3537 Common Errors in English | Part-II
Muhammad Rafiq is a freelance writer, blogger, and translator with a master's degree in English literature from the University of Malakand.
Common Errors in English
A verb must agree with its subject in number and person. There are many common errors in English due to subject-verb disagreement. Most of the ESL students don't know how to use verbs according to the number and person of the subject. That's why; they use incorrect verbs with regard to subject of the sentence. The following list will show you how to avoid these errors:
Remember:
When two subjects are joined by OR or by NOR, the verb agrees with the nearest subject.
Incorrect | Correct |
---|---|
Neither you nor he ARE going to London. | Neither you nor he IS going to London. |
Neither Amir nor his brother HATE them. | Neither Amir nor his brother HATES them. |
Either he or I IS mistaken. | Either he or I AM mistaken. |
Either she or we WAS present there. | Either she or we WERE present there. |
Either you or your sister HAVE stolen the watch. | Either you or your sister HAS stolen the watch. |
Neither I nor my friends IS reluctant to take part in the contest. | Neither I nor my friends ARE reluctant to take part in the contest. |
Neither he nor his servants WAS present there. | Neither he nor his servants WERE present there. |
Either the dog or cat HAVE eaten the meat. | Either the dog or cat HAS eaten the meat. |
Remember:
Some indefinite pronouns like ANYONE, EVERYONE, SOMEONE, NO ONE, NOBODY are always followed by a singular verb.
Incorrect | Correct |
---|---|
Anyone of them ARE required to take care of her. | Anyone of them IS required to take care of her. |
Everyone ARE required to present his query before the examiner. | Everyone IS required to present his query before the examiner. |
Someone HAVE stolen my watch. | Someone HAS stolen my watch. |
Someone WERE responsible for this act. | Someone WAS responsible for this act. |
No one ARE going to help you. | No one IS going to help you. |
Nobody WANT to kill innocent people. | Nobody WANTS to kill innocent people. |
Nobody WERE over there to talk to her. | Nobody WAS over there to talk to her. |
Remember:
EVERYONE OF, ANYONE OF, EITHER OF, NEITHER OF, EACH OF are always followed by a singular verb.
Incorrect | Correct |
---|---|
Either of the boys WERE present in the class room. | Either of the boys WAS present in the class room. |
Neither of them WANT to visit London. | Neither of them WANTS to visit London. |
Everyone of the cars ARE is precious. | Everyone of the cars IS is precious. |
Everyone of the students LIKE his teacher. | Everyone of the students LIKES his teacher. |
Each of the girls HAVE beautiful voice. | Each of the girls HAS beautiful voice. |
Each of the teachers ARE highly qualified. | Each of the teachers IS highly qualified. |
Remember:
When two subjects, pronouns or nouns are joined by AND, they require plural verbs.
Incorrect | Correct |
---|---|
Adela and Margaret IS junior to me. | Adela and Margaret ARE junior to me. |
Two and two MAKES four. | Two and two MAKE four. |
Apples and mangoes IS sold here. | Apples and mangoes ARE sold here. |
He and I AM playing chess. | He and I ARE playing chess. |
We and she IS going to visit you. | We and she ARE going to visit you. |
You and I WAS waiting for him. | You and I WERE waiting for him. |
Remember:
When nouns suggest one idea, then the subject is followed by a singular verb.
Incorrect | Correct |
---|---|
The rise and fall of a country DEPEND upon the politicians. | The rise and fall of a country DEPENDS upon the politicians. |
His rise and fall ARE due to his behaviour. | His rise and fall IS due to his behaviour. |
Her bread and butter ARE journalism. | Her bread and butter IS journalism. |
The captain and batsman ARE coming. | The captain and batsman IS coming. |
The poet and dramatist HAVE died. | The poet and dramatist HAS died. |
Remember:
When two plural nouns are used to denote some specific quantity, amount, or they are considered as a whole, then a singular verb will be used.
Incorrect | Correct |
---|---|
Sixteen kilometres ARE a long way to go. | Sixteen kilometres IS a long way to go. |
Fifty thousand dollars ARE a huge amount. | Fifty thousand dollars IS a huge amount. |
Seventy seconds ARE a very small duration. | Seventy seconds IS a very small duration. |
Remember:
Those nouns which seem to be plural in form, but are singular in reality, are always followed by a singular verb.
Incorrect | Correct |
---|---|
No news ARE good news. | No news IS a good news. |
Physics ARE his favourite subject. | Physics IS his favourite subject. |
Politics WERE her pastime. | Politics WAS her pastime. |
Mathematics ARE good subject. | Mathematics IS a good subject. |
Athletics ARE her favourite game. | Athletics IS her favourite game. |
Pakistan won by INNINGS. | Pakistan won by an INNINGS. |
Billiards ARE not my favourite game. | Billiards IS not my favourite game. |
Remember:
Certain collective nouns like Cattle, Vermin, People, Gentry, and Poultry are plural in form and are always followed by plural verbs.
