RULE
1:
Remember that the subject and verb
in a sentence must agree in person and number.
The elevator works every well. The
elevator work very well.
SUBJECT
SEPARATED FROM THE VERB
When solving the grammar test, you
must always check the subject and verb to be sure they agree. However sometimes it is difficult to decide
exactly what the subject is, if the subject and verb are separated.
The boys in the room are studying.
Very often, if the subject and verb
are separated they will be separated by a prepositional phrase. Preposition
phrase has no effect on the verb.
Subject + [prepositional phrase] + verb
|
The study of languages is very
interesting.
Several theories on this subject
have been proposed.
The view of these disciplines
varies from times to time.
The danger of forest fires is not
to be taken lightly.
The effect of that crime are likely
to be devasting.
EXAMPLE
1:
1. When she
spoke with the police, she reported her loss she stated that a large quantity
of clothing and of valuable jewelry was missing. No error
2. Between the small shops and boutiques of
Greenwich Village and the giant department stores of midtown Manhattan lies
ethnically residential neighborhood of Chelsea. No error
RULE
2:
If you see any of these five expressions in the
sentences, check out the subject before them. If the subject is singular before
these expressions we use singular verb and if the subject is plural we will use
plural verb.
The following expressions also have effect on the
verb.
Together
with along with in addition to
Accompanied by
as well as
|
Nasir, along with his manager and
some friends, is going to a picnic tonight.
Mr. Robins, accompanied by his wife
and children, is arriving tonight.
NOTE:
If the conjunction and is used
instead of one of these phrases, the verb would then by plural. Nasir and his
manager are going to a party tonight.
EXAMPLE
2:
The debate coach, together with the
members of the winning team, is traveling to Washington for the awards
ceremony.
(A) Together with the members of
the winning team, is traveling
(B) Along with the members of the winning
team, they are traveling
(C) Along with the members of
winning team, are traveling
(D) Together with the members of
the winning team
(E) Together with the members of
the winning team, are to travel.
RULE
3 A: WORDS THAT ALWAYS TAKE VERB AND PRONOUNS
Some words are often confused by
students as being plural. The following words must be followed by singular
verbs and pronouns in formal written English.
Any + singular noun no+ singular noun some + singular noun
Anybody nobody somebody
Anyone no one some one
Anything nothing something
Every + singular noun
each + singular noun
|
Everybody who has not purchased a ticket should be in
this line.
Something was under the house.
Anybody who has lost his ticket should repot
to the desk. (Note the singular pronoun)
No problem is harder to
solve than this one.
Nobody works harder than Umar does.
EXAMPLE
3:
Everyone who attend a concert at the sports arena
knows that he will be searched for drugs before entering. No
error
RULE
3 B:
Either and neither are singular if
they are not used with or and nor, therefore singular verb should be used for
them.
If either of you takes a vacation
now, we not be able to finish the work.
RULE 4: EITHER
/ NEITHER
When
either and neither are followed by or
and nor, the verb may be singular or plural, depending on whether the noun
following or nor is singular or plural. If or or nor appears alone, the same
rule applies. Study the following formulas.
{neither } + noun + {nor} + plural noun + plural verb
|
Example:
Neither usama nor his
friends are going to be beach today.
Either usama or his
friends are going to be the beach today.
{neither} +noun + {nor} + singular noun + singular verb
|
Neither salim nor Shamir is going
to the beach today.
Either salim or Shamir is going to
the beach today.
Example:
Neither jamil nor jaffer is going
to class today.
Neither mohsin nor his friend are
going to class today.
Nasir or aslam is bringing the car.
RULE 5: GERUNDS AS SUBJECTS
If a sentences begins
with [verb + ing] (gerund), the verb must also be singular.
Dieting is very popular today.
Not studying has caused him many problems.
Washing with a special cream is recommended for
scalp infections.
Being cordial is one of his greatest assets.
Writing many letters makes her happy.
Example
5:
Learning about
other cultures make people more tolerant. No error
RULE 6:
COLLECTIVE NOUNS
Also many words
indicating a number of people or animals are singular. The following nouns are
usually singular. In some cases they are plural if the sentence indicates that
the individual members are acting separately.
Congress family group committee class
Organization team army club crowed
|
Examples
of collective nouns:
The committee has met, and it has rejected the
proposal.
The family was elated by the news.
The crowed was wild with excitement.
The organization has
lost many members this
year.
Our team is going to win the game.
The following nouns are
used to indicate groups of animals. It is not necessary to learn the noun; they
mean the same as group and thus are considered singular.
Example 6:
The debate club host
lunchtime debates on current issues ranging
from affirmative action to nuclear proliferation.
A) The debate club host
lunchtime debates on current issues.
B) The debate club host
lunchtime debate on current issues.
C) The bate club hosts
lunchtime debates on current issues.
D) Lunchtime debates on
current issues being hosts by the debate club,
E) Lunchtime debates on
current issues hosted by the debate club,
RULE
7: A NUMBER
OF / THE NUMBER OF
A number of + …………….. +
Plural verb….
|
The number of + ……… + singular
verb ….
|
A number of students are going to the class picnic. (A number of many)
The number of days in a week is seven.
A number of the applicants have already been interviewed.
The number of residents who have questions on this matter is quite
small.
Example
7:
1:
the number of people lined up for tickets (was/were) four hundred.
2: a number of suggestions
(was/were) made.
3: there (is/are) a number of
important announcements in the bulletin.
4: here (is/are) the number of milk
shakes you requested.
RULE
8: NOUNS THAT ARE ALWAYS PLURAL
The following nouns are always
considered plural. They cannot be singular. In order to speak of them as
singular, one must say “a pair _______.”
Scissors shots pants jeans tongs
Trousers eyeglasses pliers tweezers
|
The plants are in the drawer.
A pair of plants is in the drawer.
The pliers were on the table.
These scissors are dull.
This of scissors is dull.
Example
8:
1: this pair of scissors (is/are)
for cutting paper
RULE
9: THERE IS / THERE ARE
Remember that with sentences
beginning with the existential there, the subject is actually after the verb.
{there is} + Singular subject….
{there was}
|
{There are} + Plural verb….
{there were}
|
There is a storm approaching.
There have been a number of
telephone calls today.
There was an accident last night.
There has been an increase in the importation
of foreign cars.
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