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MODULE I SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT Introduction A greement means in union. It could also mean compatibility between two or more individuals as well as things. In life, we always have an agreement on things for us to be united. One example is marriage. Both a man and a woman agree to be married. They have an agreement to love and cherish each other as well as form a whole peaceful family. Upon having an agreement, both have the same goal in a sense that they must do whatever the agreement is, just to live life to the fullest. It is not only happened between people but also in languages as in English language. The most familiar agreement in English grammar is the subject-verb agreement. Objectives This module intends to let the students: learn the rules on subject-verb agreement recognize the importance of subject and verb agreement in making sentences Write sentences using the rules of subject-verb agreement Ask Us What should be remembered as a general rule? The use of the simple (plural form) and s-form (singular form) of the verb is determined by the person and number of the subject. It is therefore necessary that the subject is properly identified. When the subject in the sentence is in the first person or in the second person, singular or plural in number, the simple form of the verb is used. When the subject is in the third person, plural in number, the simple form of the verb is used. But when it is singular in number, there is a need to use the s-form of the verb. 1 LESSON I. RULES ON SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT 1. The verb agrees with its subject in person and number. Examples: She works hard in order to finish her studies. The children shout while they play. 2. Words which intervene between subject and verb do not affect the verb. Examples: My sister, together with her friends, arrives tonight. The bus, loaded with boxes of fruits and vegetables, was abandoned in a solitary road. 3. Make the verb agree with the subject, not with the "of-phrase" (a phrase that begins with 'of'). Examples: The bundle of bank notes attracts the driver's attention. The enticing hands of the demon attract us into a labyrinth of cynical distrust. 4. Sentences in the inverted order where the subject is not in the beginning position, but comes after the verb, must be properly identified. Examples: Down that fearsome desert is a kind person. There are always great and kind people around us. 5. Generally, compound subjects connected by "and" take the plural form of the verb. Examples: Students and teachers need to trust each other. A change of clothes and a warm bath are all I need. Note: When the compound subject refers only to one person, thing, or idea, the verb is singular. Examples: The secretary and treasurer of this class is absent. A bow and arrow makes for a primitive weapon. 2 SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT 6. A compound subject involving the use of "each" or "every" requires the s-form of the verb (singular). Examples: Each boy and girl has clothes made of T'boli tinalak. Every man and woman helps this community become more progressive. 7. Compound subjects joined by "or", "either...or", "neither...nor", or "not only...but also" agree with the nearer subject. Examples: Neither Analyn nor her friends have seen Chocolate Hills. Either the people or the demon tells lies. 8. A singular verb is used for nouns that are plural in form but singular in meaning. Examples: Measles is prevalent in their place nowadays. Mathematics is a challenging subject. Note: There are many words ending in "-ics" that may be either singular or plural such as economics, athletics, critics, politics, etc. These words are singular when they refer to a school subject, a science, or a general practice. The "his/her", "some", "all" and singular modifiers do not precede them when they are in singular in meaning. Examples: Politics has become a way of life to them. (singular) His politics are well-known. (plural) 9. Some nouns are plural in form and meaning. These nouns take the simple form of the verb (plural). scissors, tongs, shears, pliers, pants, tweezers, refreshments Examples: My favorite pants were stolen by thieves last night. His scissors are used only to cut strings. 10. Fractions may take the singular or the plural form of the verb depending on the ofphrase. If the object of the preposition (of) is singular, the fraction takes the singular form of the verb; if it is plural, the verb becomes plural in form. Examples: One-half of the mangoes are sold. Three-fourths of the cake is eaten by Hector. 3 SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT 11. Words or phrases that express periods of time, weights, measurements, and amounts of money or taken as a unit are usually regarded as singular. Examples: Two kilos of sugar meets our monthly needs. About 15% of progress is brought about by proper attitude. Ten days seems extremely long to survive in the desert. 12. Expressions of quantity or amounts that describe individual items rather than whole units require plural verbs. Example: A hundred years have passed since the country gained its independence. 13. Adjectives used as subjects take the plural form of the verb. Example: The hardworking are rewarded. 