Some Important rules of English Grammar 2

Quiz on the following rules (click here).

Everybody, somebody, nobody, anybody, everyone, someone, no one, anyone, these are called Indefinite Pronouns and they are used for the indefinite person. They are assumed singular and with any of them the singular pronouns -he, him his, himself are used, not they, them, their, themselves, one, one's oneself.

Ex.; Everybody should protect himself from loo. (Right)

Everybody should protect themselves/oneself from loo. (Wrong)

Everybody should love his country. (Right)

Everybody should love one's/their country. (Wrong)

If everybody/somebody/nobody/anybody/everyone/no one/anyone are used as the subject of the sentence then in such sentences singular verbs are used.

Ex: Everyone wants to qualify in the UPSC examination. (Right)

Everyone want to qualify in the UPSC examination. (Wrong)

But in the sentences of Question tag for everybody/somebody/nobody/anybody/everyone/someone/no one/ anyone etc. they is used not he.

Ex. Everyone cannot help you, can they? (Right)

Everyone cannot help you, can he? (Wrong)

If Indefinite Pronouns (as- Everything/Something/Nothing/Anything) represent indefinite things then in such sentences singular verbs are used. In such sentences singular pronouns - it, its, itself are used not he, him, himself, they, themselves, one, one's etc.

Ex. Everything looks beautiful itself. (Right)

Everything looks beautiful oneself/himself/themselves. (Wrong)

In Sentences of question tag:

Everything looks beautiful, doesn't it? (right)

Everything looks beautiful, don't they? (Wrong)

If 'One' is used as the subject of sentence then in such sentences singular pronouns - One, One's, Oneself are used.

Ex. One should love one's country. (Right)

One should love his country. (Wrong)

In the sentences of following structure always plural noun and plural verbs are used.

A number of/ A large number of/ A great number of/ Large numbers of + plural noun + plural verbs.

Ex: A number of students were present. (Right)

A number of students was present. (Wrong)

Note: But in the sentences of following structure always singular verbs are used.

The number of + plural noun + Singular verb

Ex. The number of boys was forty. (Right)

The number of boys were forty. (Wrong)

If The amount of/ A large amount of / A great deal of/ A good deal of + Singular Uncountable, is used as the subject of sentence then in such sentences Singular Verbs are used.

Ex: The amount of money is not sufficient. (Right)

The amount of money are not sufficient. (Wrong)

If Both, several, various are used as the subject of sentence then in such sentences plural verbs are used.

Ex: Ram and Shyam are good friends and both are extremely intelligent.(Right)

Ran and Shyam are good friends and both is extremely intelligent. (Wrong)

Various boys are present. (Right)

Various boys is present. (Wrong)

If Few/A few/Very few/ + plural nouns and few of/ a few of/ a very few of + plural noun are used as the subject of sentence then in such sentences plural verbs are used.

Ex: Very few girls are laborious. (Right)

Very few girls is laborious. (Wrong)

Few of these pens are in order. (Right)

Few of these pens is in order. (Wrong)

Uncountable nouns can not be made plural so with uncountable nouns (जो गिना न जा सके , जैसे दूघ , पानी, काम आदि) always singular verbs are used. Some expressions such as -Little/A little/The little, Much, etc. are always used with Uncountable nouns so in such sentences always singular verbs are used.

Ex: A little work has been done.

In some sentences like Three fourths of/ Half of/ Ten per cent of / Some of  + Plural nouns/Singular nouns + Plural verb/ Singular verb.

Ex: Three fourth of books (Plural) are (plural verb) are ready.

Half of the land (singular) is (singular) irrigated.

Half of the mangoes (plural) were (plural verb) rotten.

See the following structures for correct uses.

More than + one + singular noun + singular verb

Ex. More than one girl was present.

More than + two/three + Plural noun + plural verb

More than two girls were present.

The Rich/ the poor etc (Which denotes the whole class)....+ plural verb

The rich are lazy.

The majority/ A majority/ A minority + of + plural nouns + plural verb

The majority of people are traitors.

Noun + preposition + Same noun + Singular Verb

Woman after woman has come to see my wife.

Nothing but/ Everything but + singular/plural noun+ Singular verb

Nothing but trees was there.

One + of +the + plural noun + Singular verb

One of the teachers was laborious.

Most/ most of/ some /some of/ half/ half of/ enough / enough of/ not enough of/ plenty of/ a lot of / lots of + plural noun + plural verb.

Most of the people are lazy.