Module 5. Structural and functional grammar

Lesson 28

EFFECTIVE SENTENCES

28.1  Introduction

Agreement is the grammatical relationship between a subject and a verb or a pronoun and its antecedent or an adjective and the word it modifies. Such agreement frequently poses a few problems in English language. This lesson discusses as to how we can write effective sentences by making proper use of agreement between a subject and a verb or a pronoun or its antecedent.

28.2  Subject-Verb Agreement

There are some grammatical patterns, such as the agreement in number of a subject and a verb, or a pronoun and its antecedent that one must watch carefully.

a)    When two singular nouns refer to the same person or thing, the verb is singular.

     The poet and scholar is dead.

b) Do not be confused by words or phrases that come between the subject and verb. Find the subject and make the verb agree with it.

     The first two chapters of the book were exciting. [The verb agrees with the subject, chapters, not with the nearest noun, book].

c)  When two singular nouns are practically synonymous, the verb is singular.

     His power and influence is very great.

     Peace and order is the most important issue.

d) When two singular nouns though not synonymous, are intended to express jointly a single idea, the verb is singular.

     Bread and butter is what he has for breakfast.

     Slow and steady wins the race.

e)  When the same singular noun is qualified by two contrasting adjectives, the verb is plural.

     Mental and physical science are not the sam

f)  Use a singular verb with collective nouns when the group is considered as a unit  acting together. Use a plural verb when the individual members of the group are acting separately.

Collective nouns have a singular form but name a group of persons or things as a single unit: audience, bunch, crowd, family, herd, jury and the like.

Our family goes out to dinner fortnightly. [The family acts together as a   single unit.]

The family have been arriving all morning. [Members of the family  arrived at different    times.]

The committee is meeting today. [The singular verb is emphasizes the committee acting    as a unit.]

The committee are unable to agree on a plan. [The plural verb are emphasizes the members of the committee acting separately.]

g)  Subjects indicating sums of money, distance, measurement and the like ordinarily take singular verbs.

Three quarters of the money is already spent.

Ten rupees is not a large sum.

Forty years is a long time to live in one town.

Six miles is a long distance.

If the items that make up the quantity are thought of as separate parts rather than as a single unit, the verb may be plural.

         Forty percent of the trees were damaged by the hurricane. [The trees were damaged separately.]

         One half of the students have finished the examination. [The students finished individually.]

The expressions the number takes a singular verb, but a number takes a plural verb.

The number of candidates for the position was large. 

A number of candidates were applying for the position.

The number of people moving to the Southwest is increasing.

A number of business firms have moved from New York.

h)  Use a singular verb with nouns that are plural in form but singular in meaning, such as economics, news, and physics.

Mathematics has always been Betty’s downfall.

The financial news was favorable last month.

i)   A plural verb is preferred with nouns which are plural in meaning though  singular  in form. They are: number, plenty, variety, rest, enemy, cannon, none, pair, dozen, the brave etc.

      None but the brave deserve the fair.

      Plenty of men are charitable.

Plural verb is placed after such nouns, as plenty, number and variety according to the   context. Unless the context shows that those words are used to imply plurality, the verb must be singular:

Too great a variety of pursuits costs much and pays little.

There is often a number of claims to meet.

j)  Two nouns connected by and not, as well as, with, together with, besides, in addition to,  like, are followed by a verb in the singular when the former of the nouns is in the singular. For example:

  John and not his brother was present.

  The coach, as well as the players, was happy over the victory.

Reema, together with her friends, was here.

  Silver as well as gold, has fallen in price.

  The commander with all his men has been killed.

 Milk besides butter, is supplied by this dairy.

Satish like Harish, is a good boy.

  The house with all its fittings and furniture was sold yesterday.

k) When two nouns or pronouns are joined by not only … but also the verb agrees with   the second noun or pronoun. For example:

    Not only the officer, but also six soldiers were killed.

    Not only six soldiers, but also the officer was killed.

l)  Two or more singular nouns or pronouns connected by the conjunctions either …. or, neither …. nor, require a singular verb. If the subjects differ in number or person, the verb follows the number and person of the subject nearest to it.