Correct | Incorrect |
---|---|
The cattle IS grazing in the field. | The cattle ARE grazing in the field. |
The CATTLES are grazing in the field. | The CATTLE are grazing in the field. |
The poultry NEEDS vaccination. | The poultry NEED vaccination. |
Those poultry IS mine. | Those poultry ARE mine. |
People IS coming to see his dead body. | People ARE coming to see his dead body. |
Poultry IS a domesticated bird. | Poultry ARE domesticated birds. |
The gentry WAS unaware of the situation. | The gentry WERE unaware of the situation. |
Remember:
These nouns are always followed by plural verbs: Scissors, Bellows, Pincers, Tongs, Spectacles, Drawers, Breeches, Jeans, Trousers,Shorts, Pyjamas, Thanks, Annals, Chatels, Tidings, Assets, Nuptials.
Incorrect | Correct |
---|---|
High quality scissors IS available here. | High quality scissors ARE available here. |
Bellows IS no longer used in this modern age. | Bellows ARE no longer used in this modern age. |
Pincers IS sold here. | Pincers ARE sold here. |
Tongs IS used for griping and lifting objects. | Tongs ARE used for griping and lifting objects. |
Spectacles IS made in Japan. | Spectacles ARE made in Japan. |
Jeans WAS invented by Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis. | Jeans WERE invented by Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis. |
Annals IS historical records. | Annals ARE historical records. |
The assets of this company IS valued at $ 24,999. | The assets of this company ARE valued at $ 24,999. |
Remember:
ONE OF THOSE is always followed by a plural verb.
Incorrect | Correct |
---|---|
She is one of those who WORKS hard. | She is one of those who WORK hard. |
You are one of those who LIKES honesty. | You are one of those who LIKE honesty. |
I am one of those who never TOLERATEs cheating. | I am one of those who never TOLERATE cheating. |
Remember:
THE NUMBER OF is always followed by a singular verb, while A NUMBER OF is followed by a plural verb.
Incorrect | Correct |
---|---|
The number of dengue cases ARE increasing day by day. | The number of dengue cases IS increasing day by day. |
The number of students GREW each month. | The number of students GROWS each month. |
A number of students DOES NOT want to go on vacations. | A number of students DO NOT want to go on vacations. |
A number of politicians HAS left the country. | A number of politicians HAVE left the country. |
Remember:
When a singular subject is connected to WITH, ALONG WITH, AS WELL AS, then it takes a singular verb.
Incorrect | Correct |
---|---|
The laptop, with all of its accessories, WERE sold. | The laptop, with all of its accessories, WAS sold. |
The Deputy Commissioner, along with his staff, ARE required to appear before the judge. | The Deputy Commissioner, along with his staff, IS required to appear before the judge. |
English, as well as Arabic, ARE taught here. | English, as well as Arabic, IS taught here. |
The aeroplane, with all of crew and passengers, WERE missing. | The aeroplane, with all of crew and passengers, WAS missing. |
The prime minister, along with his wife, WERE assassinated. | The prime minister, along with his wife, WAS assassinated. |
Remember:
Some indefinite pronouns like BOTH, FEW, MANY, SEVERAL, SOME & MOST are always followed by a plural verb.
Incorrect | Correct |
---|---|
Both of them IS coming here. | Both of them ARE coming here. |
Some of the students WAS very dull. | Some of the students WERE very dull. |
Most of the people KNOWS the situation. | Most of the people KNOW the situation. |
Most of the facilities IS for special people. | Most of the facilities ARE for special people. |
Few KNOWS about the conspiracy hatched by them. | Few KNOW about the conspiracy hatched by them. |
Several IS arrested after the incident. | Several ARE arrested after the incident. |
Several LIKES the principal. | Several LIKE the principal. |
Subject-Verb Agreement Errors Quiz
For each question, choose the best answer. The answer key is below.
- She is one of those who _____________hard.
- Work
- Works
- A number of people_____________know about Obama.
- Doesn't
- Don't
- The teacher, along with his students, __________out of the class room.
- IS
- ARE
- Jeans ____________invented by Jacob Davis.
- Was
- Were
- He and I___________going to London.
- AM
- ARE
- Neither he nor I___________going to Spain.
- Am
- Are
- Neither I nor my friends__________going to visit you.
- Am
- Are
- The cattle______________grazing in the field.
- IS
- ARE
- Eighty thousand dollars___________a huge amount.
- Are
- Is
- High quality scissors__________available here.
- Is
- Are
Answer Key
- Work
- Don't
- IS
- Were
- ARE
- Am
- Are
- ARE
- Is
- Are
© 2015 Muhammad Rafiq