Doing words are called verbs. Verbs are of two types
1. Main Verb :
(i) Transitive Verbs : Carry the action of a object and apply it to an object.
(ii) Intransitive Verbs : These verbs do not take an object. They express actions that do not require the agent’s doing something to something else. Some verbs can functiou as both transitively and intransitively. So it is appropriate to say that verb is used transitively or in transitively.
2. Auxiliary Verbs :
(i) Primary verb : to be (is, am, are, was, were) to have (have, has, had) to do (do, does, did)
(ii) Modal verb : can, could, shall, should, will, would, may, might, ought to, does not, need not, used to, must etc are modal verbs.
Important Rules to use verb
1. A verb must agree with its subject in number and person.
2, If two subjects together express an idea, one being added to the other for the sake of emphasis or clarification, the verb is singular. No plurality is left to exist in such a case.
e,g., Bread and butter is essential for ones existence.
3. If two or more singular subject joined by ‘and’, take a plural verb. (Not refer to same thing)
e.g., A fool and his money are soon parted.
4. If two singular subject joined by ‘or’ or ‘nor’ take a singular verb.
e.g., Ramesh or his father is going to attend the Party.
5. If two singular noun joined by ‘and’ are preceded by ‘each’ or ‘every’, then use verb in singular. e.g., Each boy and girl makes a separate project.
6. When the subjects joined by ‘or’ or ‘nor’, are of different numbers, the verb must be plural and the plural subject must be placed before the verb.
e.g., Either Ramesh or his parents are coming to the party.
7. Two or more singular subjects connected by either or, neither-nor, take a verb in singular (third person singular verb).
e.g., Neither he nor his brother is present on the site.
8. When the plural noun denotes some specific quantity, distance, time or amount considered as a whole the verb is generally singular.
e.g., Ten lakh is equivalent to one million.
9. Any noun qualified by each or every is followed by a singular verb. Even if two nouns so qualified are connected by and the verb must still be singular.
e.g., Every man and woman was filled with joy.
10. When plural noun is a proper name for some collective unit or some single object, the verb should be singular. e.g., The Arabian Nights is an interesting book.
11. When two nouns or pronouns are joined by not only....but also, the verb agrees with the second noun or pronoun.
e.g., Not only the officer but also the soldiers were awarded.
12. If the subject is ‘the number of’, the singular verb is used and the noun should be plural.
e.g., The number of one days played these days has led to the deterioration of the game.
13. Verb is according to the first subject with the following and not, with, like, together with besides, as well as, in addition to, along with
e.g., Amit with his friends will come late.
14. A great many is always followed by plural verb and plural noun.
A great many fish are there in the pond.
15. A singular or a plural verb is used with such nouns as pains, a lot of, means, variety, plenty,
rest, wages, according to the sense in which they are used.
e.g., A large number of students were absent on account of bad weather.
16. In a compound sentence both auxiliary verbs and principal verbs should be mentioned separately if they differ in number, form or voice. In such cases one verb can not act for both the clauses.
e.g., He has not married and will not marry in near future.
17. A verb should agree with its subject and not with the complement/predicate. But in case of sentence beginning with ‘there’ the verb is according to the predicate.
e.g., (i) There are books in all the boxes.
(ii) There is a but near the tree.
18. ‘A pair of’ when applied to the things where the two components are always thought together i.e. , scissors, shears, shoes, gloves, trousers are singular. But if we omit the words a pair of and merely use the plural word than it must take a plural verb.
e.g., (i) This pair of shoes is very comfortable.
(ii) Shoes are very comfortable.
19. When the subject is a relative pronoun, the verb agrees with the antecedent of that pronoun. e.g., He is one of the men who act as admirers.
20. A collective noun takes a singular verb when the class name is considered as a unit, It takes a plural verb, when the members of the class are considered individually.
e.g., The jury is finally complete.
21. When the subject is one of, followed by a plural noun, the verb should be singular.
e.g., One of my teachers lives next door to my friend.
