Answers to Grammar Quiz - VI (Subject - Verb Concord)

Subject-verb agreement

 This is one of the most important errors tested in CAT and other entrance exams.There are 7 variations under S-V agreement.These are as follows:

• SN-SV/PN-PV [ a singular noun takes a singular verb and a plural noun takes a plural verb]
• SPr-SV/PPr-PV [ a singular pronoun takes a singular verb and a plural pronoun takes a plural verb]
• CN -SV/PV [ a collective noun can take either a singular or a plural verb depending on the activity it performs , refer the post on collective nouns for more info]
• IPr-SV [ indefinite pronouns like none,one,each etc would always take a singular verb]
• N and N -PV [ when two nouns are joined by cordinating conjunctions like and,but etc the number of the verb would always be plural;except when the two nouns refer to the same person {The President and Treaurer was invited for the party} and when the two nouns convey the same idea {Time and tide waits for none.}
• N as well as /along with N -SV [when two nouns are joined by subordinating conjunctions like along with,as well as,with etc the number of the verb would always depend on the number of the first noun]
• Double conjunctions : when two nouns are joined by double conjunctions like either-or,neither-nor etc the verb number depends on the number of the noun the verb is close to.So if the verb is placed near a singular noun the verb would be singular and so on....

In short the conjunctiion conundrum can be made simple with an example :

The king and the minister are invited for the wedding.
The king and minister is invited for the wedding.
The king along with the minister is invited for the wedding.
The king along with the ministers is invited for the wedding.
The kings along with the minister are invited for the wedding.
Neither the king nor the minister is invited for the wedding.
Neither the kings nor the minister is invited for the wedding.[for double conjunction the following formula can be used :
SN-SN-SV
PN-PN-PV
SN-PN-PV
PN-SN-SV]

Answers

1) Neither Ram nor his sons have attended the wedding .[double conjunction rule]

2) Ram along with his sons has attended the wedding.

3) None of the candidates was selected. [indefinite pronoun rule]

4) The scissors that he has bought are in the drawer.

5) If I were the Prime minister I would attend every cabinet meeting. [ If + I = were; this combination is used to indicate an hypothetical situation and denotes the subjunctive mood of the verb]

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