Either the cat or the dog has done it.

Neither praise nor blame seems to affect him.

Neither the P.M. nor his Ministers desire war.

Either the dean or his assistant was to have handled the matter.

Either you or he has to be here.

Either you or your friends have made this mistake.

Either the Ministers or the P.M. is to be blamed.

m) When either and neither are used as nouns or adjectives they must be followed by singular verbs.

      He asked me if either of the applicants was suitable.

      Neither men was strong.

n) Any noun qualified by adjectives each and every must be followed by a singular  verb.

   Each one of these qualities is to be found in him.

        Every man and woman was killed.

o)  A verb should agree with its subject and not with the complement.

Our only guide was the stars. (Correct)

The stars were our only guide. (Correct)

p)  When the subject is the title of a novel, a play, or the like, or a word used as a  word, use a singular verb even though the form of the subject is plural.

Romeo and Juliet is a Shakespeare play.

Songs and satires is a book by Edgar Lee Masters.

Women is the plural of woman.

q) Indefinite pronouns ending in –one, -body and –thing, such as anyone, everybody, and something, always take singular verbs. The indefinite pronouns another, each, either, neither and one always take a singular verb.

Everybody in the audience was enthusiastic.

Another of the pesticides has provided harmful to birds.

Each of the students needs individual help.

Neither of the books was available in the library.

The indefinite pronouns all, any, most, none and some may take either a singular or a plural verb depending upon the noun they refer to.

Some of the silver is missing. [Some refers to the singular noun silver.]

Some of her ancestors were slaves. [Some refers to the plural noun ancestors.]

None of the work is finished. [None refers to the singular work.]

 None of the birds have migrated yet. [None refers to the plural birds.]

A singular verb is sometimes used with none even when it refers to a plural noun. The   plural is more common, however, in both spoken and written current English.

r)  When the adjectives, much little and less are used as nouns they must be followed by a singular verb.

     Much of what you have said, has been said by others.

     More than a year has passed since I saw him.

     A little of good manners makes our life sweet.

     Less than a million tons is produced in a year.

s)  Many a  should always be followed by a singular verb.

     Many a man has lost everything by putting his eggs in one basket.

     Many a soldier has died for the sake of his country.

     BUT

     Many a man and woman were standing there.

t)  If the principal clause is in the past tense, it must be followed by a past tense in dependent clause.

     He told me he does not believe in God. (Wrong)

     He told me he did not believe in God. (Correct)

     However, this rule does not apply to such universal truths as

     We are taught that the earth moves round the sun.

     At last he was convinced of the fact that honest is the best policy.

u) In a subjunctive mood where there is an expression of some wish or supposition, the verb is plural.

     I wish I were a film actor.

     Though he were the P.M. of this country, I would say the same.

     If he were here, he would support me.

v) Learn the correct uses of will and shall. To express simple future action shall is used in the FIRST PERSON and will in the SECOND PERSON and the THIRD PERSON.

     I shall come. (First Person)

     You will come. (Second Person)

     He will come. (Third Person)

     They will come. (Third Person)

Shall is used in the second and third person to express (a) command, (b) promise, (c) threat, (d) determination, whereas will is used in the first person to express (a) willingness, (b) promise, (c) threat or determination.

Thou (you) shall not steal. (Command)

You shall have a holiday tomorrow. (Promise)

You shall be punished for this. (Threat)

I will send you my book. (Willingness)

I will try to do better next time. (Promise)

I will punish you if you do that again. (Threat)

w) Make sure that a demonstrative adjective (this, that, these, those) agrees in number with the noun it modifies.

These adjectives forms seldom cause difficulty. One frequent error, however, occurs when the demonstrative adjective is used with kind of or sort of followed by plural nouns. Demonstrative adjective modifies the singular noun kind or sort and not the following plural noun. Thus a singular demonstrative is used.

NONSTANDARD       These kind of fruitstaste sweet.

STANDARD                This kind of fruit tastes sweet.

NONSTANDARD        These sort of dresses are expensive.

STANDARD                 This sort of dress is expensive.