Transcript a singular verb

Subjective-Verb
Agreement
Course: English Composition III
Instructor: Dr. Pi – Ying Teresa Hsu
Date: 24/10/2007
Group 1 ：
9522069 吳奕伶 9522121 顏秋媚
9522071 林慶嘉 9522123 黃于恬
9522109 徐紜卿
1
Nouns
It can be countable or uncountable.
EX : I don’t like coffee very much.
(=drinks)
Two coffees and an orange juice, please.
(= cups of coffee)
2
EX : You can stay with us. There is a
spare room.(= a room in a house)
You can’t sit here. There isn’t room.
(= space)
EX : We heard a sudden noise outside.
(= a specific noise)
I can’t work here. There’s too much
noise.
3
Singular and plural
These words are plural,
so they take a plural verb:
EX : My trousers are too long.
EX : My glasses are broken.
4
Some words end in –s can be
singular or plural
EX: This means of transport saves energy.
Both means of transport save energy.
EX: This species of insect is quite rare.
All these species of insect are quite rare.
5
We think of a sum of money, a period of time, a
distance as one thing. So we use a singular verb.
Ex : Twenty thousand pounds was stolen in
the robbery.
Ex : Three years is a long time to be without
a job.
6
Some singular nouns are often
used with a plural verb :
family, government, team, staff.
Ex : The government want to increase
taxes.
Ex : The staff are not happy with their
new school condition.
7
These nouns have a plural meaning
and take a plural verb:
Ex: The police are investigating the murder,
but haven’t arrested anyone yet.
Ex: People don’t know what the future will
bring.
8
Exercises
Q1: The police are/is installing cameras to
photograph speeding concert.
Q2: This is nice room/ a nice room. Did you
decorate it yourself?
Q3: Ninety kilos is/are too heavy for me to
lift.
Q4: The news was/ were very depressing.
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Exercises
Q5 : The bicycle and the car are
a mean/means of transport.
Q6 : The United team is/are the best one
that Tom has ever seen.
Q7 : Our lives would be very difficult
without an electricity/electricity.
Q8: The staff haven’t/ hasn’t made a
correct decision yet.
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S + V Agreement
If the subject is the third singular person，the
verb must contain an-s or an-es.
EX: Tom plays the piano well.
Q1: The sun rises
____ in the east and
sets the west.
____in
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If there is a phrase behind the subject, the verb and
the subject should be accorded, but not happen in
the phrase.
EX：The package of cigarettes is on the table.
Ps.. The subject is package not cigarettes , so we use
the singular verb.
12
Exercises
Q1: One of the students (are, is) excellent.
Q2: Some of water (is , are) gone.
Q3: Both of the boys (are, is ) good kids.
Q4: All of the birds (are, is ) hungry.
13
The subject is and－the connection, the consistent
rule must change by the following rules.
(a.) If the nouns are connected are different people or
things, you should use the plural verbs.
EX : Tom and Joe are classmates.
14
Exercises
Ｑ1.Students and teachers (are, is ) the
elements of the school.
Ｑ2.Marry and I (are, am) go to the library.
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(b.) If the nouns are connected are the same people
or things, you should use the singular verbs.
EX :

My old friend and colleague, Tom is here.

The teacher and doctor is arriving tonight.
16
Exercise
Q1.The office and house (is, are) here.
Q2.My classmate and girl friend (is , are )
Cherry.
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If the nouns are connected is a unit or a group, you
should use the singular verbs.
EX : Bread and butter is all he asked for.

Ham and egg is my favorite food.
18
Exercise
Q1.Friends and family (is , are) the power
to support him.
Q2.The English and the math (is , are) the
important subject.
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If the nouns are connected and behind the “each”
or “every” , you should use the singular verbs.
EX :  Each man and woman stays at home.

Every boy and every girl is present.
20
Exercises
Q1.Each of us (has, have) a wonderful
time.
Q2.Each child (was, were) given a nice
present.
21
Subject is connected with “or,” “either ~ or”, and
“neither ~ nor”, the verb must be agreed with the
closer subject.
EX :  Either he or I am mistaken.
Q1.Either you or he __ wrong. (a.) is (b.) are
Q2.__the child or the parents to be blamed?
(a.) is (b.) are
22
Subject is connected with “ as well as”, “ together
with”, and “ with”, the verb must be agreed with
the first subject.
EX :

