subject: Improve Your Grammar For Va Qs (part 2) [print this page] English grammar based questions, asked in the Verbal Ability section of CAT exam, are a nightmare for many CAT aspirants. In the first article for this series for MBAUniverse.com, Sidharth Balakrishna, CAT expert, author and IIM Calcutta alumnus had shared the need to know certain rules of Grammar. In this second article, he shares a few more rules. But dont memorize these rules! Instead try to try to improve your knowledge and ability to use this through regular practice. This can be done through reading good literature, writing and speaking in English and also, doing practice exercises, says Balakrishna.
Here are some more rules from author Balakrishna, that you must pay attention to:
1. If a sentence contains a phrase, separated from the subject and the verb by commas on either side, then the verb agrees with the subject only (and not the noun or pronoun in the phrase).
For example:
The politician, along with his attendants, is receiving presents (not are receiving presents)
The captain, as well as his team, is happy (not are happy)
The king, along with his ministers, is outside (not are outside)
2. Some words always are used with singular verbs. These are:
Everyone
Someone
No one
One of
Somebody
Everybody
Each
Each one
Either
Anybody
Anyone
Many a
Some examples:
Everybody was outside (not everybody were outside)
Each one must do his duty (not their duty)
Someone is outside (not someone are outside)
Everybody was making noise (not were making noise)
No one was capable of this (not were capable)
Either answer is correct (not are correct)
Everybody respects him (not respect him)
Many a game was won by sheer luck (not were)
One of the boys was destined to succeed (not were)
He is one of those who appear correct (not appears)
If anyone calls, take his/ her number (not take their number)
However, there is one exception:
The pronoun none can take both singular or plural forms, depending on the particular context.
3. Always singular
Some nouns are always singular. These apply to nouns dealing with currency, subjects etc.
Examples:
Ten Rupees is kept on the table (not are)
Civics is an interesting subject (not are an interesting subject)
Mathematics is useful (not are)
4. Always Plural
Similarly, some nouns are always plural. These include nouns such as scissors, jeans, shorts, trousers etc
The scissors have become blunt (not has become)
The trousers are made of cotton (not is made of cotton)
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