Common Errors in English Usage with Explanations - Part 52

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• All my books is with her.  (wrong)
• All my books are with her. (correct)
• Explanation : 'All my books', the subject of the sentence, is plural. 
• Each one of these apples are red.  (wrong)
• Each one of these apples is red. (correct)
• Explanation : Each one suggests that the subject is singular; it does not refer to all members of the set. 
• A grey and a white dog is barking.  (wrong)
• A grey and a white dog are barking.  (correct)

• Explanation : There are two entities as the subject (i.e., a grey dog and a white dog), so the verb is plural. 
• My brother and my sister is at the party.  (wrong)
• My brother and my sister are at the party. (correct)
• Explanation : The verb is plural because the subject (i.e., my brother and my sister) is plural. 
• She and I was drinking milk.  (wrong)
• She and I were drinking milk. (correct)
• Explanation : The verb is plural because the subject (i.e., she and I) is plural. 
• Slow and steady win the race.   (wrong)
• Slow and steady wins the race.  (correct)
• Explanation : The understood subject (person0 is singular, so the verb is singular. 
• Tomorrow never come.  (wrong)
• Tomorrow never comes. (correct)
• Explanation : 'Tomorrow', the  subject of the sentence, is singular. 
• Neither red nor black suit me.  (wrong)
• Neither red nor black suits me. (correct)
• Explanation : The understood subject (e.g. cloth) is singular. 
• Either Rita or Natasha have eaten the ice cream.  (wrong)
• Either Rita or Natasha has eaten the ice cream. (correct)
• Explanation : When an exclusive coordinator (e.g. either or) is used, the verb agrees with its nearest subject (i.e. Natasha).
• Neither my father nor my mother are going to the party.  (wrong)
• Neither my father nor my mother is going to the party. (correct)
• Explanation : The exclusive coordinator makes the verb agree with its nearest subject (i.e. my mother) which is singular. 
• The president as well as the prime minister is in the plane.   (wrong)
• The president as well as the prime minister are in the plane.  (correct)
• Explanation : 'As well as' is like 'and'; because of it, the subject of the sentence is plural and needs a plural verb.

You can check the Old Posts of this Series from here

Shared by Bhargav Gupta Yechuri

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