You as well as he are in danger.
Q1. Together with the Johnsons, there (were,
was)12 of us in the villa.
23
Not only…but also….
If NOT ONLY is followed by a noun/verb,
then BUT (ALSO) should be followed by a
noun/verb. They must be the same.
EX：My sister plays not only the piano but (also)
the violin.
EX：She not only sings but also dances when
she is happy.
24
If NOT ONLY be placed at begin the sentence
will be inverted.
EX：Not only did he pass the exam, but
he also scored at the top.
EX：Not only can she speak English, (but)
she can also speak French.
25
Q: Which one is correct?
1.Not only did we lose all our money, but we (also)
lost a lot of time.
2.Not only we lose all our money, but we (also) lost
a lot of time.
=>If NOT ONLY be placed at begin the sentence
will be inverted.
26
Each of
EACH OF sentence use plural noun
and singular verb
EX：Each of them has his own idea
(plural
noun) (singular verb)
EX：Each of the boys arrives on time.
(plural noun) (singular verb)
27
One of
EX：One of the boys speaks in English
very well.
 Subject is ONE so use singular verb
EX：One of the boys who speak English
well went to America.
WHO instead of THE BOYS so use plural verb
28
Either, not + either = neither
EX：I don't like you. Me either.
EX：James didn't, either.
= Neither did James.
(use inverted sentence)
EX： You are not a student, and neither am I.
(use inverted sentence)
29
Q: Which one is correct?
1.A: I don’t like cooking! B: Me either!
2.A: I don’t like cooking! B: Me neither!
B: Neither do I.
30
Everybody, anyone, someone, nothing,
nobody, another, the other…….
Though these pronouns often refer to
more than one person or thing,
they take a singular verb
when they act as the SUBJECT.
31
We use a singular verb after everyone,
something, anything, etc.
EX：Is anyone coming to the party tomorrow
night?
EX：Something has to be done about the
increasing crime rate!
32
After words with one or body, we normally
use they/them/their, even though the verb
is singular.
EX：Everyone is having their lunch.
EX：Nobody wants to have their coffee yet.
33
Q: which one is correct?
1.Everyone has to leave his bags outside.
2.Everyone has to leave their bags outside.
After words with one or body, we normally use
they/them/their, even though the verb is singular.
34
All, both, few, many, several, some are
connected with the plural verb.
Ex : All were satisfied with their grades.
Ex : Both are in the classroom.
Ex : Several have already written to
me.
35
１．When All makes pronoun to be the subject,
if it is used in a person, you would use the
plural verb; If it is used in things, you would
use the singular verb.
２．In many of the quantifier using, the
form of verbs is determined by the nouns
or pronouns which behind the word "of“.
36
Exercises
Q1. Both my brothers _____ in colleges.
 Answer:
study
Q2. Some of his classmates _____ very poor.
 Answer:
are
37
None is connected with the
singular verb and plural verb
Ex : None has returned from the meeting.
Ex : None were on time, for they all
missed the bus.
38
Exercises
Q1: None of the students _____ late today.
– Answer: was
Q2: None of the girls _____ doing
homework now.
- Answer: is
39
｛all/most some/half part/plenty a lot/the rest the
majority/fraction/percentage｝+ of + singular (plural)
noun /pronoun+ singular (plural) verb
EX : Half of the boys are honest.
EX : All of the men have done their part.
EX : One third of the apples are yours.
40
Exercises
___ Q1.Three-fourths of the earth’s surface _____
water. (A) has (B) is (C) are (D) will be

Answer: (B)
Q2. All of the questions _____ not difficult.

Answer: are
41
The number of
versus
A number of
They seem the same,
but they are different actually.
42
The number of
The number of is used for singular number.
The number of = Subject
Subject
Verb
EX: The number of students is 50.
43
A number of
A number of is used for plurality.
A number of = Figure ( a lot of )
Verb
many
EX: A number of students are studying.
Subject
44
Exercises
have
Q1. A number of business firms _______
moved from Taipei.
has
Q2. The number of private colleges ______
increased.
45
There
and
Here
There and here are function words
and no meanings .
It shows something is in a special place.
Subject
EX: There is a man at the door.
place
46
Subject that are separated from the verb
S + V + O
Prepositional phrase
Adjective clause
Reduced adjective clause
47
EX: The little girl at the door is crying.
Prepositional phrase
EX: The boy who decided to work is
watching the newspapers.
Adjective clause
EX: The dog barking at the stranger has
had a car accident.
Reduced adjective clause
48
The Use of The Relatives
Limited :
EX: I have a brother who lives in Taipei.
(more than one brother)
No limited :
EX: I have a brother, who lives in Taipei.
(only one brother)
important
49
Thank you for listening.
50