In this 8th article of our grammar series, we continue exploring essential English grammar rules for exams like SSC, CGL, CHSL, PSSSB, PPSC, Patwari, Excise Inspector, Labour Inspector, Senior Assistant, and more.
If you haven’t read the previous articles, scroll down for links to Articles 1-7.
Table of Contents
Rule 36: Usage of ‘There’ in Introductory Subject Sentences
The word “there” is commonly used in English as an introductory subject in sentences. Its primary function is to indicate the existence or presence of something. Below are the key contexts and rules for using “there,” based on the explanations provided in this article:
1. To Introduce Existence (There + Be Verb):
- “There” is often used with a form of the verb “to be” (e.g., is, are, was, were ) to show that something exists or is present.
- The verb must agree with the noun or pronoun that follows it in terms of number (singular or plural) and person .
Examples:
- Singular:
- There is a book on the table.
- Explanation: The noun “a book” is singular, so the verb “is” is used.
- There is a book on the table.
- Plural:
- There are five apples in the basket.
- Explanation: The noun “five apples” is plural, so the verb “are” is used.
- There are five apples in the basket.
2. With Nouns Representing Single Units (Amount, Distance, Weight, etc.):
- If a plural noun refers to a single unit of measurement (e.g., distance, weight, amount), a singular verb is used after “there.”
Examples:
- There is only another two kilometers to go.
- Explanation: “Two kilometers” represents a single unit of distance, so “is” is correct.
- There is twenty rupees to pay.
- Explanation: “Twenty rupees” is treated as a single amount, so “is” is correct.
3. Pairs of Words Referring to One Thing:
When two items are mentioned but treated as a single entity (e.g., “rice and curry,” “bread and butter”), a singular verb should be used after “there.”
- Correct: There is rice and curry for dinner.
- Incorrect: There are rice and curry for dinner.
- Correct: There is bread and butter for breakfast.
- Incorrect: There are bread and butter for breakfast.
4. To Indicate Location (Optional Use):
- While not covered in this article, “there” can also be used to indicate location or direction. However, this usage is different from its role as an introductory subject.
- Example:
- The keys are over there.
- Explanation: Here, “there” refers to a place, not an introductory subject.
- The keys are over there.
Rule 37: Usage of “It” as an Introductory Subject
The word “it” is a pronoun used to refer to a singular noun, typically an object, idea, or sometimes an unnamed or unspecified thing.
When “it” is used as an introductory subject, the verb following “it” must always be singular, regardless of the number or person of the noun or pronoun that appears later in the sentence. However, if a relative pronoun (e.g., “who,” “which,” “that”) is used in the sentence, the verb following the relative pronoun must agree with the noun or pronoun preceding it in terms of number and person.
1. To Refer to a Singular Noun (Object or Thing):
- “It” is used to replace a singular noun that has already been mentioned or is clear from the context.
- Example:
- I bought a book yesterday. It is very interesting.
- Explanation: “It” refers to “a book.”
- I bought a book yesterday. It is very interesting.
2. To Refer to Animals or Inanimate Objects:
- “It” is often used for animals (when gender is unknown) or inanimate objects.
- Examples:
- The cat is sleeping. It looks so peaceful.
- I lost my pen. Have you seen it?
3. To Refer to Ideas, Concepts, or Situations:
- “It” can also refer to abstract ideas, concepts, or situations.
- Examples:
- Success requires hard work. It does not come easily.
- The weather is nice today. It makes me feel happy.
4. As an Introductory Subject (Empty “It”):
- “It” is often used as a placeholder subject when referring to time, weather, distance, or general conditions. This is called the empty “it.”
- Examples:
- It is raining outside. (Weather)
- It is 8 o’clock. (Time)
- It is 5 kilometers to the station. (Distance)
- It is important to stay healthy. (General statement)
Examples of It :
- Singular Verb After “It”:
- Correct: It is I who am learning English Grammar Rules.
- Explanation: The verb after “it” is singular (“is”), and the verb after “who” agrees with “I” (first-person singular), so “am” is correct.
- Incorrect: It am I who am learning English Grammar Rules.
- Explanation: The verb after “it” must always be singular (“is”), not “am.”
