1) Read each sentence given below and find out whether there is an error in it. The error, if any will be one of the parts of the sentence which are marked as 1,2,3 and 4. If there is no error, the answer will be (5) i.e. No error. (Ignore the errors of punctuation, if any).
The Department (1) / assured us that (2) / a series of seminars (3) / were to be arranged.(4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 4
Explanation:
Replace 'were' with 'was'. The main subject here is 'a series', which is singular, the verb should be 'singular'.
The correct sentence should be: The Department assured us that a series of seminars was to be arranged.
Note: After the expressions -
| A body of, A crowd of, A bunch of, A team of, A heap of, A herd of, A fleet of, A piece of, A pair of, A chain of |
→ Noun is Plural but Verb is always Singular. e.g. A crowd of people is waiting for the actor. In solving subject-verb agreement, the basic rules are: | Subject (Singular) -----> Verb (Singular) |
 
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2) A great many (1) / students has (2) / been declared (3) / successful. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
Replace 'has' with 'have'. 'A great many' should always followed by a 'plural noun' and 'plural verb'.
The correct sentence should be: A great many students have been declared successful.
Same rule applies for,
| Many, A great many, A good many |
e.g. A great many girls are standing there.
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3) The Manager says that (1) / there is (2) / many important details (3) / to attend before this gets launched. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
Replace 'is' with 'are'. When subject of the sentence is - 'many', verb is always plural.
The correct sentence should be: The Manager says that there are many important details to attend before this gets launched.
When following words are used as subject in a sentence, verb is always plural. e.g. Many were invited but a few have come. Both are sad. Similarly, for the following words; if the noun is plural, then verb is also plural. | Many of, Both of, Few of, A few of |
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4) This news were (1) / broadcast (2) / all over the world (3) / from ABC Radio. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 1
Explanation:
Replace 'were' with 'was'. Nouns, that are plural in appearance but are singular in meaning, take a singular verb. e.g. news, statistics, politics etc.
The correct sentence should be: This news was broadcast all over the world from ABC Radio.
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5) The United States (1) / of America (2) / are the richest (3) / country of the world. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 3
Explanation:
Replace 'are' with 'is'. Names of countries, the title of the books, subjects which look like plural, but actually are singular number, are always followed by singular verb.
The correct sentence should be: The United States of America is the richest country of the world.
e.g. Mathematics is a difficult subject.
The 'Malgudi Days' is an interesting book.
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6) More than one (1) / student have (2) / taken the interview (3) / for this company. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
Replace 'have' with 'has'.
'More than one' is always followed by singular noun and singular verb.
The correct sentence should be: More than one student has taken the interview for this company.
e.g. More than one room is vacant.
Note that, in case of, 'More + plural noun + than one', verb is also plural.
e.g. More students than one are late.
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7) Everybody (1) / among (2) / your friends (3) / like playing. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 4
Explanation:
The correct form of verb should be - 'likes'.
When subject of the sentence is - 'Everybody', verb is always singular.
The correct sentence should be: Everybody among your friends likes playing.
Same rule applies for the following -
| Subject | Verb |
|---|
Everybody
Everyone
Everything | Singular | Somebody
Someone
Something | Anybody
Anyone
Anything | Nobody
No one
Nothing |
e.g. Everybody knows that the earth is round. Nobody knows his secret.
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8) Three-fourths of (1) / the land (2) / have been (3) / ploughed. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 3
Explanation:
Replace 'have' with 'has'.
Here, the subject 'land' is an uncountable noun i.e. used in singular sense, so the verb should also be singular.
The correct sentence should be: Three-fourths of the land has been ploughed.
In case of the following - Half of, One third of, Two thirds of, Three-fourths of
Some, Some of, All, All of, Enough, Most, Most of, Lots of, A lot of, Plenty of |
Case I - If noun is uncountable, it is used in 'singular' sense, then verb is also 'singular'. e.g. Some money is needed. Lots of milk is available. Case II - If noun is countable, it is used in 'plural' sense, then verb is also 'plural'. e.g. Half of the shops are closed today. All men are mortal. Lots of students were there.
