Common Errors in Grammar
*
The Agreement of the verb with its Subject
A verb must
agree with its Subject in number & person.
Often, by what is called the Error of proximity”, the verb is made to agree in number as
with a noun near it instead of with its proper Subject.
This should be avoided as shown
in the following examples.
•
The quality of the mangoes
was not good.
•
His knowledge
of Indian vernaculars is for beyond the common?
• If it were possible
to get near when one of the volcanic
eruptions takes place
we should see a grand sight.
*
Two or more singular nouns or pronouns joined
by and require a plural verb: as
•
Gold and Silver
are precious metals.
•
Fire and water do not agree
•
In ‘him, were centered their love and their ambition
•
He and I were playing
*
If the nouns suggest one idea to the mind or refer to the same person
or thing, the verb
is singular as,
•
Time and tide waits for no man
•
The horse and carriage is at the door
•
Bread and butter
is his only food
•
The novelist and poet is dead.
*
When the subjects joined
by or, OR nor, are of different
persons, the verb agrees with the nearer; as,
•
Either you or I am mistaken.
•
Either you or he is mistaken.
•
Neither you nor he is to blame.
• Neither my friend nor I am to blame.
* But it is better to avoid these
constructions and to use the following.
•
He is mistaken
or else I am.
•
You are mistaken or else he is.
•
He is not to blame,
nor are you.
•
My friend is not to blame nor am I.
EXERCISE:
In each of the following
sentences supply a verb in agreement with its subject.
• To take pay and then not do work ___ dishonest.
• The cost of all these articles risen.
