Verb, Tense and Concord
Verb, Tense and Concord
Subject-verb agreement is decided by the true subject, not by the nearest noun. The quality of the mangoes is good is correct, because the subject is quality, not mangoes. This one principle accounts for most of the concord errors set in SSC CGL.
Concord rules that carry the marks
- The verb agrees with the subject, not with a noun inside a prepositional phrase.
- Each, every, either, neither and one of take a singular verb.
- With either or and neither nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject.
- Two subjects joined by and take a plural verb, unless they refer to one person or thing.
- A collective noun takes a singular verb when the group acts as one unit.
✗ The quality of the mangoes are good | ✓ The quality of the mangoes is good
✗ One of my friends are a doctor | ✓ One of my friends is a doctor
✗ Neither the boys nor the teacher were present | ✓ Neither the boys nor the teacher was present
Tense rules
| Situation | Tense used | Example pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Action continuing from a past point | Present perfect continuous | has been living since 2010 |
| Earlier of two past actions | Past perfect | had finished before he left |
| Universal truth | Simple present | The sun rises in the east |
| After if and when in a condition | Simple present, not future | If it rains, we will stay |
| Reported speech in the past | Backshifted tense | He said that he was tired |
Since takes a point of time; for takes a period of time
✗ He is living here since 2010 | ✓ He has been living here since 2010
✗ If it will rain, we will stay | ✓ If it rains, we will stay
Solved examples
Example 1. Correct the sentence: Each of the boys have finished. It should be has finished, since each takes a singular verb.
Example 2. Correct the sentence: He said that he is tired. In reported past speech it becomes he was tired.
Example 3. Correct the sentence: I have been working here for 2015. It should be since 2015, because 2015 is a point of time.
Traps SSC repeats
✗ The list of items are on the table | ✓ The list of items is on the table
✗ After he left, he had finished the work | ✓ After he had finished the work, he left
Exam pointer — Concord and tense are the two most tested grammar areas in SSC CGL, together worth 2 to 3 questions per shift. The prepositional-phrase trap appears almost every year. Each question takes 15 seconds once the true subject is identified, so train yourself to bracket the phrase and read the sentence without it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find the correct verb in a long sentence?
Identify the true subject and ignore any prepositional phrase between it and the verb. In the quality of the mangoes is good, the subject is quality, so the verb is singular.
Which verb follows either or and neither nor?
The verb agrees with the subject nearer to it. In neither the boys nor the teacher was present, the nearer subject is teacher, so the verb is singular.
What is the difference between since and for?
Since is used with a point of time, such as since 2010 or since Monday, while for is used with a period, such as for two years or for a week.
Which tense follows if in a conditional sentence?
The simple present, not the future. If it rains, we will stay is correct, and if it will rain is a standard SSC error option.
60-second recap
- The verb agrees with the subject, not the nearest noun.
- Each, every and one of take singular verbs.
- Either or and neither nor follow the nearer subject.
- Since for a point; for for a period.
- No future tense after if in a condition.
हिंदी में — इसी टॉपिक का पूरा हिंदी अनुवाद नीचे दिया गया हौ
Verb, Tense और Concord
Subject-verb agreement असली subject से तय होता है, पास वाले noun से नहीं। The quality of the mangoes is good सही है, क्योंकि subject quality है, mangoes नहीं। SSC CGL में पूछी जाने वाली ज़्यादातर concord की गलतियाँ इसी एक नियम से हल हो जाती हैं।
Concord के वे नियम जो नंबर दिलाते हैं
- Verb subject से मेल खाता है, prepositional phrase के अंदर आए noun से नहीं।
- Each, every, either, neither और one of के साथ singular verb आता है।
- Either or और neither nor में verb पास वाले subject से मेल खाता है।
- And से जुड़े दो subjects plural verb लेते हैं, बशर्ते वे एक ही व्यक्ति या चीज़ न हों।
- Collective noun singular verb लेता है जब पूरा समूह एक इकाई की तरह काम करे।
✗ The quality of the mangoes are good | ✓ The quality of the mangoes is good
✗ One of my friends are a doctor | ✓ One of my friends is a doctor
✗ Neither the boys nor the teacher were present | ✓ Neither the boys nor the teacher was present
Tense के नियम
| स्थिति | प्रयोग होने वाला tense | उदाहरण का पैटर्न |
|---|---|---|
| अतीत के किसी बिंदु से चल रहा काम | Present perfect continuous | has been living since 2010 |
| दो पुराने कामों में से पहला | Past perfect | had finished before he left |
| सार्वभौमिक सत्य | Simple present | The sun rises in the east |
| शर्त में if और when के बाद | Simple present, future नहीं | If it rains, we will stay |
| Past में reported speech | Backshifted tense | He said that he was tired |
Since के साथ समय का बिंदु आता है; for के साथ समय की अवधि
✗ He is living here since 2010 | ✓ He has been living here since 2010
✗ If it will rain, we will stay | ✓ If it rains, we will stay
हल किए गए उदाहरण
Example 1. वाक्य सुधारें: Each of the boys have finished. यह has finished होना चाहिए, क्योंकि each singular verb लेता है।
Example 2. वाक्य सुधारें: He said that he is tired. Past की reported speech में यह he was tired हो जाएगा।
Example 3. वाक्य सुधारें: I have been working here for 2015. यह since 2015 होना चाहिए, क्योंकि 2015 समय का एक बिंदु है।
SSC के दोहराए जाने वाले जाल
✗ The list of items are on the table | ✓ The list of items is on the table
✗ After he left, he had finished the work | ✓ After he had finished the work, he left
Exam pointer — SSC CGL में concord और tense grammar के सबसे ज़्यादा पूछे जाने वाले दो हिस्से हैं, और दोनों मिलकर हर shift में 2 से 3 प्रश्न देते हैं। Prepositional phrase वाला जाल लगभग हर साल आता है। असली subject पहचान लेने के बाद हर प्रश्न में 15 seconds लगते हैं, इसलिए phrase को कोष्ठक में रखकर वाक्य को उसके बिना पढ़ने की आदत डालें।
Frequently Asked Questions
लंबे वाक्य में सही verb कैसे पहचानें?
असली subject पहचानें और उसके तथा verb के बीच आए किसी भी prepositional phrase को छोड़ दें। The quality of the mangoes is good में subject quality है, इसलिए verb singular रहेगा। Mangoes पास ज़रूर है, पर वह subject नहीं है।
Either or और neither nor के बाद कौन सा verb आता है?
Verb उस subject से मेल खाता है जो उसके ज़्यादा पास हो। Neither the boys nor the teacher was present में पास वाला subject teacher है, इसलिए verb singular हुआ। क्रम उलट दें तो वही verb plural हो जाएगा।
Since और for में क्या अंतर है?
Since समय के किसी बिंदु के साथ आता है, जैसे since 2010 या since Monday, जबकि for समय की अवधि के साथ आता है, जैसे for two years या for a week. इन दोनों को आपस में बदल देना SSC का पसंदीदा जाल है।
शर्त वाले वाक्य में if के बाद कौन सा tense आता है?
Simple present, future नहीं। If it rains, we will stay सही वाक्य है, और if it will rain SSC का जाना-पहचाना गलत विकल्प है। यही नियम when, until और as soon as जैसे शब्दों के साथ भी लागू होता है।
60-second recap
- Verb subject से मेल खाता है, पास वाले noun से नहीं।
- Each, every और one of singular verb लेते हैं।
- Either or और neither nor पास वाले subject को मानते हैं।
- Since के साथ बिंदु; for के साथ अवधि।
- शर्त में if के बाद future tense नहीं आता।