COMMON ERRORS IN SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
1). ‘Else’ is always followed by ‘but’ and never by ‘than’
For example,
It is nothing else than poverty that makes them naïve. (Incorrect)
It is nothing else but poverty that makes them naïve. (Correct)
2). ‘As if’ is always followed by ‘were’ even with the third person singular, when it shows pretension
For example,
He speaks as if he was a good man. (Incorrect)
He speaks as if he were a good man. (Correct)
3). ‘Not’ is never used with ‘until’
For example,
I will talk until you do not speak. (Incorrect)
I will talk until you speak. (Correct)
4). ‘No sooner’ should always be followed by ‘then’ and not by ‘but’ or ‘than’
For example,
No sooner I finish this work, than I shall begin another. (Incorrect)
No sooner I finish this work, then I shall begin another. (Correct)
5). ‘Hardly’ and ‘scarcely’ should be followed by ‘when’ or ‘before’ and not by ‘than’ or ‘that’
For example,
Hardly did I reach the venue, than the event started. (Incorrect)
Hardly did I reach the venue, when the event started. (Correct)
6). ‘That’ should not be used before a sentence in Direct speech
For example,
She said that, “He will go there.” (Incorrect)
She said, “He will go there.” (Correct)
7). ‘That’ should not be used before interrogative adverbs and pronouns in the indirect speech.
For example,
She asked me that where I was. (Incorrect)
She asked me where I was. (Correct)
8). If two singular nouns refer to the same person or thing then the verb must be singular.
For example,
Secretary and principal are coming. (Incorrect)
Secretary and principal is coming. (Correct)
9). Two or more singular subjects are connected by ‘and’ then the verb will be plural.
For example,
Arvind and Ashwin is coming. (Incorrect)
Arvind and Ashwin are coming. (Correct)
10). Two subjects joined by ‘and’ will always take a plural verb, but when considered as a single unit then the verb will be singular.
For example,
Bread and jam was bought separately. (Incorrect)
Bread and jam were bought separately. (Correct)
(In the above example, bread and jam are two separate subjects joined by ‘and’)
Bread and jam are my breakfast. (Incorrect)
Bread and jam is my breakfast. (Correct)
(In this example, bread and jam is considered as a single unit verb i.e., as breakfast in whole.)
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