Advertisements
Advertisements
Question
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 |
Advertisements
Solution
All of these, except the Arabian Nights, a gang of robbers and a herd of cattle, will take a plural verb because the persons or things they are referring to are in plural. If a singular verb is used, it will spoil the sense of the sentence in each case.
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:
The staff _________ happy with their working environment.
Tick the correct form of the verb in the following sentences:
Mathematics __________ a compulsory subject for under-graduation in most of
the science and commerce streams.
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 tongs used for?
.............. are ..............
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.
Read the following sentence. The Sentence contains one error. Correct the
error and complete the statement that are marked*:
Tobacco and alcohol is injurious to health.
Work in pairs. Take turns to ask and answer the following.
What ........... ?
............................... are used for cutting cloth .
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 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*:
Either China or Malaysia have the chance to win the world cup in
badminton.
| Statement* When Singular Subjects are connected by 'or', 'neither ............. nor' and 'either ............... or', 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*:
Neither he nor I has any objection to your plan.