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9) One of the issues (1) / which was (2) / discussed at the meeting (3) / was raised by him. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
Replace 'was' by 'were' in part 2.
When subject is a relative pronoun, the verb agrees in Number and Person, with the noun/pronoun to which the relative pronoun refers.
Here, relative pronoun 'which' refers to 'the issues' i.e. plural, therefore, the verb should also be 'plural'.
The correct sentence should be: One of the issues which were discussed at the meeting were raised by him.
e.g. Ravi who is my friend has a thirst for knowledge.
The students who are here did not do well.
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10) The Elite class (1) / have no soft corner (2) / for the (3) / poor. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 2
Explanation:
Replace 'have' with 'has'.
Collective nouns such as 'the elite class, the middle class etc' are treated as singular, thus the verb should be 'singular'.
The correct sentence should be: “The Elite class has no soft corner for the poor.”
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11) Mr. Budhrani, (1) / my friend and professor, (2) / are known for (3) / his good behaviour. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 3
Explanation:
Replace 'are' with 'is'.
When two singular nouns are joined by 'and' refer to the same person or thing, the verb used for them should be 'singular'.
The correct sentence should be: Mr. Budhrani, my friend and professor, is known for his good behaviour.
e.g. Rice and curry is the staple food of the Indians.
Here, rice and curry, refer to one thing 'food'.
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12) The Party Chief (1) / and the Chief Minister (2) / was (3) / absent. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 3
Explanation:
Replace 'was' with 'were'.
If article is used with both nouns, the reference will be to two persons or things, and the verb should be 'plural'.
The correct sentence should be: The Party Chief and the Chief Minister were absent.
e.g. The writer and the doctor are dead.
Here, the sentence refers to two persons, the writer (one man) and the doctor (the other man).
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13) The manager (1) / as well as (2) / the clerks (3) / were fighting. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 4
Explanation:
Replace 'were' with 'was'.
When two nouns are used with as well as, the verb must agree with the first subject.
In this case, first subject is 'manager', the correct verb to be used should be 'was'.
The correct sentence should be: The manager as well as the clerks was fighting.
e.g. Rohan as well as his friends is doing his work.
The students as well as their teachers are doing their work.
The same rule applies for the following phrases -
in addition to, besides, like, unlike, with, along with, together with,
accompained by, led by, headed by, guided by, controlled by, governed by, rather than.
e.g. He together with his friends is coming today.
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14) Neither the students (1) / nor the teacher (2) / were in his (3) / class. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 3
Explanation:
Replace 'were' with 'was'.
When two different subjects are joined by 'either...or; neither...nor', the verb agrees with the subject near to it (generally second subject).
Here, the verb is near to the second subject 'the teacher', it should agree with the second subject i.e. 'was' should be used.
The correct sentence should be: Neither the students nor the teacher was in his class.
e.g. Either your brother or you have done your work.
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15) Not only (1) / the principal (2) / but also the students (3) / was laughing. (4) / No Error (5)
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 4
Explanation:
Replace 'was' with were'.
When two subjects are joined by 'not only...but also', the verb must agree with the second subject.
The correct sentence should be: Not only the principal but also the students were laughing.
Similarly,
| Don't say: | Not only the teacher but also the children is dancing. | | Say: | Not only the teacher but also the children are dancing. |
| Don't say: | Not only the children but also the teacher are playing. | | Say: | Not only the children but also the teacher is playing. |
| The use of helping verb should be made very carefully. When two subjects are joined by 'not only..but also', the verb must agree with the second subject. |
The same rule applies when two subjects are joined by 'or', the verb must agree with the second subject. e.g. Krish and his brothers were there. (Second subject is 'plural') Mohan or Sohan is responsible for this. (Second subject is 'singular')
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