पाठ 30: Grammar 2: Subject-Verb Concord (कर्ता-क्रिया अन्विति)

Chapter / 2

SUBJECT-VERB CONCORD

'Subject-Verb Concord' से आशय है कि वाक्य में Subject के Number व Person के अनुसार ही Verb का प्रयोग होना चाहिए। यह Grammar का तथा English Writing का मूलभूत नियम (Fundamental Rule) है। दूसरे शब्दों में, इसे 'Agreement of the Verb with its Subject' भी कह सकते हैं।

स्पष्टीकरण—'Verb' का प्रयोग वाक्य के 'Subject' के अनुसार होना चाहिए। Subject यदि Singular है तो Verb भी Singular आयेगा और Subject यदि Plural है तो Verb भी Plural आयेगा।

ध्यान दें—Subject के Gender का Verb के प्रयोग पर कोई प्रभाव नहीं पड़ता है।

(1) 'He' के साथ जो Verb आता है, 'She' के साथ भी वही Verb आयेगा।

(2) 'boy' के साथ जो Verb आता है, 'girl' के साथ भी वही Verb आयेगा।

(3) 'Rajesh' के साथ जो Verb आता है, 'Vimla' के साथ भी वही Verb आयेगा।

Singular तथा Plural Verbs

RULES :

Rule : 1 : 'Singular' की spelling का प्रथम अक्षर 'S' याद रखो, जिस Verb के अंत में '-s' अथवा '-es' हो वह singular verb है।

Singular Verbs : (i) is, was, has

( ध्यान दें—सभी के अन्त में '-s' है।)

(ii) plays, eats, writes, goes, does..........

( ध्यान दें—सभी के अन्त में -s अथवा -es है।)

Rule : 2 : जिस Verb के अंत में -s अथवा -es नहीं हो वह Plural Verb है।

Plural Verbs : (i) are, were, have

( ध्यान दें—किसी के अंत में -s अथवा -es नहीं हैं।)

(ii) play, eat, write, go, do........

( ध्यान दें—किसी के अंत में -s अथवा -es नहीं हैं।)

विशेष-1. Singular तथा Plural Verb का प्रयोग मुख्यतः Present Tense में होता है।

2. Past Tense व Future Tense में ऐसा अन्तर नहीं है, अर्थात् इन Tenses में सभी Verbs—Singular भी हैं व Plural भी हैं; जैसे went, wrote, played; will go, shall go, will play.

Rule : 3 : यदि Subject—Singular है तो Verb भी Singular आयेगा; और यदि Subject Plural है तो Verb भी Plural आयेगा।

ध्यान से समझें-

Rule No. 3 का उदाहरणों द्वारा स्पष्टीकरण-

नोट : नीचे Ss का अर्थ है-Singular subject

Sv का अर्थ है-Singular verb

Ps का अर्थ है-Plural subject

Pv का अर्थ है-Plural verb

विशेष- I की स्थिति विशिष्ट है। इसे Plural Subject की तरह व्यवहार में लिया जाता है। Tense के अनुसार I के साथ am, was, shall का प्रयोग होता है। यथा-

I am (Present)*

I was (Past)*

I shall (Future)*

I have (Plural)*

I play (Plural)*

EXERCISE

Subjects के आगे कोष्ठक में दो Verbs दिए हैं जिनमें एक Verb गलत है। Correct Verb लिखिये—

1. Teacher (teach, teaches)

2. You (eat, eats)

3. Sita (sleep, sleeps)

4. Gopal (play, plays)

5. Boys (runs, run)

6. Girls (sings, sing)

7. I (is, am)

8. We (are, is)

9. She (go, goes)

10. You (was, were)

11. Raju (reads, read)

12. They (cook, cooks)

13. He (run, runs)

14. They (run, runs)

15. She (make, makes)

17. You (sleep, sleeps)

19. Girls (speak, speaks)

21. Woman (is, were)

23. Children (is, are)

16. They (make, makes)

18. I (sleep, sleeps)

20. Girl (speak, speaks)

22. Women (is, were)

24. Child (is, are)

Ans. : 1. teaches 2. eat 3. sleeps 4. plays 5. run 6. sing 7. am 8. are 9. goes 10. were 11. reads 12. cook 13. runs 14. run 15. makes 16. make 17. sleep 18. sleep 19. speak 20. speaks 21. is 22. were 23. are 24. is.

