Download 5-1 Agreement of subject and verb

Unit 5:＜Agreement and Pronoun Reference＞
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5-1
Agreement of subject and verb
In a sentence, the form of the verb must be in agreement with the subject. A verb can
change form not only in tense, but also in number. In the present tense, use the correct
form of the verb to match the subject. Singular subjects take singular verbs. Some
common errors come from identifying the wrong subject.
※ The subject accompanied by preposition or other modifying phrases may be
misleading when you decide its verb form.
Example:
A boat painted in various colors looks great.
[The subject is “A boat,” not “colors.”]
One of the managers is going to leave our team.
[The subject is “One,” not “managers.”]
A list of eligible candidates was posted on the bulletin board.
[The subject is “A list,” not “candidates.”]
His house as well as the barn was damaged by the tornado.
[The subject is “His house.” “As well as,” which means “being accompanied by,” does
not equal to “and.”]
The party chairman along with his many supporters was heading toward White House.
[The subject is “The party chairman,” and “his many supporters” is not included.]
※ The singular subject joined by Or and Nor should take a singular form. However, if
one subject is singular and one plural, the verb should follow the nearer one.
Example:
Either the girl or the boy was at fault.
Neither the small nor the medium size was out of stock.
Neither the elephant nor the buffalos are harmless.
Neither the buffalos nor the elephant is harmless.
※ Sentences introduced with a gerund usually take a singular form.
Example:
Investing the three companies in a month costs me two million dollars.
【The verb follows “Investing” instead of “the three companies.”】
※ There are nouns plural in form but actually singular in meaning, so they should use
verbs of singular form:
news, economics, ethics, mathematics, physics, gallows, measles, shambles,
whereabouts
Example:
The news is reported at eight o’clock.
Gallows was used to execute criminals.
5-2
Agreement of pronoun and antecedent
A pronoun usually has a recognizable noun or pronoun to which it refers. The noun it
refers is called antecedent.
※ A singular pronoun refers to a singular antecedent. The following indefinite pronouns
are singular, and their referred pronouns should be singular.
anyone, anybody, everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, no one, nobody, each,
either, neither
Example:
Someone has to fight for his own rights. [The antecedent of “his” is “Someone.”]
Each of the ladies wears her fine jewelry. [The antecedent of “her” is “Each.”]
No one knows his own limits. [The antecedent of “his” is “No one.”]