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Question
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.
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Solution
Activity meant for at class level. The five questions are given below :
- Do you think the staff agree to these proposals ?
- How are the audience going to react to this price rise ?
- What have the council decided about the water problem ?
- How do you think are the public receiving this increase in petrol prices ?
- How do the crew react to our anchoring in the mid-sea ?
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RELATED QUESTIONS
Read the following dialogue. First, underline the word or words that
represent the subject in each sentence of the dialogue. Then circle the Mverbs that each subject refers to. (One has been done for you as an example)
| 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. |
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 |
Tick the correct form of the verb in the following sentences:
To an outsider the economics of this company__________ to be in a
shambles. (Hint: economics here refers to the company's financial status)
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 |
Read the following sentence. The Sentence contains one error. Correct the
error and complete the statement that are marked*:
1. One of my friends have gone to Canada.
Work in pairs. Take turns to ask and answer the following.
Have you got the binoculars?
No, ................... them .................
Work in pairs. Take turns to ask and answer the following.
What are pliers made of ?
They .........................................
Work in pairs. Take turns to ask and answer the following.
Are your socks .............?
Yes, ..................
Read the following sentence. The Sentence contains one error. Correct the
error and complete the statement that are marked*:
Neither of the boxers were able to score a decisive victory:
| Statement*: Subjects containing 'one of, 'each of, 'every one of and 'neither of' are followed by _______ verbs. ! |
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.
What ........... ?
............................... are used for cutting cloth .
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Bread and Butter are what the poor want.
| Statement*:When Two Singular Nouns Conneccted By 'and'Express One Idea,they are Followed by a_________Verb . |
Read the following sentence. The Sentence contains one error. Correct the
error and complete the statement that are marked*:
My uncle and guardian want me to start my own business.
Read the following sentence. The Sentence contains one error. Correct the
error and complete the statement that are marked*:
The Collector and District Magistrate are away.
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*:
Neither he nor I has any objection to your plan.