Subject-Verb Agreement सम्बन्धी अन्य Rules

Rule : 1 : जब दो अथवा दो से अधिक, अलग-अलग Nouns के बीच में and होता है तो Plural Verb () का प्रयोग करते हैं। जैसे—

1. Ram and Mohan are playing. (is, am, are)

2. Geeta, Vimla and Sita were dancing. (was, were)

3. Babita and my sister are friends. (is, are)

4. Your house and my house are old. (are, is)

Rule : 2 : इसी प्रकार, जब दो Pronouns के बीच में, अथवा एक Noun व Pronoun के बीच में and होता है तो भी Plural Verb () का प्रयोग होता है। जैसे—

1. He and I are playing. (is, are, am)

2. I and she were dancing. (was, were)

3. I and he have eaten food. (has, have)

4. Sita and he live in this house. (live, lives)

5. She and I are going to school. (is, are, am)

Rule : 3 : यदि वाक्य में दो Nouns के बीच में and हो तो—

(i) and के पहले जो Noun है उसमें तो कोई article ( अथवा ) दिया होता है,

(ii) लेकिन and के तुरन्त बाद वाले Noun में कोई article दिया हो सकता है अथवा नहीं दिया हो सकता है।

Examples :

(i) The teacher and poet.....coming. ‘and’ के पहले the teacher है.......लेकिन and के बाद poet है, इसके पहले कोई article नहीं है।

(ii) The teacher and the poet.....coming. ‘and’ के बाद the poet है (article दिया है)। यदि and के बाद article नहीं हो तो—Singular Verb () आयेगा।

Q. 1. The teacher and poet......coming.

Ans. The teacher and poet is coming.

यदि and के बाद article हो तो Plural Verb () आयेगा।

Q. 2. The teacher and the poet.......coming.

Ans. The teacher and the poet are coming.

कारण—1. यदि एक ही article हो तो व्यक्ति अथवा वस्तु एक ही होता है, अतः Singular Verb आयेगा।

2. यदि दो (अथवा दो से अधिक) articles हों तो दो (अथवा दो से अधिक) व्यक्ति अथवा वस्तुएँ हैं। इसलिए Plural Verb आयेगा।

Examples :

Q. 1. A clerk and typist......sitting. (is, are, am)

Ans. A clerk and typist is sitting.

Q. 2. A clerk and a typist........sitting. (was, were)

Ans. A clerk and a typist were sitting.

Q. 3. The headmaster, teacher and clerk......working. (is, are, am)

Ans. The headmaster, teacher and clerk is working.

(एक व्यक्ति हैं)

Q. 4. The headmaster, the teacher and the clerk.......working. (is, are, am)

Ans: The headmaster, the teacher and the clerk are working.

(तीन व्यक्ति हैं)

Rule : 4 : यदि दो Subjects को ‘and’ से जोड़ा गया हो और वो एक ही वस्तु का भाव व्यक्त करें तो वहाँ Singular Verb का प्रयोग किया जाता है। जैसे—

Bread and jam is my sister's favourite breakfast.

उपर्युक्त कथन में Bread and jam, breakfast का भाव व्यक्त करता है।

Rule : 5 (a) : all, many, both, several (कई), few, a few, the few आदि शब्द स्वयं बहुवचन (Plural) का बोध कराते हैं, इसलिए plural verb का उपयोग होता है, जैसे—

1. All the students of this school play football. (play, plays)

2. Many boys were playing. (was, were)

3. Several cities are dirty. (is, are)

4. A few men are sitting in the room. (is, are)

5. Few friends are sincere. (is, are)

Rule : 5 (b) : लेकिन 'Many a.......' के बाद हमेशा Singular Verb आयेगा। जैसे—

1. Many a man was arrested. (was, were)

2. Many a pen is good. (is, are)

3. Many an accident was serious. (was, were)

4. Many a student is singing songs. (is, are)

Rule : 6 : 'much' के साथ हमेशा Singular Verb आयेगा।

1. Much milk was sold today. (was, were)

2. There is much water in the river. (is, are)

3. Much noise is being made. (is, are)

Rule : 7 : निम्नलिखित शब्दों के बाद हमेशा Singular Verb आयेगा—

each, every, everybody, either, neither, no one, nobody, one of the.........

