The Verb
A verb is a word used to tell or assert an action or activity related to any person or thing. The verbmay tell us;
1. What is person or thing does; as Savita swims.
2. What is done to a person or thing; as Mohan is punished.
TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE VERBS
Transitive Verbs : There are some sentences in which the action passes over from the subject tothe object. Verbs used in these sentences are called Transi tive Verbs.
Examples :
1. The boy picked up the stone.
2. The child hugged his mother.
3. The student wrpte a letter.
Intransitive Verbs : Those Verb where the action does not pass over from the subject to the
object.These verbs denote an action which does not pass over an object or express a state or
being.
Examples :
1. The baby sleeps.
2. Sunil ran fast.
3. The table is in the office.
AGREEMENT OF THE VERBS WITH SUBJECT : A DETAILED DISCUSSION
AN INTRODUCTORY NOTE
Verb-Subject agreement plays a very important role in English grammar. Even those who enjoy
a good command over the language, sometimes commit mistakes in understanding it. In the
following discussion, sixteen rules have been given that explain the Verb Subject agreement.
Rule -1 :
If two or more singular nouns are joined by 'and' the verb used will be
plural.
EXAMPLE :
(i) He and I were going to the market.
(ii) Ram and Mohan are friends.
In the above sentences Verb-Subject agreement is as follows:
Subject
Verb
He and I
Were
{Two singular nouns joined by and} {a plural verb}
Ram and Mohan
Are
{Two singular nouns joined by 'and}
Rule-2 :
If two singular nouns joined by 'and' point out to the same thing or
person, the verb used must be singular.
EXAMPLES :
1. Rice and curry is the favourite food of the Punjabis.
2, The Collector and District Magistrate is away.
In the first example rice and curry refer to one thing i.e., food Similarly The Collector and District
Magistrate is one man. Hence verb used is singular (i.e., is).
Note: If the article is used with both nouns, the reference will be to two persons or things and the
verb used in such case must be plural. For examples: The Philosopher and the teacher are dead.
The above sentence refers to two persons, i.e., the Philosopher (one man) and the teacher (the
other man).
Rule-3:
In case two subjects are joined 'as well as1 the verb agrees with the
first subject.
Mark the following
EXAMPLES :
1. Kanta as well as her children is playing.
2. Children as well as their mother are playing.
In the case of the first sentence the verb (is) agrees with Kanta and in the case of second
sentence
the verb (are) agrees with the children.
Rule-4:
‘Neither of’, ‘Either of’, ‘Every’, ‘Each of’, Everyone’ and ‘Many a’ are
followed by a singular verb. For example:
1. Either of the plans is to be adopted.
2. Neither of the two brothers is sure to pass.
3. Every student is expected to be obedient.
4.
Each of them is capable of
doing the work,
5.
Everyone of them desires this.
6. Many a person was drowned in the sea.
Rule-5:
If two subjects are joined by/'Either
or" Neither Nor"/the verb agrees
with the subject near to nor/or.
Note : You need not waste your time in understanding the meaning of 'near to it'. You should
simply keep in mind that in such cases the 'verb' agrees with the second subject.
Examples :
1. Either my brother or I have to do this work.
2. Neither he nor they are prepared to do this work.
In the first example, we find that the verb (i.e. have) agrees with I because I is just before it.
Similarly in the second sentence the verb (i.e.are) agrees with they because 'they' is just before it.
Now understand the following very important rule.
Rule-6 :
A noun singular in form and collective in sense takes a singular verb.
Mark the following.
EXAMPLE : The committee is unanimous in its opinion.
Note : 'Normally when there is oneness in action, the verb is singular but when there is diversity
and every member of the collective noun has to be mentioned, the verb used is plural1.
EXAMPLES ;
The Jury were divided in their opinion.
Rule-7 :
A great many ' is always followed by a 'plural noun' and a "plural verb'
e.g. A great many students have been declared success/ul.
Rule- 8 :
Similarly if two subjects are joined by 'with', 'together with' 'no less
than", 'along with', "in addition to', 'and not 1, etc. the verb agrees with
the first subject.
Mark the following
EXAMPLES :
1 The boy with his parents has arrived.
2. The officer together with his subordinates was present in the function.
3. He no less than I is to blame.
Rule-9:
No.uns, plural in form but singular in meaning, take a singular verb.
