Subject-Verb Agreement- Common Errors

Subject-Verb Agreement: Common Errors

Dear readers, in the previous post we discussed some of the common errors associated with Errors due to Proximity in terms of Subject-Verb Agreement that English as non-native speakers encounter in their daily conversation. In this present post let us learn some important conditions in terms of subject-verb agreement.

1.   Compound nouns that indicate an amount of money, length, measure, time and weight when preceded by a numeral, remain singular. Examples:

·       I saw a three-foot short man.

·       B.A. Economics is a three-year degree programme.

·       My dad gave me a twenty-rupee coin.

·       A three-ton lorry crossed the bridge safely.

2.   A lot of, plenty of, most of and some of  are used before a plural or an uncountable noun. They take a singular verb when they are used with uncountable nouns and take a plural verb when they are followed by countable nouns. Examples:

·       A lot of work is over.

·       A lot of books were purchased.

·       There is plenty of milk in the canteen.

·       There are plenty of fruits in the basket.

·       Most of your time has to be spent usefully.

·       Most of the umbrellas have been purchased.

·       Some of the important medicine for diabetics is to be packed.

·       Some of the trees were protected.

Let us discuss other conditions in the next post.

Author:

Dr. K. Nandhakumar

Assistant Professor of English

Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science (Autonomous)

Coimbatore- 641 020