1. Each boy is sleeping. (is, are)

2. Every man, woman and child was present in the festival. (was, were)

3. Every student was honest. (was, were)

4. Everyone is present. (is, are)

5. Each man and each woman was singing. (was, were)

(ध्यान दो : Each man तथा each woman के बीच में यद्यपि 'and' है किन्तु 'each' बंधन डालता है कि singular verb—was ही आयेगा।)

6. Each boy and each girl of this school has passed the examination. (has, have)

7. Either of his two sons is in service. (is, are)

(ध्यान दो : यद्यपि 'two sons' है लेकिन 'either' बंधन डालता है कि Singular verb—is ही आयेगा।)

8. Neither of the boys was dishonest. (was, were)

9. No one was happy in the shop. (was, were)

10. Nobody has seen God. (has, have)

11. One of the boys was writing a story. (was, were)

Rule : 8 : यदि वाक्य में neither.........nor हो तो ‘nor’ के तुरन्त बाद वाले शब्द (Subject) के अनुसार Verb आयेगा, जैसे—

1. Neither the teacher nor the students were sleeping in the class. (were, was)

2. Neither my father nor my brothers have gone to Jaipur. (has, have)

3. Neither Babita nor her friends have been singing songs. (have been, has been)

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यदि वाक्य में either.........or हो तो 'or' के तुरन्त बाद वाले शब्द (Subject) के अनुसार Verb आयेगा। जैसे-

1. Either Amit or his friends have broken this glass. (has, have)

2. Either Sita or her friends were singing. (was, were)

3. Either father or his sons make tea. (make, makes)

4. Either his sons or his father makes tea. (make, makes)

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यदि वाक्य के बीच में अकेला or हो (अर्थात् either..... नहीं हो) तो भी उपर्युक्त Rule ही लगेगा अर्थात् or के बाद वाले शब्द (second subject) के अनुसार verb आयेगा। जैसे-

1. The teacher or the students were making a noise. (was, were)

2. Babita or her brothers live here. (live, lives)

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यदि 'There' (Introductory Adverb) के तुरन्त बाद :

(i) रिक्त-स्थान दिया हुआ हो,

(ii) तो रिक्त-स्थान के तुरन्त बाद वाले शब्द (Subject) के अनुसार Verb आयेगा। जैसे-

1. There is a boy in the room. (is, are)

2. There are five books in the bag. (is, are)

3. Once there was a king. (was, were)

4. I went into the room and found that there were only two students. (was, were)

5. Sita saw that there was a thief in her room. (was, were)

6. There is nothing to be afraid of. (is, are)

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यदि वाक्य में not only........but also हो तो but also के तुरन्त बाद वाले शब्द (Subject) के अनुसार Verb लगेगा।

1. Not only he but also I am playing. (is, are, am)

2. Not only Raju but also his brothers have failed. (has, have)

3. Not only the teacher but also the students write stories. (write, writes)

4. Not only the leader but also the people were shouting. (was, were)

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यदि वाक्य में both.........and हो तो Plural Verb आयेगा।

(ध्यान दें-'both' का अर्थ है-'दोनों'-यह स्वयं Plural है; अतः Plural Verb (are, were, have) ही आयेगा।)

1. Both Gopal and Suman are my friends. (is, are)

2. Both Birla and Tata are rich men. (is, are, am)

3. Both she and her husband have come. (has, have)

4. Both Sita and Kamla cook food. (cooks, cook)

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जब Adjective का प्रयोग noun की तरह हो तो Plural Verb आता है। ऐसे प्रमुख शब्द निम्नलिखित हैं-

the poor, the rich, the old, the young, the wise, the dead, the strong, the weak, the honest

ध्यान दें : (i) ऐसे प्रयोग में इन शब्दों के पहले 'the' article अवश्य ही आयेगा।

(ii) the poor का अर्थ है-तमाम निर्धन व्यक्ति, the rich का अर्थ है-तमाम धनी व्यक्ति, the old का अर्थ है-तमाम वृद्ध व्यक्ति, the young का अर्थ है-तमाम युवा व्यक्ति, the wise का अर्थ है-तमाम बुद्धिमान व्यक्ति, the dead का अर्थ है-तमाम मृत व्यक्ति.........। अतः जब इनके अर्थ में ही-'तमाम' अथवा 'समस्त' है तो Verb भी Plural ही आयेगा।

1. The rich are not always happy. (is, are)

2. The young in this family were cruel. (was, were)

3. The wise do not quarrel. (do not, does not)

4. The dead were worshipped. (was, were)

5. The strong are supposed to help the weak. (is, are)

6. The weak generally do not work hard. (do not, does not)

7. The honest are respected. (is, are)

Rule : 15 : यदि वाक्य में as well as, besides, with, together with अथवा along with हो तो इन शब्दों के ठीक पहले दिए गये शब्द के अनुसार Verb आता है। ध्यान से समझिये-

1. The manager as well as his two sons and three daughters was going to the garden. (was, were)

2. I as well as my mother am taking food. (is, are, am)

3. You as well as I are going to school. (is, are, am)

4. She as well as her brothers has taken tea. (has, have)

5. The teacher as well as the students was making a noise in the class. (was, were)

6. The leader with his followers has been arrested. (has been, have been)

Rule : 16 : यदि Collective Noun (समूहवाचक संज्ञा) का प्रयोग एक समूह के रूप में किया गया हो तो Verb हमेशा Singular आयेगा।

प्रमुख Collective Nouns निम्नलिखित हैं-

public, food, army, class, team, furniture, luggage, group of, fleet, scenery, mob (मोब = उग्र भीड़), crowd.........