For example: 1. These news were broadcast from All India Radio yesterday, (incorrect)
2. This news was broadcast from All India Radio yesterday. (Correct)
Rule-10 :
When two subjects are joined by Not only
but also; the verb must
agree with the second subject.
EXAMPLES :
1. Not only India but also Pakistan is poor.
(The second subject 'Pakistan' is singular)
2. Not only the principal but also the students were laughing.
(The second subject 'Students' is plural)
'
3. Not only the children but also their mother was playing.
(The second subject' Their mother' is singular)
Rule-11 :
When two subjects are joined by 'Or' the verb must agree with the
second subject.
In the exercise of the above rule, It is necessary to keep in mind that the 'Plural Subject' if any
should be placed near the verb.
EXAMPLES :
1. Krishna or her sisters were there. (The
second subject is 'plural') 2. Mohan or Sohan
is responsible for all this. (The second subject
is'singular)
Rule-12
: When two subjects of different numbers and persons or both are
joined together by 'And' the verb used must be plural.
1. Sachin and his parents have gone to Calcutta.
2. He and I are friends.
3. Pakistan and other Muslim countries are bent upon breaking India.
Rule-13 :
Some nouns, which are singular in form but are plural in number take
a plural verb.
EXAMPLES :
1 The people were shouting.
2. The cattle are grazing.
Rule-14:
When a 'Plural noun' denotes some particular quantity or amount
considered as a whole, it takes a singular verb.
1. Five hundred rupees is a big amount.
(The verb will agree with amount and not with five hundred).
2. Hundred miles is a long distance.
(The verb will agree with the distance and not with hundred).
Rule-15 :
The title of the books, names of the countries or subjects which look
like plural, but actually are in singular number, are followed by singular
verb.
EXAMPLES : 1 .Mathematics is a difficult subject.
2. The United States of America is the richest country of the world.
3. The 'Arbian Nights' is an interesting book.
Rule-16:
When the subject is a relative pronoun, the verb agrees in Number and
person with the Noun or Pronoun to which the Relative Pronoun refers.
EXAMPLES:
1. Rajinder who is my friend has a thirst for knowledge.
2. I who am at your service should not be ignored.
Forms of Verbs : Verbs in English are used in three different forms. They are:
1 .Present orfirst or original form.
2. Past or second form.
3. Past Participle or third form.
Note: The terms, first form, second form and third form, do not exist in English Grammar but haye
been used here for the sake of convenience. Therefore, in ail subsequent discussions on verbs
we shall use the above mentioned terms. The form of the verb used determines the tense of a
sentence. Or conversely the tense of a sentence determines the form of the verb that is to be
used.
The first form is the actual form in which the verb as word exists in the language.
Therefore, we have referred to it as the original form. The other two forms of the verb, in most cases, are derived by making certain changes in the original form.
EXAMPLE :
Eat (1 st form) Ate (2nd form) Eaten (3rd form)
Verbs can be divided into different types according to their method of changing from one form into another.
Note the following :
1. Verbs with vowel change only as :1st form 2nd form 3rd form
Abide Abode Abode
Begin Began Begun
Come Came Come
2. Verbs with a suffix (suffix is referred to the letter or letters added at the end of a word
to form another word n, -ne or- enin the third form as :
1st form 2nd form 3rd form
Know Knew Know
Write Wrote Written
Bear Bore Born(to bring forth )
Bear Bore Born(To carry)
3. Verbs which derive their 2nd and 3rd forms by the additions of -d-ed,or -t and without a
change in the vowel as:
1st form 2nd form 3rd form
Walk Walked Walked
Talk Talked Talked
Hear Heard Heard
Burn Burnt Burnt
Dwell Dwelt Dwelt
4. Verbs that have a vowel change as well as the addition of suffix as :
1st form 2nd form 3rd form
Feel Felt Felt
Kneel Knelt Knelt
Bring Brought Brought
Sell Sold Sold
Can Could Could
5.In some cases the verbs retain their original (identity) in all the three forms. They end in
-d or -1 as :
1st form 2nd form 3rd form
Cast Cast Cast
Cut Cut Cut
Hurt Hurt Hurt
Let Let Let
Note : There are no hard and fast rules by which one can make out, by looking at a verb, how
it is going to change its form. Therefore, in order to be able to use verbs correctly in all their
form it is essential to develop familiarity with them. This can be done by reading and if possible
memorising the list of verbs, with their different forms, that can be found in any book of grammar.
For more grammer click on http://competitiongurumantra.blogspot.in/2012/08/english-grammer-4.html
