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Pronouns And Subject Verb Agreement MCQs
High-yield multiple choice questions asked in previous years (UPSC, SSC CGL, JKSSB, RRB & State PSCs).
High-Yield Concept Capsule & Key Facts
📌 High-frequency grammar rules in SSC CGL, Bank PO, NDA, CDS, and State PSC exams.
Pronoun Case & Pronoun Order Rules
- • Order of Personal Pronouns in Pleasant / Normal Contexts: 231 Rule (Second Person -> Third Person -> First Person): e.g. 'You, he, and I are going to the seminar'.
- • Order of Personal Pronouns in Confession of Error / Negative Contexts: 123 Rule (First Person -> Second Person -> Third Person): e.g. 'I, you, and he are to blame for the mistake'.
- • Objective Case after Prepositions and 'Let': Always use objective case pronouns (me, him, her, them, us) after prepositions, 'between', 'let', 'like', and 'except': e.g. 'Between you and me' (never 'between you and I'); 'Let him and me go'.
Subject-Verb Agreement Core Principles
- • Parenthetical Prepositional Phrases: When subjects are connected by 'as well as', 'along with', 'together with', 'in addition to', 'accompanied by', 'like', 'unlike', or 'with', the verb agrees with the FIRST subject: e.g. 'The captain, along with his crew, was rescued'.
- • Proximity Rule: When subjects are connected by 'either... or', 'neither... nor', 'not only... but also', or 'or', the verb agrees with the NEAREST subject: e.g. 'Neither the teacher nor the students were present'.
- • Indefinite Pronouns: 'Each', 'Every', 'Everyone', 'Someone', 'Nobody', 'Either of', 'Neither of', 'One of' always take a SINGULAR verb: e.g. 'Each of the participants was awarded a medal'.
| Connecting Structure | Governing Agreement Rule | Example Sentence | Trap to Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| as well as / along with | Agrees with 1st Subject | The leader, as well as his followers, is here. | Do NOT use plural verb 'are' |
| neither... nor / either... or | Agrees with Nearest Subject | Neither the boy nor his parents were present. | Check plural near verb |
| One of + Plural Noun | Takes Singular Verb | One of the boys is absent today. | Do NOT write 'are absent' |
| One of + Plural Noun + Who | Relative pronoun takes Plural Verb | He is one of those who never give up. | Notice 'who' refers to plural antecedent |
| Between... and | Takes Objective Case Pronouns | Between you and me, the matter is settled. | Do NOT write 'between you and I' |
Showing 15 Practice Questions
Q1SSC CGL 2023Easy
Identify the incorrect segment: 'The captain (A) / along with all his sailors (B) / were drowned (C) / in the violent storm (D).'
Q2CDS 2022Medium
Fill in the blank with the correct pronoun sequence: '______ must apologize for the grave mistake made during the audit.' (Admission of guilt)
Q3IBPS PO 2022Easy
Choose the grammatically correct sentence:
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Q4JKSSB FAA 2022Easy
Fill in the blank: Each of the candidates ______ completed the preliminary verification form.
Q5JKSSB VLW 2023Easy
Identify the error: 'Neither the manager (A) / nor the employees (B) / was satisfied (C) / with the new bonus policy (D).'
Q6SSC CGL Tier-2 2023Hard
Fill in the blank: One of the students who ______ selected for the international fellowship is from Kashmir.
Q7NDA 2022Easy
Choose the correct sentence following the 231 pronoun rule:
Q8JKSSB Sub-InspectorMedium
Fill in the blank: The jury ______ unanimous in its verdict to acquit the accused.
Q9JKSSB Junior AssistantMedium
Identify the error: 'Let you and I (A) / collaborate on this (B) / research project (C) / from next Monday (D).'
Q10SSC CHSL 2022Easy
Fill in the blank: Bread and butter ______ his staple breakfast every morning.
Q11IBPS Clerk 2023Hard
Fill in the blank: More than one applicant ______ appeared for the final walk-in interview.
Q12JKSSB Patwari 2024Medium
Identify the error: 'Everyone should (A) / mind their own business (B) / and keep working (C) / diligently (D).'
Q13CDS 2021Medium
Fill in the blank: Many a student ______ failed to clear the preliminary cutoff.
Q14JKSSB Assistant CompilerEasy
Fill in the blank: Neither of the two pens ______ working smoothly.
Q15SSC CGLEasy
Identify the error: 'Ten miles (A) / are a long distance (B) / to cover on foot (C) / in this scorching heat (D).'
Frequently Asked Questions (Pronouns And Subject Verb Agreement)
Q: Why is 'Between you and I' grammatically incorrect?
'Between' is a preposition. In English grammar, prepositions govern objective case pronouns (me, him, her, us, them). Therefore, the correct construction is 'Between you and me'.
Q: What is the 231 rule in English grammar?
When multiple singular personal pronouns of different persons are used together in a normal or commendable context, they follow the sequence of Second Person (You) -> Third Person (He/She) -> First Person (I). If the context involves an admission of guilt, crime, or error, the 123 order (I, you, and he) is used.
Q: How does the verb behave after 'Each of' or 'Either of'?
'Each of' and 'Either of' are distributive pronouns followed by a plural noun or pronoun, but they always take a strictly singular verb (e.g. 'Each of the students has submitted the project').
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