1. The public has a right to know how the money is spent. (has, have)

(‘जनता’ में लाखों व्यक्ति हैं, किन्तु सामूहिक रूप में प्रयोग किया गया है।)

2. The army of India is very strong. (is, are)

(एक समूह के रूप में)

3. The armies of India and Pakistan are at the border. (is, are)

(दो अलग-अलग सेनाएँ)

4. The class is going for a picnic. (is, are, am)

(कक्षा में अनेक विद्यार्थी हैं लेकिन 'कक्षा' का प्रयोग समूहवाचक है।)

5. A team of officers has inspected the office. (has, have)

6. His furniture is old and broken. (is, are)

(फर्नीचर में मेजें, कुर्सियाँ, स्टूलें, सोफा आदि अनेक चीजें शामिल हैं।)

7. A group of fifteen robbers was standing on the road. (was, were)

8. A mob of students is coming so close to your shop. (is, are)

विशेष टिप्पणियाँ

Note 1. Police, People तथा Cattle के साथ सदैव Plural verb का प्रयोग करें।

1. Police are searching for the thief. (is, are)

2. People were happy at the news. (was, were)

3. Cattle are going to the forest. (is, are)

Note 2. Committee तथा Jury से आशय समस्त सदस्यों से हो तो Singular Verb लगेगा, यदि आशय समस्त सदस्यों से नहीं हो तो Plural Verb लगेगा।

1. The Committee is considering over this matter. (is, are)

(सम्पूर्ण सदस्यों से आशय है)

2. The Committee were divided on this point.

3. The Committee usually raise their hands to vote ‘Yes’.

Rule : 17 : यदि किसी पुस्तक का नाम अथवा पत्रिका का नाम, The United States of America Plural में हो तो भी Singular Verb का प्रयोग होता है।

1. ‘The Tales of Sindbad’ is a good story book. (is, are)

(ध्यान दें : 'पुस्तक' एक ही है)

2. 'The Arabian Nights' was published long ago.

3. 'The Manohar Kahaniyan' is a good magazine.

4. 'War and Peace' is an interesting novel.

5. 'Gulliver's Travels' is an interesting book.

6. 'Thrice Told & Tales' is not available in the market.

Rule : 18 : अध्ययन के कुछ विषय आदि Plural प्रतीत होते हैं किन्तु Singular Verb का प्रयोग होता है।

1. Physics is a compulsory subject for science students.

2. Mathematics is a difficult subject.

3. Economics is an interesting subject.

4. Civics is a useful subject.

5. Today politics has become dirty.

Rule : 19 : कुछ Nouns, Plural Form में प्रयोग होते हैं किन्तु Singular Verb का प्रयोग किया जाता है। जैसे news, wages, billiards.

1. This news is correct. (are, is)

2. The wages of sin is death. (is, are)

Rule : 20 : Verb हमेशा Antecedent के अनुसार आता है। Antecedent की पहचान—वाक्य के बीच में प्रायः who, which, whom, that आदि के पहले जो Noun व Pronoun होता है, वह antecedent होता है।

1. It is I who am to blame. (is, are, am)

2. He had a dog which was killed. (was, were)

3. The boy who is standing there, failed in the examination. (are, is)

4. The boys who are standing there, play football. (is, are)

5. The man whom I saw yesterday was a thief. (was, were)

6. The story that I told you is very interesting. (is, are, am)

7. The books which I purchased have pictures. (has, have)

Rule : 21 : यदि दो nouns 'and' से जुड़े हो किन्तु एक ही विचार, व्यक्ति या वस्तु के बारे में संकेत देते हो तो verb singular आती है।

1. Bread and butter is his breakfast. (is, are)

2. Apple pie and custard is my favourite dish. (be)

3. Slow and steady wins the race. (win, wins)

4. Time and tide waits for none. (wait, waits)

5. Rice and curry is a good food. (is, are)

6. Fish and rice is a favourite dish of the Bengalis. (is, are)

Rule : 22 : जब Plural Noun के पहले कोई निश्चित संख्या-सूचक शब्द हो, और उस वाक्य में कोई ऐसा शब्द हो जिससे एक निश्चित दूरी, राशि, समय, मात्रा का बोध होता हो अथवा उसे एक इकाई के रूप में माना जाता हो उसमें Singular Verb (is, was, has) आयेगा।