- Correct: It is I who am learning English Grammar Rules.
- Plural Subject After “Who”:
- Correct: It is we who are contributing to the funds.
- Explanation: The verb after “it” is singular (“is”), and the verb after “who” agrees with “we” (first-person plural), so “are” is correct.
- Incorrect: It are we who are contributing to the funds.
- Explanation: The verb after “it” must always be singular (“is”), not “are.”
- Correct: It is we who are contributing to the funds.
Rule 38: Verb Agreement with Nouns in Apposition
When a noun or pronoun is followed by another noun or noun phrase in apposition (used to identify or describe the first noun), the verb must agree with the first noun or noun phrase in terms of number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third).
What is a Noun in Apposition?
A noun in apposition is a noun or noun phrase that provides additional information about another noun or pronoun. It usually appears immediately after the noun it describes and is set off by commas.
For example:
- Lakshman, the brother of Rama, was brave.
Here, “the brother of Rama” is in apposition to “Lakshman.”
Examples:
- Singular First Noun:
- Correct: Lakshman, the brother of Rama, was brave.
- Explanation: The first noun, “Lakshman,” is singular, so the verb “was” agrees with it.
- Incorrect: Lakshman, the brother of Rama, were brave.
- Explanation: The verb “were” is plural and does not agree with the singular noun “Lakshman.”
- Correct: Lakshman, the brother of Rama, was brave.
- Another Singular First Noun:
- Correct: Roshni, my student, is intelligent.
- Explanation: The first noun, “Roshni,” is singular, so the verb “is” agrees with it.
- Incorrect: Roshni, my student, are intelligent.
- Explanation: The verb “are” is plural and does not agree with the singular noun “Roshni.”
- Correct: Roshni, my student, is intelligent.
- Past Tense with Singular First Noun:
- Correct: Preet, my friend, was very clever.
- Explanation: The first noun, “Preet,” is singular, so the verb “was” agrees with it.
- Incorrect: Preet, my friend, were very clever.
- Explanation: The verb “were” is plural and does not agree with the singular noun “Preet.”
- Correct: Preet, my friend, was very clever.
- First-Person Pronoun as First Noun:
- Correct: I, Mr. Singh, am not dishonest.
- Explanation: The first pronoun, “I,” is first-person singular, so the verb “am” agrees with it.
- Incorrect: I, Mr. Singh, is not dishonest.
- Explanation: The verb “is” is third-person singular and does not agree with the first-person singular pronoun “I.”
- Correct: I, Mr. Singh, am not dishonest.
Key Notes:
- Verb Agreement with the First Noun:
- The verb must always agree with the first noun or pronoun in terms of number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third).
- The noun in apposition (the second noun or noun phrase) does not affect the verb agreement.
- Examples with Different Persons:
- First Person:
- Correct: We, the members of this team, are ready.
- Incorrect: We, the members of this team, is ready.
- Second Person:
- Correct: You, the leader of this group, are responsible.
- Incorrect: You, the leader of this group, is responsible.
- Third Person:
- Correct: She, the captain of the ship, was courageous.
- Incorrect: She, the captain of the ship, were courageous
- First Person:
Rule 39: Singular Infinitive, Gerund, and Clause as Subject
When a singular infinitive , singular gerund , or single clause is used as the subject of a sentence, it must be followed by a singular verb . This rule applies because these forms function as singular subjects in the sentence.
Definitions:
- Infinitive:
- An infinitive is formed using “to + base form of the verb” (e.g., to run , to eat ).
- Example: To run is a good exercise.
- Gerund:
- A gerund is the “-ing” form of a verb that functions as a noun (e.g., running , eating ).
- Example: Running is a good exercise.
- Clause:
- A clause consists of a subject and a predicate (S + V + O) and can act as a noun in a sentence.
- Example: Where he goes is not known to me.
Examples:
1. Singular Infinitive as Subject:
- Correct: To run is a good exercise.
- Explanation: The infinitive “To run” is singular, so the verb “is” agrees with it.
- Incorrect: To run are a good exercise.
- Explanation: The verb “are” is plural and does not agree with the singular infinitive “To run.”
2. Singular Gerund as Subject:
- Correct: Running is a good exercise.
