Subject Verb Agreement Part 2

Subject verb Agreement Part 2

I have already taught you subject verb agreement or the Rule of Concord in part 1 of this post. In part 2, I will tell you about more exceptions to the rule of concord.
Other exceptions to the Rule of Concord
1. Generally two or more nouns joined by ‘and’ take a plural verb:- 
i) He and I are coming to you.
ii) My father, uncle and I are not coming to your school today.
2. But when two or more noun taken together denote one noun, it will take a singular verb.
i) My friend and guide is an Assistant Professor in a college.
ii) By the death of Indira Gandhi, a great statesman and patriot has been lost.
iii) The speaker and Vice-President is dead. (one person)
iv) The speaker and the Vice-President are dead. (two persons)
v) Bread and butter is my breakfast in the morning.
vi) The horse and carriage is waiting at the door.
vi) Slow and steady wins the race.
vii) The long and short of the story is that he will marry her girlfriend even his family doesn’t like it. 
3. Each and every are always singular even if joined by ‘and’.
i) Every boy and girl was absent.
ii) Every man, woman and child in the bus was burnt.
iii) Each of our houses is to let.
iv) Each boy and each girl has to submit their project.
4. In the use of ‘either … or’ and ‘neither…nor’, the verb agrees to the subject nearest to it:-
i) Either he or I am guilty.
ii) Either I or he is guilty.
iii) Neither they nor he was at the club.
iv) Neither he nor they were at the club.
v) Neither I nor my brother has stolen your bike.
vi) Neither my brother nor I have stolen your bike.
vii) Is either he or his friends guilty?
viii) Are they or their team leader not coming to the party? 
5. A collective noun generally takes a singular verb. In such cases a collective noun functions as one unit:-
i) The committee has elected its president.
ii) The army has been called.
iii) The fleet has set its sail.
iv) The mob has set the house on fire.
v) The police has arrested the leader.
vi) The jury has given its verdict.
6. But if a collective noun functions not as one unit but as dispersed persons or many persons, it takes a plural verb e.g.
i) The jury were divided in the opinion.
ii) Police are searching the culprits.
iii) A number of boys were found copying.
iv) The committee are discussing the issue.

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