1. Five Kilometers is a long distance to walk. (is, are)

2. A hundred paise is equal to one rupee. (is, are)

3. Four kilos of sugar costs sixty rupees. (cost, costs)

4. Six kilos is the smallest quantity we sell. (be)

Rule : 23 : यदि दो 'Subjects' के बीच में कोई Preposition हो तो उस Preposition के पहले जो शब्द हो, उसके अनुसार Verb आता है। (of, with, on, in, .......... आदि Preposition हैं)

1. The cost of all these articles has risen. (has/have)

(नोट : 'of' के पहले 'the cost'—singular है।)

2. All the students of my class learn English. (learn/learns)

(नोट : 'of' के पहले 'All the students'—plural है।)

3. A book of quotations is lying on the table. (is, are)

: यदि वाक्य के आरम्भ में-

(i) Verb में -ing लगा हो, अथवा

(ii) To के बाद कोई Verb हो तो आगे आने वाला Helping Verb हमेशा Singular आयेगा।

1. Plucking flowers is not allowed. (is, are)

2. Parking of cars is prohibited here. (is, are)

3. Teaching is my hobby. (is, are)

4. Touching naked wires is dangerous. (is, are)

5. Smoking cigarettes is not allowed. (is, are)

6. To kill animals is a sin. (is, are)

7. Eating of apples was not allowed in the class. (was, were)

8. To obey rules is discipline. (is, are)

9. To help others is a virtue. (is, are)

10. To torture people is a sin. (is, are)

11. To die for the country is a great sacrifice. (is, are)

12. To grow crops in rainy season is easy. (is, are)

: nothing but तथा none but के बाद हमेशा Singular Verb आयेगा। nothing but के बाद plural noun होने की स्थिति में भी Singular Verb आयेगा।

1. None but animals was seen there. (was, were)

2. Nothing but books is sold there. (is, are)

3. Nothing but trees is found in the forest. (is, are)

: 'hair' (बाल) का प्रयोग ध्यान से समझिये-

(i) 'hair' से आशय जब सम्पूर्ण बालों से है तो 'hair' का प्रयोग होगा तथा Singular Verb आयेगा।

1. His hair is long. (is, are)

2. Her hair is curly. (is, are)

3. Your hair was black. (was, were)

(ii) जब 'hair' से आशय सम्पूर्ण बालों से नहीं हो, (अर्थात् कुछ बालों अथवा अनेक बालों से हो) तो hairs का प्रयोग होगा तथा Plural Verb आयेगा।

1. Many of her hairs are white. (is, are)

2. Some of her hairs were black. (was, were)

: (i) A number of के बाद हमेशा Plural Verb आयेगा, लेकिन

(ii) The number of के बाद हमेशा Singular Verb आयेगा, जैसे-

1. A number of books were stolen. (was, were)

2. A small number of students are taking the test. (is, are)

3. A large number of students were admitted to our school. (was, were)

4. A number of students have failed in English. (has, have)

5. The number of the defaulters has come down. (has, have)

6. The number of books in the bag was six. (was, were)

: एक ही वस्तु का अधिकांश भाग 'Most' द्वारा दर्शाने पर Singular Verb का प्रयोग किया जाता है। जैसे—

* Most of the mango is rotten.

* Most of the information was useful.

: जब 'Most' द्वारा कई व्यक्तियों अथवा वस्तुओं का बोध हो तब Plural Verb का प्रयोग किया जाता है। जैसे—

* Most of the mangoes are rotten.

* Most of the boys were out of station.

Most of the hints were useless.

Rule : 30 : A number of, lots of, a lot of, plenty of, Half of, a quarter of, a part of, most of, two-third of, a good deal of, a great deal of, heaps of के बाद आने वाला Noun plural हो तो verb plural व noun singular होने पर verb भी singular ही रहती है।

- A number of boys have passed in exam.

- Lots of people were killed.

- A lot of bananas were raw.

- Plenty of apples are available in market.

- Plenty of sugar is required.

- A lot of milk was wasted.

Rule : 31 : कुछ वाक्य हमें इच्छा, शर्त अथवा कल्पना का आभास कराते हैं। इस प्रकार के वाक्यों में एकवचन कर्त्ता (Singular Subject) के साथ भी 'were' का प्रयोग होता है। जैसे—

- I wish I were the President of India.

- Were she here, she would help me.

- I wish I were a bird.

Rule : 32 : A group of, A bunch of, A flock of, A pair of आदि के बाद Plural Noun आने पर भी verb हमेशा Singular होता है। जैसे—

- A group of girls was going to the fair.

- A bunch of flowers was given to me by my friends.

