grammar rules in a simple way for all classes
Bhupinder Singh
RULES OF GRAMMAR AT A GLANCE

1. Agreement of subject with verb e.g. The Manager as well as his wife and children was shocked at the news.
2. A singular subject requires a singular verb even though intervening words may be plural.
e.g. A new system of ideas and principles has been started.
3. The verb agrees with the subject not with the predicate noun (noun which follows the subject).
e.g. The best time to see the stars is two hours after midnight.
4. A compound subject connected be ‘and’ takes a plural verb. e.g. Precision and speed in typing are acquired by practice. But when the compound subject consists of two words of closely related meaning or of two nouns naming the same person, the verb is singular.
e.g. My coach and helper gives me confidence.
5. Use singular verbs with singular pronouns including each, either, anyone, neither, someone, anybody, everybody, nobody, none, e.g. Each of the five patients has been cured.
6. None usually takes a plural verb unless a singular idea is clearly expressed.
e.g. None of them are willing to take the responsibility.
7. When a subject is connected by either-or, neithcr-nor the verb is usually made to agree with the nearer.
e.g. (i) Neither the car nor its occupants were shaken.
(ii) Neither the occupants nor the car was shaken.
Rule : Neither Subject I Nor Subject 2 Verb of Subject 2 Object (Same Rule for Either-Or)
Subject I as well as subject 2 verb of object I object (Same Rule for In addition to, alongwith besides).
8. Use a singular verb when the subject is the name of the book, a poem, a newspaper, a motion picture or a drama or the like. e.g.’ The complete works of Shaw is an immense book.
‘The Times of India’ is an excellent paper.
9. Quantity and sums or multiples of numbers when expressing a singular idea may take a singular verb.
e.g. 12 inches is one foot.
10. Fractions take a singular verb if the subject of the following phrase is singular.