Tempting/Confusing Subjects and Common Errors

Today’s English
March 17th, 2017

Look at the following sentences and try to answer with your previous knowledge before reading the explanation next to them:
1.A teacher and some students __________ (make/makes) arrangements for the Annual Day.
2.Some students and a teacher __________  (make/makes) arrangements for the Annual Day.
3.A teacher or some students __________ (make/makes) arrangements for the Annual Day.
4.Some students or a teacher __________  (make/makes) arrangements for the Annual Day.

Have you figured out the answer or a little bit confused? Anwer: 1. Make, 2. Make, 3. Make, 4. Makes.

If the subject has two nouns combined by “and”, the verb is always plural and it doesn’t matter whether one noun is singular and the other is plural.
If the subject has two nouns linked by “or", the verb should agree with the nearest noun to it – that is, the noun that comes before the verb.

There are other four categories of subjects related to distances, heights, weights and amounts of money which tempt us to use plural verb though singular verb is the correct one.

1.Fifty rupees is not a reasonable price for this.(Don't say: Fifty rupees are….)
2.Ten miles is a great distance to travel through this forest. (Don't say: Ten miles are…)
3.Hundred kilograms of sugar is needed to manage the customers in both shops.( The verb is not “are")
4.170 cms is the minimum height for the selection of sub inspector.(Don't use "are")

Do you know that the word “police" is a plural one and it always takes plural verb.
1.The police have arrested him. (Not the police has….)
2.Police suspect some students here. (Not suspects...)

If you want to refer to a single police person, you may use the word “policeman".
1.A policeman has come for investigation.
2.Two policemen have been caught red-handed while getting bribes.

"The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.” – Oscar Wilde in “The Picture of Dorian Gray.”