Subject Verb Agreement
Subject-Verb Agreement is a fundamental aspect of English grammar that ensures the subject and verb in a sentence agree in number. This is a critical topic for banking exams as it tests a candidate’s understanding of sentence structure, which is essential for clear and effective communication.
Key Concepts for Banking Exams:
- Basic Rule:
- Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs.
- Example:
- Singular: “The cat runs.”
- Plural: “The cats run.”
- Compound Subjects:
- When two subjects are joined by “and,” the verb is usually plural.
- Example: “The manager and the clerk are“
- However, if the compound subject refers to a single entity or idea, a singular verb is used.
- Example: “Bread and butter is my favorite breakfast.”
- Subjects Joined by “Or” or “Nor”:
- The verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
- Example: “Neither the manager nor the employees are“
- Indefinite Pronouns:
- Some indefinite pronouns (e.g., anyone, everyone, someone) are always singular and take a singular verb.
- Example: “Everyone is“
- Others like “both,” “few,” “many” are plural and take a plural verb.
- Example: “Many were“
- Collective Nouns:
- Collective nouns like “team,” “committee,” or “family” can take either a singular or plural verb depending on whether the group acts as a single unit or as individuals.
- Example:
- Singular: “The team is“
- Plural: “The team are arguing among themselves.”
- Inverted Sentences:
- When the subject follows the verb, ensure the verb agrees with the subject, not with any intervening word.
- Example: “There is a book on the table.”
- Expressions of Quantity:
- The verb agrees with the noun in expressions like “a number of” or “the majority of.”
- Example:
- “A number of people are“
- “The majority of the cake is“
Tips for Banking Exams:
- Practice Identifying Subjects and Verbs: Quickly spotting the subject and verb will help in ensuring they agree.
- Watch Out for Tricky Phrases: Phrases that come between the subject and verb can sometimes mislead you.
- Review Exceptions: Familiarize yourself with exceptions to standard rules, as these often appear in exams.
- Words that are Plural in Form but Singular in Meaning:
- Some words, like “news,” “mathematics,” “measles,” and “physics,” appear plural but are singular and take a singular verb.
- Example: “The news is surprising.”
- Subjects Separated by Phrases or Clauses:
- When a subject is separated from its verb by phrases or clauses, the verb should still agree with the main subject.
- Example: “The bouquet of roses, which are very fragrant, was given to her.”
- Titles of Books, Movies, and Other Works:
- Even if a title is plural in form, it takes a singular verb.
- Example: “The Chronicles of Narnia is a popular series.”
- Gerunds and Infinitives as Subjects:
- Gerunds (verbs ending in -ing that function as nouns) and infinitives (to + verb) used as subjects take a singular verb.
- Example: “Swimming is fun.” / “To err is human.”
- “One of the…” Constructions:
- In constructions like “one of the [plural noun] who,” the verb following “who” should be plural because it refers to the plural noun.
- Example: “She is one of the students who have excelled.”
- With Words Like “Each,” “Every,” “No”:
- When “each,” “every,” or “no” precedes the subject, the verb is singular.
- Example: “Every student was present.” / “No person is allowed.”
- With Quantitative Expressions:
- The verb can be singular or plural depending on the noun following the expression.
- Example:
- Singular: “None of the money was found.”
- Plural: “None of the cookies were left.”
- With “Either” and “Neither”:
- “Either” and “neither,” without their correlatives (“or” and “nor”), are singular and take a singular verb.
- Example: “Neither of the options is suitable.”
- Subjects with Multiple Nouns Joined by “Along with,” “As well as,” “Besides,” “Not”:
- These phrases do not make the subject plural; the verb should agree with the main subject.
- Example: “The teacher, along with her students, was excited.”
- Uncountable Nouns:
- Uncountable nouns like “information,” “furniture,” “luggage,” “advice,” etc., always take a singular verb.
- Example: “The information is accurate.”
- Complex Sentences:
- In sentences with multiple clauses, each clause must have the correct subject-verb agreement.
- Example: “The cake that was on the table, as well as the cookies, was eaten.”
- Formal Subjects:
- When the subject is introduced by “there” or “here,” the verb agrees with the real subject following it.
- Example: “There are two options.”
- Relative Pronouns (“Who,” “Which,” “That”):
- The verb agrees with the noun preceding the relative pronoun.
- Example: “She is one of the players who are training.”
Exam Strategies:
- Read Carefully: Pay attention to the subject of each clause in complex sentences.
- Practice with IBS Mock Tests: Timed practice can help you improve accuracy under exam conditions.
- Review Mistakes: Understanding why a particular answer is correct will help solidify these rules.
