Rules of agreement between the subject and the predicate.

In the English language the predicate agrees with the subject in person and number. For example, if the subject of the sentence is singular, the verb must also be in the singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural: He knows the correct answer. They were of the same size.

But in Modern English there is often a conflict between form and meaning; in these cases the predicate does not agree with the subject. The following rules of agreement of the predicate with the subject should be observed:

1. The predicate is used in the plural when there are two or more homogeneous subjects connected by the conjunction and or asyndetically: Mary and Jane are talking Spanish. The President, the vice-president, the minister speak at every meeting.

If two or more homogeneous subjects are expressed by infinitives the predicate is in the singular: To labour in peace, and devote her labour and her life to her poor son, was all the widow sought. (Dickens)

Sometimes the two subjects connected by and form a unit. In this case, the subject is regarded as singular and takes a singular verb: Bacon and eggs is a popular combination.

When two subjects connected by and refer to the same person or thing, the subject is singular:

His companion and friend is very devoted to him.

2. When the predicate-verb precedes a number of subjects, it is often in the singular, especially if the sentence begins with here and there: There was a vase and a book on the table.

If the subjects are of different number the predicate agrees with the subject that stands first:

There was a table and four chairs in the dining-room. There were four chairs and a table in the dining-room.

3. When two homogeneous subjects in the singular are connected by the conjunctions not only…but (also), neither…nor, either…or, or, nor, the predicate is usually in the singular: Neither the man nor the boy was responsible. Mary or Jane is going to the fashion show.

If the subjects are of different person or number, the predicate agrees with the one next to it: Not only your sister, but also you are to blame.

4. If a subject expressed by a noun is modified by two or more attributes connected by and, the predicate is in the singular when one person, thing, or idea is meant: The interesting and captivating plot is keeping the readers in suspense.

If two or more persons, things, or ideas are meant the predicate is in the plural: Classical and light music have both their admirers.

The above examples show that, in this case, the subject expressed by an abstract noun stands in the singular; with class nouns we either repeat the article and put the noun in the singular or use the article once and put the noun in the plural.

5. If the subject is expressed by a definite, indefinite, or negative pronoun (each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, somebody, someone, something, nobody, nothing, neither, etc.), the predicate is in the singular: Each of these bags has been examined.Somebody is responsible for the accident.

6. The following common words are always plural: several, few, both and many: Several were called to the platform. Both were anxious to receive the award.

7. When many a, each, and every are used to introduce a sentence and function as adjectives, the subject is singular: Many a man wishes that he had gone to college. Every man, woman, and child is expected to report.

8. Some, none, any, and all are singular or plural according to the meaning of the sentence. When these words refer to a quantity or a mass taken as a whole, they are generally considered as singular. When they refer to a number, they are regarded as plural in meaning: Some are going by plane. Some of the ice-cream is left. None of these apples are ripe. We needed a ball but nonewas available.

9. If the subject is expressed by an interrogative pronoun (who, what) the predicate is usually in the singular: Who is to apply to her for permission?

If the question refers to more than one person the predicate may be used in the plural: Who are these people in the street? What do they want?

10. If the subject is expressed by the emphatic it the predicate is in the singular no matter what follows: Neither of the books has a clean cover. It is the readers who spoil them.

11. If the subject is expressed by a noun in the plural which is the title of a book, or the name of a newspaper or magazine, the predicate is usually in the singular: “Sons and Lovers” was Lawrence’s favourite novel.

12. If the subject is expressed by a noun in the plural denoting time, measure, or distance, the predicate is in the singular when the noun represents the amount or mass as a whole: Three dollars is the sum you’ll need. Ten miles is a long distance to walk.

13. If the subject is expressed by a group of words denoting arithmetic calculations the predicate is usually singular: multiplication presents an exception as the verb may be in the singular or in the plural: Two and two is four. Twice two is (are) four.

14. If the subject is expressed by a word-group the first element of which is a number of…, a variety of…, the majority of…, a lot of…, plenty of…, a mass of… etc the form of the predicate depends on the form and meaning of the second element: A lot of books were placed on the table. There is a lot of truth in your words.

The nouns number and variety may retain their concrete meaning (количество, разнообразие). In this case they are used with the definite article and agree with a singular predicate: The number of people outside was enormous. The variety of goods in this marketis impressive.

15. Some nouns, though they have the plural ending –s, are nevertheless treated as singulars, taking singular verbs and pronouns referring to them. Here belong:

a. Miscellaneous nouns: news, gallows and summons.

b. Names of diseases: measles, mumps, rickets…etc.

c. Names of games: billiards, bowls, darts…etc.

d. Names of some countries: the Bahamas, the Netherlands, the Philippines, the United States

Date: 2016-03-03; view: 4073