14. Indefinite pronouns like everyone, anyone, someone, somebody, everybody, one, each one, all (meaning everything), neither, and either take the singular form of the verbs. Examples: Each has his assignment. Somebody was quick to report the situation to the dean and discipline officer. Neither of them was pleased. 15. Subjects modified by each, every, neither and either take the singular form of the verbs. Examples: Each student presents his explanation. Either one has become so defensive. 16. Expressions like many a, more than one, not one take the singular verbs Examples: More than one person finds it very interesting. Many an individual feels happy about the misery of others. 17. The expression the number of takes the singular verb and the expression a number of takes the plural. Examples: The number of cars in the city is increasing so fast that causes traffic. 4 A number of demons tempt good people to do bad things. SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT 18. Many, others, several, few, a few, both and all(referring to people) require the simple form of the verb (plural). Examples: Like the three magi, many follow the star. All are sure where the star is. 19. A collective noun requires a singular verb when the group is regarded as one unit, and a plural verb when the individuals in the group act separately. Examples: The crew works fast. (one unit) The crew were very busy working. (separate) 20. A plural verb is used for a relative pronoun referring to a plural antecedent. In other words, the verb of the relative pronoun depends on its antecedent. Examples: Hermanio is a boy who looks good wearing barong tagalog. Trust is a value that helps us grow better. 21. A clause used as a subject takes the singular verb. Example: What you do reflects on you. 22. Some, most and all are singular when they refer to quantity. They are plural when they refer to number. Examples: Some of the electrical appliances are damaged. (number) Most of the music is difficult to understand. (quantity) 23. The words listed below are mass nouns. They are always singular and cannot be preceded by a, an or a number. They refer to things difficult to count. information homework personnel baggage graft clothing chalk blood advice money mail(letters) Examples: Much help is needed. jewelry scenery poetry help (n.) soap 5 Poetry is difficult to understand. SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT Note: When a noun listed above is preceded by pieces of, kinds of, collections of, etc., it is followed by a plural verb. Examples: Many pieces of chalk are in the box. Rare collections of jewelry are kept in the vault. 24. With nouns always singular in form but either singular or plural in meaning, the verb agrees with the intended meaning. Deer trout salmon cattle sheep swine Examples: Fifty sheep are grazing in the meadow. One deer, the largest, was saved. 25. Nouns that express abstract ideas are usually singular in form. They require singular verbs. Examples: Pity comes naturally from the forgiving heart. Courage makes us survive difficult ordeals. 26. The verb agrees with the subject, not with its predicate nominative. Examples: Rico's chief interest is rocks and minerals. Their hobby is writing and collecting antiques. 27. A singular verb is used when the subject is a title of a book, play, story, or musical composition. Examples: The Merry Wives of Windsor is a comedy. Trees is a simple, charming poem. 28. Singular verbs are used with mathematical abstractions. Examples: 6 Four times eight is thirty-two. Five plus three is eight. SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT Choose the correct verbs from the options in the parentheses. 1. The heart, although weighing less than 12 ounces, (is, are) a muscle about the size of a person's fist. 2. The walls of the heart (contract, contracts), forcing blood to rush out. 3. All of the water in the different cans (is, are) contaminated. 4. Some of the delegates (is, are) disappointed over the result of the convention. 5. Down the road (skip, skips) the child. 6. Statistics (provide, provides) the numerical data in question. 7. Refreshments (is, are) now served at the canteen. 8. Rosa and Lynda (is, are) best friends in school. 9. Many a novel (has, have) been written on love. 10. Six plus seven (is, are) thirteen. 11. Many men today (drive, drives) their own cars. 12. My confidant and adviser (is, are) my mother. 13. One of his dogs (has, have) puppies. 14. Three-fourths of the apples (is , are) missing. 15. Many (has, have) tied to break my record. Do you know? Person Vs Number Person refers to the speaker (first person), the one spoken to (second person), and the one spoken of (third person). It is easy to recognize the subject in pronouns. Number refers to the singularity or plurality of a noun. Singular means one while plural means more than one. Person and number are properties of nouns and pronouns. 7 SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT LET’S TEST Write your own sentences using the following subjects. Verb should agrees on its subject and apply the rules of Subject-Verb Agreement. 1. Peanut butter and jelly 2. Neither of the salesmen 3. Five percent of the profit 4. Annie and her brothers 5. Either my shoes or your coat 6. Mathematics 7. Eight dollars 8. The man with all the birds 8. Everybody 9. Beauty 10. The bedrooms or the kitchen 8 9