must be consistent. Thus, we should say :

The Committee has appended a note to its (not their) report.

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,

               The Arabian Nights is still a great favourite.

               The United States has a big navy.

               Plutarch's Lives is an interesting book.

               Gulliver's Travels was written by Swift.

When a plural noun denotes some specific quantity or amount considered as a whole, the verb is generally singular; as,

Fifteen minutes is allowed to each speaker. Ten kilometers is a long walk.

Fifty thousand rupees is a large sum.

Three parts of the business is left for me to do.

Exercise

In each of the following sentences supply a Verb in agreement with its Subject :-

To take pay and then not to do work --- dishonest.

The cost of all these articles --- risen.

The jury --- divided in their opinions.

That night every one of the boat's crew --- down with fever.

One or the other of those fellows --- stolen the watch.

The strain of ail the difficulties and vexations and anxieties --- more than he could bear.

No news --- good news.

The accountant and the cashier --- absconded.

A good man and useful citizen --- passed away.

      The famous juggler and conjurer --- too unwell to perform.

The Three Musketeers --- written by Dumas.

Each of the suspected men ---	arrested.
The ebb and flow of the tides	--- explained by Newton.
Ninety rupees --- too much for this bag.
The cow as well as the horse ---	grass.
Neither his father nor his mother --- alive.

         There --- many objections to the plan.

         Two-thirds of the city --- in ruins.

         The formation of paragraphs --- very important.

         Man's happiness or misery --- in a great measure in his own hands.