4 Composite topics If the topics are related by ”or”, ”neither”, ”not only/but also”, etc., use the subject closest to the verb to determine whether the verb should be singular or plural ex. Neither the boys nor their sister do the laundry. Ex. Neither the girl nor her brothers do the laundry. 12 S What is the ”s”? Problems last letter in a word fold affix for singular verb inflections affix for numeral problems 10 examples Neither Julia nor I go. Neither Julia nor ISubject:___ Committee divided in opinion This group of soldiers is a first-class combat unit. Group one unit This group of soldiers has the highest individual performance ratings. Individual group performance 11 Other memories Nouns that end in ”s” but are actually just an object take on plural verbs. E.B. Pants, pliers and scissors Do not forget to carefully look for topics separated from the verb by words or phrases.

Ex. John, like his two friends, works in the pizzeria. 27(4) A committee of, etc+ plural nounubject predicate verbcommittee board panel has plural noun verb postmodifier noun phrase head of noun singular form singular verb a committee of five men and three women to examine the matter. 8 3) Proximity The rule: The verb coincides with a noun sentence that closely precedes in the subject. close to him subject predicate verb NP +NP+··· +VERB NP. NP Singular Singular Plural Plural 10 Memories Remember that your subject will NEVER be ”there”, so pay attention to the unusual sequence of words in your sentences. Ex. On the desk are papers. Ex. A spider hangs on the wall. Remember that nouns such as mumps, measles, news, mathematics, and economics take singular verbs. Subject/verb agreement rules 1.) Singular collective nouns – a group that acts as a unit and is not divided into action, use a singular verb.

Z.B. the group. 21 8) Nouns ending in –s with singular and plural meaning:Rules: Plural meaning  Plural verb Singular meaning  Singular verb Types of fish______ are numerous This type of rose______very curious. is the relationship between the subject and the predicate. I. The syntactic relationship between the subject and the predicate 1. The subject determines the numerical form of. 4 1) Grammatical concord Subject Verb the rule: The verb must correspond to its subject in number. Subject Plural Singular / a mass noun Plural Verb Singular Sentence Header Subject The number of sentences Main verb of the single verb Sentence Auxiliary verb Sentence 2 Conference 2 Subject-verb concord (I)Definition: Main points: The agreement between the subject and the verb predicate in number. 2.1 Guiding Principles 2.2 Problems of harmony with nouns ending in –s 2.3 Problems of harmony with collective nouns Quiz 1 Subject-verb Concorde (I)Conference 2 Subject-verb Concorde (I) 7 Examples: The government asked the country to decide by vote. Singular Form Plural Plural Meaning Fifteen Miles seems like a long way to go.

PluralForm Singular Singular Meaning 16 2) Game Name Ending with –s:Rules: Billiards 台球 bowls 保龄球 darts 投镖游戏 draughts 国际跳棋 marbles 弹ड游戏 checkers 跳棋 tiddlywinks 挑圆片 skittles 九柱戏 dominoes 多米诺骨牌 generally singular Exception: 1. cards generally plural 2. Not for generally plural nouns 14 2.2 Problems of concord with names ending in -s1) Disease names ending in -s: 2) Game names ending in -s: 3) Subject names ending in -ics: 4) Geographical names ending in -s: 5) Names for things that consist of two parts 6) Names usually take plural endings: 7) Nouns, ending in -ings 8) Nouns ending in -s, singular and plural Meaning: 19 6) Generally plural Nouns Purposes: Rules: General Plural Exception: location, drama Plural / Singular Goods must be exported to Canada. The remains of an ancient city were/were found there The mortal remains of the late president are buried in the cemetery. 5 examples: Happy families _____all also; every unhappy family is unhappy on its own. His brother and not his parents ____to to blame. Children who interfere with their parents` right to remarry ______become a social problem. What he did and what he said ______totally different. Because they are dead language, _____no reason why they should be ignored in academic circles. Families are brother is disturbing has and because they are dead language is 15 1) Disease Name Ending in –s:Rules: Arthritis 关节炎 Bronchitis 支气管炎 Diabetes 糖尿病 Measles 麻疹 mumps 腮腺尿病 Measles 麻疹 mumps 腮腺腺婪尿病 Measles 麻疹 mumps 腮腺腺ೲ腺尿腺痂腺腺痂腺腺尿痂腺痂痂腺痂病 phlebitis 静脉炎 rabies 狂犬病 rickets 软骨 shingle 带状疱疹 mainly treated as singular Exception: can singular / plural be used 11 2.2 Problems of harmony with nouns, which end with –sWhat is `s`? 20 7) Nouns ending in –ings Rules: Exception: generally plural, except news in plural/singular Observations were reported 20 years ago.

were 18 5) Names for things of two partiesRules: usually plural Exception: determined by the unitary noun Scissors are on the ground. These scissors belong to schneider 13 2.2 Problems of harmony with nouns ending in –sknoten ending in –s A: not countable treated in the singular Singular plural or plural B: countable by grammatical concordance 23 2.3 Problems of harmony with collective nouns as subject1) Collective nouns are generally used in the plural 2) Collective nouns are generally used in the singular 3) Collective nouns, which are used either in the plural or in the singular 4) A committee of, etc + plural noun.. .