Advertisements
Advertisements
Question
Fill in the blanks with appropriate verbs to complete this biography of Rickety Ron.
RICKETY RON
Rickety Ron is a student of statistics, which for many years .............. been his favourite subject. Ron has always loved playing with numbers. Dramatics ........................ his life but every time he takes a role for stage acting, he's mysteriously down with mumps. Mumps ....................... . always been his undoing! Ron is no good at games and opts for the least exerting sports of all. So, for him, it's skittles, darts and cards. Cards .......................... his favourite, though! He loves aerobics too. Aerobics, to him, ..................... both relaxation and entertainment.
Advertisements
Solution
Rickety ron
Rickety Ron is a student of statistics, which for many years has been his favourite subject. Ron has always loved playing with numbers. Dramatics is his life but every time he takes a role for stage acting, he’s mysteriously down with mumps. Mumps has always been his undoing ! Ron is no good at games and opts for the least exerting sports of all. So, for him, it’s skittles, darts and cards. Cards is his favourite, though ! He loves aerobics too. Aerobics, to him, is both relaxation and entertainment.
APPEARS IN
RELATED QUESTIONS
Verbs - singular or plural
Look at the following two sentences. Which one is correct?
a) The jury were divided in their opinion.
b) The jury was unanimous in their decision.
Jury is a collective noun. Whenever there is a sense of unity, we use singular
verb with collective nouns but when it is used in the sense of separation, we use
plural verb with them, so both are correct in different situations.
Here are some more such words.

| If you use plural verbs, you will always be correct, but if you use a singular noun, you may be wrong. So - to be safe - use plural verbs with these nouns. |
- Work in pairs. Write five questions using some of the nouns given in B.
above.
Tick the correct form of the verb in the following sentence:
- Summons............ sent for his arrest.
| Is it true that the students from the Space Research Centre are arriving this evening? | Yes, the study they are conducting needs an elevated location like our campus. |
| I agree. The constellation they are going to observe is clearly visible from here. | What about the team supervisor? Is he coming? |
| No, their manager called this morning. The supervisor is busy making arrangements for the committee which is to arrive tomorrow. |
I have heard that he is going to join politics. |
| Yes, this news is true. | But honesty his policy and politics is a corrupt game these days. |
| Yes, but that does not mean that good people should not join politics | Yes, you are right |
| When the pick-up bus that we have sent to the railway station arrives here, we may need help to shift the luggage which, I presume, is going to be very heavy. |
List the subjects from the dialogues in A1 under the following headings. One has been done as an example
| COUNTABLE SINGULAR | COUNTABLE PLURAL | UNCOUNTABLE |
| students |
Work in pairs and decide whether the following are countable singular (cs), countable plural (cp) or uncountable (uc). Write the symbols under each circle. One has been done as an example
| Feet - CP | person - | news - | oxen - |
| tooth - | coffee - | knife - | boxes - |
| goose - | gentlement - | oil - | furmiture - |
Tick the correct form of the verb in the following sentences:
Skittles _________a popular game in India these days.
Work in pairs and complete the following spider diagrams, a, b and c. All the words will be related to the word in the centre. Some clues are given.

All the above nouns look like plurals (i.e. they end ins.) But they are, in fact, singular nouns
Now, complete the sentence : For these nouns we use a .................. verb.
Will the following take a plural or a singular verb? Why?
| The United States of America, 500 rupees, a number of people, the Arabian Nights, a couple of friends, half of us, the majority of the members of the committee, a gang of robbers, a herd of cattle |
Work in pairs. Take turns to ask and answer the following.
What are tongs used for?

.............. are ..............
Work in pairs. Take turns to ask and answer the following.
Are your ............... ?

My goggles ..................
Work in pairs. Take turns to ask and answer the following.
Which ................?

Black slacks are not allowed in school.
Work in pairs. Take turns to ask and answer the following.
Can you lend me your compasses?

................. ,they ........................
Read the following sentence. The Sentence contains one error. Correct the error and complete the statement that are marked*:
Oil and water does not mix.
| Statement * : Two or more Singular Nouns connected by 'and' are normally followed by a _________ Verb . |
Read the following sentence. The Sentence contains one error. Correct the error and complete the statement that are marked*:
Age and experience bring wisdom to man.
Read the following sentence. The Sentence contains one error. Correct the
error and complete the statement that are marked*:
The notable patriot and orator are no more.
Read the following sentence. The Sentence contains one error. Correct the
error and complete the statement that are marked*:
The industrialist and the politician has been invited to the function.
| Statements*: When two Singular Nouns are connected by 'and' and a determiner is used before only one noun,they are Followed by a__________verb . If the two nouns refer to two different things/Persons, the detenTiiner should be repeated and the verb should be used in the__________ |
Read the following sentence. The Sentence contains one error. Correct the
error and complete the statement that are marked*:
No scholarship or reward were given to the student who stood first in the
examination.
Read the following sentence. The Sentence contains one error. Correct the
error and complete the statement that are marked*:
Either you or Rashmi have to own the responsibility for the mishap.
| Statements *: When the Subjects connected by 'or'or'nor' are of different person,the verb should agree in person with the Subject __________to it . |