- A flock of sheeps was roaming.

- A pair of shoes is enough for picnic.

विशेष नोट—यदि प्रश्न के रिक्त स्थान में अथवा कोष्ठक में 'be' दिया हुआ हो तो be को हटा कर आवश्यकतानुसार लगाना पड़ता है।

PRACTICE EXERCISE : 1

Fill in the blanks with a verb in agreement with its subject :

1. Both Ram and Shyam ............................ (is/are) playing outside.

(Sec. Board Exam., 2026)

2. Either Sumit or Manish ............................ (has/have) completed the work.

(Sec. Board Exam., 2026)

3. Each of the students ............................ (has/have) submitted the assignment.

(Board Model Paper, 2025-26)

4. Neither Ramesh nor his friends ............................ (know/knows) the correct answer.

(Board Model Paper, 2025-26)

5. Madam as well as your brothers ............................ (come/comes) here everyday.

(Sec. Board Exam., 2025)

6. One of the students ............................ (was/were) present in the seminar.

(Sec. Board Exam., 2025)

7. Slow and steady ............................ the race. (win/wins)

(Board Model Paper, 2024-25)

8. People ............................ celebrating Diwali. (was/were)

(Board Model Paper, 2024-25)

9. Harry with his friends ............................ for a walk daily. (go/goes)

(Sec. Board Exam., 2024)

10. Among all the students, he ............................ different in his opinions. (was/were)

(Sec. Board Exam., 2024)

11. Teacher along with all students ............. going on a picnic. (is/are)

(Board Model Paper, 2023-24)

12. The poor ............... honest. (is/are) (Board Model Paper, 2023-24)

13. He slams the door and ............... (lock/locks) it.

14. My father ............... (know/knows) as much as my teacher.

15. A slight girl, looking younger than 17 years of age ............... (was/were) nervous yet excited.

16. The rest ............... (was/were) sheer determination and hard work.

17. What we hear, she ............... (feel/feels).

18. Even the West ............... (are/is) now coming to learn our music.

19. The wind ............... (blow/blows) out weak fires.

20. A great many sheets of fine paper ............... (was/were) on the bed-table.

21. One of the famous papers .........(were/was) Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity.

22. There ............... (was/were) a regular traffic of rats.

PRACTICE EXERCISE : 2

(Question Bank)

Fill in the blanks with a verb in agreement with its subject :

1. My father ............... (know/knows) as much as my teacher.

2. A great many sheets of fine paper ............... (was/were) on the bed-table.

3. There ............... (was/were) a regular traffic of rats.

4. A shower of young flowers ............... (fall/falls) upon the child.

5. One of my aunts ............... (come/comes) near him.

6. People ............... (was/were) watching the scene.

7. Winds ............... (beats/beat) against the houses.

8. Slow and steady ............... the race. (win/wins)

9. Cattle ............... grazing in the field. (is/are)

10. The jury ............... divided in their opinion. (was/were)

11. Hari besides his sisters ............... to school by car. (go/goes)

12. The number of questions in this paper ............... twenty-five. (is/are)

13. The cost of all these articles ............... risen. (has/have)

14. All the students of my class ............... English. (learn/learns)

15. The policeman ............... caught the thief. (have/has)

16. Dal and Bati ............... the famous dish of Rajasthan. (are/is)

17. Each of the boys ............... punished. (was, were)

18. Two and two ............... four. (make, makes)

19. Neither Sita nor her sisters ............... playing. (was, were)

20. Everyone ............... a football match. (has seen, have seen)

21. Neither of the girls ............... brought tiffin-box. (has, have)

22. Mohan and Sohan ............... gone to Delhi. (has, have)

23. The captain with all his soldiers ............... killed in the war. (was, were)

24. Either you or I ............... a thief. (is, are, am)

25. Either of his friends ............... sitting in the room. (is, are)

26. My friend as well as I ............... going to cinema. (is, are, am)

27. Bread and butter ............... necessary for him. (is, are)

28. The poet and writer ............... dead. (is, are)

29. The poet and the writer ............... dead. (is, are)

30. One hundred miles ............... a great distance. (is, are)

PRACTICE EXERCISE : 3

1. A shower of young flowers ............... (fall/falls) upon the child.

528 &

2. Whose baby ............ (is/are) you ?

3. A great treat in the evenings .......... (were/was) the large bowl of warm water.

4. One of my aunts ............ (come/comes) near him.

5. How does an elephant behave when it ............ (go/goes) mad ?

6. People ............ (was/were) watching the scene.

7. In the kingdom of fools, the king and the minister .............. (was/were) idiots.

8. How shabby the Happy Prince ............ (look/looks) !

9. Winds ............ (beats/beat) against the houses.

10. Screams ............ (rent/rents) the air.

PRACTICE EXERCISE : 4

Fill in the blanks with the correct verb-forms taken from within the brackets :