- Explanation: The gerund “Running” is singular, so the verb “is” agrees with it.
- Incorrect: Running are a good exercise.
- Explanation: The verb “are” is plural and does not agree with the singular gerund “Running.”
3. Single Clause as Subject:
- Correct: Where he goes is not known to me.
- Explanation: The clause “Where he goes” acts as a singular subject, so the verb “is” agrees with it.
- Incorrect: Where he goes are not known to me.
- Explanation: The verb “are” is plural and does not agree with the singular clause “Where he goes.”
Key Notes:
- Subject-Verb Agreement:
- Whether the subject is an infinitive, gerund, or clause, if it is singular, the verb must also be singular (e.g., is , was ).
- Examples with Different Forms:
- Infinitive:
- Correct: To swim is beneficial for health.
- Incorrect: To swim are beneficial for health.
- Gerund:
- Correct: Swimming improves cardiovascular health.
- Incorrect: Swimming improve cardiovascular health.
- Clause:
- Correct: What she said makes sense.
- Incorrect: What she said make sense.
- Infinitive:
- Plural Subjects:
- If the subject is plural (e.g., multiple infinitives, gerunds, or clauses), the verb must be plural.
- Example: To run and to swim are both good exercises.
- Example: Running and swimming are both good exercises.
- If the subject is plural (e.g., multiple infinitives, gerunds, or clauses), the verb must be plural.
Rule 40: Subject-Verb Agreement with “As Well As”
When two subjects are joined by “as well as,” the verb must agree with the first subject (the one before “as well as”) in terms of number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third). The phrase “as well as” does not make the two subjects compound; instead, it emphasizes the first subject while adding supplementary information about the second.
Key Explanation:
- Primary Subject:
- The subject before “as well as” is the primary subject, and the verb must agree with it.
- Secondary Subject:
- The subject after “as well as” is secondary and does not influence the verb agreement.
Examples:
1. Singular First Subject:
- Correct: The Director, as well as the writers, has come.
- Explanation: The first subject, “The Director,” is singular, so the verb “has” agrees with it.
- Incorrect: The Director, as well as the writers, have come.
- Explanation: The verb “have” is plural and does not agree with the singular subject “The Director.”
2. Plural First Subject:
- Correct: The Writers, as well as the actor, are excited to work on this film.
- Explanation: The first subject, “The Writers,” is plural, so the verb “are” agrees with it.
- Incorrect: The Writers, as well as the actor, is excited to work on this film.
- Explanation: The verb “is” is singular and does not agree with the plural subject “The Writers.”
Additional Examples:
Singular First Subject:
- The teacher, as well as the students, was present in the classroom.
- Explanation: The first subject, “The teacher,” is singular, so the verb “was” agrees with it.
- He, as well as his friends, is responsible for the project.
- Explanation: The first subject, “He,” is singular, so the verb “is” agrees with it.
Plural First Subject:
- The players, as well as the coach, were ready for the match.
- Explanation: The first subject, “The players,” is plural, so the verb “were” agrees with it.
- They, as well as their leader, are working hard to achieve success.
- Explanation: The first subject, “They,” is plural, so the verb “are” agrees with it.
Key Notes:
- Focus on the First Subject:
- Always focus on the subject before “as well as” to determine the correct verb form.
- The subject after “as well as” does not affect the verb agreement.
- Contrast with “And”:
- When two subjects are joined by “and,” they form a compound subject, and the verb must agree with the combined subject (usually plural).
- Example: The Director and the writers have come. (Plural subject → plural verb “have.”)
- When two subjects are joined by “and,” they form a compound subject, and the verb must agree with the combined subject (usually plural).
- Punctuation:
- The phrase “as well as” is often set off by commas when it introduces additional information. Ensure proper punctuation for clarity.
Practice Makes Perfect: Your Turn!
To truly master the grammar rules discussed in this article (and the previous ones), it’s essential to practice them actively. Here’s how you can do that:
- Create Your Own Sentences:
- Use the rules explained above to construct sentences. For example:
- Rule 39: To learn is a lifelong process.
- Rule 40: The teacher, as well as the students, was excited about the field trip.
