4 GRAMMAR MISTAKES IN ONE LESSON
Subject-Verb agreement among the statements, having the following four phrases –
Depending on the number of nouns used in the statement, the verb that follows the phrase “more than one + noun ” can either be singular or plural.
A. MORE THAN ONE + NOUN
When the statement carries the phrase ‘
more than one + noun’ , ‘ the noun
( subject ), it carries, must always be singular in number.
Additionally, the verb must also agree with the noun, therefore it must always be singular in accordance.
Examples
- More than one birds were sitting on the mango branch. (Incorrect)
More than one bird was sitting on the mango branch.(Correct)
2. More than one movies were seen
by me this weekend. ( Incorrect )
More than one movie was seen by me
this weekend. ( Correct )
B. MORE THAN ONE OF THE + NOUN
Plural nouns are required whenever the word ‘ one of the’ follows a statement and obviously, once the noun (subject) appears in the plural, it accepts the plural verb only.
Examples
- More than one of the bird was making nest together on the mango tree. ( Incorrect )
More than one of the birds were making nest together on the mango tree.
( Correct )
2. More than one of my kite was torn with the gust of wind. ( Incorrect )
More than one of my kites were torn with the gust of wind. ( Correct )
Note: after the phrase ‘ one of ‘ always use a suitable determiner.
Leran the lesson in detail – 8 KINDS OF DETERMINERS
C. MORE + NOUN THAN ONE
If the statement has the phrase ‘ noun + than ‘ just before ‘ one’, the noun ( Subject ) must be plural in number & as obvious, the verb must agree with the noun, so it must always be plural in number.
- More sparrow than one was flying across the river.
( Incorrect )
More sparrows than one were flying across the river.
(Correct )
2. More boy than one has been playing cricket
on the playground since morning. ( Incorrect )
More boys than one have been playing cricket on the
playground since morning. ( Correct )
NOTE: Some websites and grammar checkers may provide you with confusing responses.
A detailed explanation is provided in ‘ The American Heritage Book of English Usage.’
D. MORE THAN ONE WITHOUT NOUN
When a statement has the phrase
‘ more than one ‘ but no noun, it signifies that the assertion is independent. In such contexts, the verb can be agreed upon according to its usage. Specifically, depending on the connotation it conveys, both singular and plural verbs are appropriate.
Understand it with these two short conversations:-
a. When it demonstrate ‘oneness’, the singular verb is used.
Shikha : How many apples did you consume today, Snehil ?
Snehil : I consumed six.
Shikha : More than one is unhealthy to consume.
(Denotes that ‘ eating more than one apple’, is bad for your health.)
b. But, the plural verb is used to display things individually.
Nupur: How many apples have you plucked today, Radha r?
Radha: Simply one, You too?
Nupur: No, more than one have been plucked by me.
( Denotes some apple )
NOTE: Some websites and grammar checkers may provide you with confusing responses.
A detailed explanation is provided in ‘ The American Heritage Book of English Usage.’
Check how much you could understand :-
- More than one birds were sitting on the mango branch.
- More sparrows than one was flying across the river.
- More boys than one have been playing cricket on the playground since morning.
- More than one of the squirrels were crawling under the mangrove tree.
- More than one butterflies were sitting on the sunflowers.
- More hours than one was spent on this project
- More than one of the bird was making a nest together on the mango tree.
ANSWER
- bird was
- one were
- correct
- correct
- butterfly was
- were
- were making
If you wish to say anything, kindly share through comment section
Thank You!
Happy Learning !