1. Slow and steady.......the race. (win/wins)

2. Cattle........grazing in the field. (is/are)

3. The famous poet and dramatist.......passed away. (has/have)

4. The jury.......divided in their opinion. (was/were)

5. Every man, woman and child................present in the festival. (was/were)

6. Either Hari or his brothers...........taken my purse. (has/have)

7. Hari besides his sisters.............to school by car. (go/goes)

8. The number of questions in this paper........twenty-five. (is/are)

9. Two-third population of the country........in villages. (live/lives)

10. The cost of all these articles........risen. (has/have)

11. The tallest of the three boys......to meet me daily. (come/comes)

12. All the students of my class......English. (learn/learns)

13. The policeman.......caught the thief. (have/has)

14. Dal and Bati................the famous dish of Rajasthan. (are/is)

15. An old woman with her three children...............standing outside at the front door. (is/are)

16. Ten thousand rupees............a good help for a poor man. (are/is)

PRACTICE EXERCISE : 5

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs given in brackets :

1. Either the students or the teacher......a noise in the class. (is making, are making)

2. Each of the boys.........punished. (was, were)

3. None of the books......good. (is, are)

4. Two and two........four. (make, makes)

5. Neither Sita nor her sisters.........playing. (was, were)

6. Everyone........a football match. (has seen, have seen)

7. The manager and accountant.........coming. (is, are)

8. The manager and the accountant........................coming. (is, are)

9. Neither of the girls..........brought tiffin-box. (has, have)

10. Either he or they.........telling a lie. (is, are)

11. Either your friends or Ramesh........done this. (has, have)

12. Raju as well as his friends..........making a noise. (is, are)

13. Mohan and Sohan............gone to Delhi. (has, have)

14. The captain with all his soldiers......killed in the war. (was, were)

15. Neither the people nor the leader..................honest. (was, were)

16. Either you or I.........a thief. (is, are, am)

--- | --- |

17. Either of his friends........sitting in the room. (is, are)

18. My friend as well as I.......going to cinema. (is, are, am)

19. Neither of them......returned. (has, have)

20. Answering the questions.......very difficult. (are, is)

PRACTICE EXERCISE : 6

Fill in the blanks with the proper form of the verbs given in the brackets :

1. Bread and butter.........necessary for him. (is, are)

2. The poet and writer.........dead. (is, are)

3. The poet and the writer.........dead. (is, are)

4. Each day and each hour.........valuable. (is, are)

5. Each and every student.........playing. (was, were)

6. The flower and the plant.........dead. (is, are)

7. The crowd of students.........shouting slogans. (was, were)

8. Our five year plan.........prosperity. (have, has)

9. Two third of the work............completed. (has been, have been)

10. Physics.........a difficult subject. (is, are)

11. The United States of America.........a strong army. (has, have)

12. The quality of apples.........not good. (is, are)

13. Parking cars.........not allowed here. (is, are)

14. Five weeks.........a long time. (is, are)

15. It is I who.........doing this work. (is, am)

16. Your father as well as you..................invited. (has been/have been)

17. Raju together with his brothers........absent today. (is, are)

18. There.........a rupee in my pocket. (is, are)

19. There.........ten rupees in my pocket. (is, are)

20. Each of the hotels......full. (was, were)

PRACTICE EXERCISE : 7

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the Verbs given in the brackets :

1. Each of the girls.........honest. (is, are)

2. Neither of the two brothers.........handsome. (were, was)

3. You as well as I........present in the meeting. (am, are)

4. It was I who.........at mistake. (is, am)

5. Vimla and Kamla.........singing in the room. (are, is)

6. Either she or you.........to blame. (is, are)

7. The leader with all his followers................arrested. (were, was)

8. Geeta as well as Sita and Reeta.........coming. (are, is)

9. Many a man.........tempted by gold. (is, are)

10. Wasting time.........not good. (are, is)

11. Game after game.........played. (was, were)

12. Each boy and each girl.........given a prize. (was, were)

13. Tales of Two Cities.........a good book. (are, is)

14. Neither Neetu nor her sisters.........listening. (is, are)

15. Not only the lame boy but also his parents.........sad. (is, are)

16. Neither food nor water......given to him. (was, were)

17. The great poet and novelist........dead. (is, are)

18. The great poet and the novelist.........dead. (is, are)

19. Four and four.......eight. (make, makes)

20. Neither of the two boys.......punished. (was, were)

PRACTICE EXERCISE : 8

Fill in the correct form of Verbs :