- Share your sentences in the comments section to reinforce your learning.
- Use the rules explained above to construct sentences. For example:
- Engage with Others:
- If you see someone else’s sentence in the comments, offer constructive feedback or suggest improvements. This collaborative approach helps everyone grow.
- Test Yourself:
- Try identifying errors in sample sentences and correct them. For instance:
- Incorrect: The manager, as well as his team, were late for the meeting.
- Correct: The manager, as well as his team, was late for the meeting.
- Try identifying errors in sample sentences and correct them. For instance:
If you have not yet read the previous articles on English grammar, you can access them by proceeding further. Please click on the links below to explore Articles 1 through 7, which cover essential English grammar rules.
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3. Mastering English Grammar: Essential Rules for Competitive Exams
4. Amazing Grammar Rules to Boost Your Competitive Exam Preparation!
5.Mastering English Grammar for Competitive Exams: Key Rules
FAQs
1. When can I use there?
When to Use “There”:
To Show Existence:
Use “there” with a form of the verb “to be” (e.g., is, are ) to indicate something exists.There is a cat on the roof.
There are many students in the class.
Agreement with Nouns:
Match the verb with the noun that follows:Singular noun → singular verb (is, was ).
Plural noun → plural verb (are, were ).
Single Units (Amount, Distance, etc.):
Use a singular verb for plural nouns representing one unit.There is only two kilometers left.
Pairs as One Entity:
Use a singular verb for pairs treated as one thing.There is bread and butter on the table.
2. What is a 5 sentence for “there”
Singular Noun:
There is a beautiful garden behind the house.
Plural Noun:
There are several books on the shelf.
Single Unit (Distance):
There is only five kilometers left to reach the destination.
Pairs Treated as One Entity:
There is rice and curry for lunch today.
Indefinite Pronoun:
There is something special about this place.
3. What is the use of it in a sentence?
Replace singular nouns (e.g., The book is here. It is mine. ).
Refer to animals or objects (e.g., The cat is cute. It is small. ).
Describe ideas/situations (e.g., It is a good plan. ).
Act as an empty subject for time, weather, etc. (e.g., It is 5 PM. It is raining. ).
Add emphasis in cleft sentences (e.g., It was her who helped me. ).
4. Can you begin a sentence with it?
Yes, you can begin a sentence with “it” when referring to something already mentioned, describing weather/time/distance, or emphasizing a point.
Examples:
It is sunny today. (Weather)
It was a great experience. (Referring to an idea)
It is 3 o’clock. (Time)
It was her who solved the problem. (Emphasis)
5. What is an example of a noun in apposition?
A noun in apposition renames or provides additional information about another noun (e.g., Rahul, the captain ).
Example of a Noun in Apposition:
My friend, a doctor , is visiting tomorrow.
Rahul, the captain , scored the winning goal.
Paris, the capital of France , is beautiful.
6. What is called apposition?
Apposition is when a noun or phrase is placed next to another noun to rename, explain, or provide additional information about it.
Example:
My brother, a teacher , lives in Delhi.
7. What are the 5 examples of gerund?
Gerunds end in -ing and function as nouns (e.g., running, cooking, reading ).
5 Examples of Gerunds:
Running is good for health.
She loves cooking .
Reading improves knowledge.
He enjoys swimming .
Writing is her passion.
8. When to use infinitive?
Use infinitives for purpose, after verbs/adjectives, or as subjects/objects.
Use infinitives:
To express purpose: She studies to succeed.
After certain verbs: I want to eat.
After adjectives: It’s important to try.
As subject or object: To learn is essential.
In fixed expressions: I’m happy to help.
9. How to use a clause in a sentence?
Use clauses to form complete thoughts (independent) or add details (dependent).
To use a clause in a sentence:
Independent Clause: Can stand alone as a complete sentence.She is studying.
Dependent Clause: Adds extra info but depends on the main clause.Because she has an exam tomorrow.
Combine them: She is studying because she has an exam tomorrow.
10. What verb goes with “as well as”?
The verb agrees with the first subject before “as well as.”
Short Answer:
Singular subject → singular verb.The teacher, as well as the students, is present.
Plural subject → plural verb.The teachers, as well as the student, are present.