1. None of the students............................failed. (have, has)

2. The crowd...................slogans against the leader. (shout, shouts)

3. Neither he nor you...........................present. (was, were)

4. Not only India but also other countries............................facing the problem of terrorism. (is, are)

5. His partners as well as he...........................ruined. (was, were)

6. Five weeks...........................a good holiday. (is, are)

7. Two and three...........................five. (make, makes)

8. Iron as well as coal...........................found in India. (are is)

9. Neither his friends nor he...........................to school. (go, goes)

10. None of you...........................done your homework. (have, has)

11. The purse with its contents...........................stolen. (was, were)

12. Either of his houses...........................old. (is, are)

13. Either the students or the teacher......................................absent. (is, are)

14. A large number of books...........................sold in the book-fair. (was, were)

15. The number of patients in this hospital...............high. (is, are)

16. To go alone in the forest at night.....................................risky. (was, were)

17. Stopping by woods on a snowy evening......................................dangerous. (is, are)

18. There...........................some soldiers. (are, is, am)

19. He told me that none of his friends......................................a thief. (was, were)

20. My friends or my uncle...........................very rich. (is, are, am)

PRACTICE EXERCISE : 9

Fill in the correct form of verbs given in brackets :

1. You and he...........................one in this case. (is, are)

2. Each and every village...........................vacated. (was, were)

3. They do not go to garden unless their father...........................them. (allow, allows)

4. The Manager and Secretary of this Company............on leave today. (is, are)

5. The Manager and the Secretary of this Company..................................on leave today. (is, are)

6. Every teacher, student, clerk and peon..............on strike today. (is, are)

7. Many a man.............come to attend the meeting. (has, have)

8. Neither of the shirts...........................clean. (are, is)

9. No one besides these students...........................his name. (know, knows)

10. Each day and each night in Shimla...........................pleasant. (is, are)

11. The headmaster with all the teachers...........................attending the meeting. (is, are)

12. The inspector together with five policemen..............killed in the riots. (were, was)

13. My brother and not you.............absent. (was, were)

14. She................one of the clever girls of the class. (is, are)

15. One of the girls...........................clever. (is, are)

16. There...........................many chairs in the hall. (is, are)

17. There...........a chair in the hall. (is, are)

18. The manager along with the clerks............going to office. (was, were)

19. Five thousand rupees..........................a heavy amount. (is, are)

20. One hundred miles..................a great distance. (is, are)

<center><b>ANSWERS</b></center>

Practice Exercise : 1

1. are 2. has 3. has 4. know 5. comes 6. was 7. wins 8. were 9. goes 10. was 11. is 12. are 13. locks 14. knows 15. was 16. was 17. feels 18. is 19. blows 20. were 21. was 22. was

Practice Exercise : 2

1. Knows 2. were 3. was 4. falls 5. comes 6. were 7. beat 8. wins 9. are 10. were 11. goes 12. is 13. has 14. learn 15. has 16. is 17. was 18. make 19. were 20. has seen 21. has 22. have 23. was 24. an 25. is 26. is 27. is 28. is 29. are 30. is

Practice Exercise : 3

1. falls 2. are 3. was 4. comes 5. goes 6. were 7. were 8. looks 9. beat 10. rent

Practice Exercise : 4

1. wins 2. are 3. has 4. were 5. was 6. have 7. goes 8. is. 9. lives 10. has 11. comes 12. learn 13. has 14. is 15. is 16. is.

Practice Exercise : 5

1. is making 2. was 3. is 4. make 5. were 6. has seen 7. is 8. are 9. has 10. are 11. has 12. is 13. have 14. was 15. was 16. am 17. is 18. is 19. has 20. is

Practice Exercise : 6

1. is 2. is 3. are 4. is 5. was 6. are 7. was 8. has 9. has been 10. is 11. has 12. is 13. is 14. is 15. am 16. has been 17. is 18. is 19. are 20. was

Practice Exercise : 7

1. is 2. was 3. are 4. am 5. are 6. are 7. was 8. is 9. is 10. is 11. was 12. was 13. is 14. are 15. are 16. was 17. is 18. are 19. make 20. was

Practice Exercise : 8

1. has 2. shouts 3. were 4. are 5. were 6. is 7. make 8. is 9. goes 10. has 11. was 12. is 13. 14. were 15. is 16. was 17. was 18. are 19. was 20. is

Practice Exercise : 9

1. are 2. was 3. allows 4. is 5. are 6. is 7. has 8. is 9. knows 10. is 11. is 12. was 13. was 14. is 15. is 16. are 17. is 18. was 19. is 20. is