A strong c o m m a n d of the English language is directly linked to career
a d v a n c e m e n t , to the m o n e y we make a n d even to social success. Every
day people judge us by the words we use. Right or wrong, but they
make a s s u m p t i o n s about our intelligence, o u r e d u c a t i o n or our capa­
bilities. N o t h i n g makes a better impression t h a n a solid mastery of the
English language. N o t having a strong c o m m a n d of language can be
a serious h a n d i c a p , an obstacle that prevents us from achieving o u r
goals. A person who c a n ' t express ideas eloquently, who hesitates because
of the uncertainty about the right word or p r o p e r g r a m m a r construc­
tion may appear less t h a n fully c o m p e t e n t a n d qualified. It's t i m e to
be equipped to speak with confidence at all times. And though we keep
enslaving at all sorts of reference-books, dictionaries etc there are still
things we are never certain of, so we try to ignore this or that word
(e.g. implicit, explicit), substitute some patterns that d o n ' t seem to be
absolutely clear to us, or what is m u c h worse we, teachers make mis­
takes.
Swatting is a great thing. But it d o e s n ' t explain nature of the phe­
n o m e n o n . If we are able to say
Somebody has forgotten their coat, haven't they?
we must be able to explain why we organize the sentence this way. Clarity
is next to divinity. Actually 1 c o m e up with an idea of establishing the
heading that could bring verbal advantage closer to us and make o u r
language gaps filled and completed.
MAKING WORDS
AGREE
Agreement Between Subjects and Verbs
1 Agreement with Singular a n d Plural Subjects
a) A prepositional phrase that c o m e s between a subject and its verb
d o e s n ' t affect subject-verb agreement.
e.g T h e arrival of several new sports cars has caused m u c h excitement
at a s h o w r o o m .
Exercise: (choose appropriate verb)
e.g. T h e lines of this table (follows, follow) the style of the late Victorian
period).
Follow
1. T h e air (has, have) b e c o m e stale since we shut the windows.
2. Moss usually (grow, grows) on the north side of the trees.
3. T h e eggplants in our garden (is, are) particularly large this sum­
mer.
4. T h e children in this photograph (look, looks) uncomfortable.
5. T h e lace on these dresses (was, were) h a n d m a d e .
6. T h e n e w s p a p e r s in this c o l l e c t i o n ( d a t e s , d a t e ) b a c k to t h e
Revolutionary War.
7. An acre of trees a n d meadows (surrounds, surround) the little
church.
8. T h e n u m b e r s next to the lines on this m a p (indicates, indicate) t h e
n u m b e r of miles between each i n t e r c h a n g e .
9. T h e guests at the meeting (is, are) wearing n a m e tags.
10. T h e handwriting in these bills and letters (seems, seem) to belong
to the same person.
2. Agreement with Compound Subjects.
a) a c o m p o u n d subject is m a d e up of two or more subjects joined by a conjunction such as or, nor, and — 2 or more singular subjects joined by or or nor must have a sin­
gular verb. e.g. Either the t e l e p h o n e or the doorbell is ringing.
b) problems o c c u r w h e n the parts of a c o m p o u n d subject joined by or or nor are mixed in number. — when singular a n d plural subjects are j o i n e d by or or nor, the verb must agree with the closest subject. e.g. N e i t h e r the nails n o r the hammer is in the tool chest N e i t h e r the hammer nor the nails are in t h e tool chest. — a c o m p o u n d subject joined by and is usually plural and must have a plural verb. e.g. T h e dog and the cat are fighting. T h e dogs and cats are fighting. T h e does and the cat are fighting. Exceptions:
1. If the parts of the c o m p o u n d subject taken together are thought of as a single thing, t h e n the c o m p o u n d subject is considered singular and must have a singular verb, have e.g. Bacon and eggs is a very popular breakfast (bacon + eggs = o n e breakfast). 2.This exception involves the words every each Either of these words before a c o m p o u n d subject indicates the need
for a singular verb.
e.g. Every tree a n d shrub has been primed.
*
a
Exercise № 1 (choose the appropriate verb)
N e i t h e r the twins n o r their dog (has, have) m a n a g e d to stay out of
the swimming pool today.
Has
1. Either Sam or Lena (drives, drive) the car here each day.
2. I will go even t h o u g h n e i t h e r Leslie nor Bill (is, are) going.
3. Either potatoes or corn (tastes, taste) good with c h i c k e n .
4. Neither the front door nor the windows (has been, have been) locked.
5. N e i t h e r the texture n o r the colours of this fabric (goes, go) well
'
with that hat.
6. N e i t h e r the play nor the two movie versions (captures, capture) the flavour of t h e original book. 7. N e i t h e r the subway system n o r the bus routs (serves, serve) that part of the town. 8. N e i t h e r Meg nor Elsa (wants, want) to go to the m u s e u m .
9. Neither greeting cards nor wrapping paper (is, are) sold in this store.
10. Either o n e book or a few articles (is, are) sufficient background
for the report.
«
Exercise № 2 (choose the appropriate verb)
Every singer a n d d a n c e r on this stage (knows, know) how m u c h
work the show needs.
Knows
1. Pens and pencils (was, were) poised to write.
2. Peanut butter and jelly (is, are) my favourite c o m b i n a t i o n for sand­
wiches. 3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
T h e books a n d magazines on the shelf (was, were) out of order.
Every boot, shoe and belt in that store (is, are) made of leather.
Cherry pie and apple strudel (was, were) our choices.
A prince and princess always (lives, live) happily ever after.
Each folder and packet in the files (was, were) labeled.
Ducks and geese usually (stops, stop) at this park on their way south.
Every worker and manager in o u r plants (offers, offer) suggestions
for improvements.
10. T h e shops and d e p a r t m e n t stores in this mall (is, are) paying more
rent this year t h a n ever before.
Exercise № 3 (choose the appropriate verb)
Every cake and pie on these shelves (is, are) on sale.
is
1. N e i t h e r Sal nor her sisters (has, have) seen the puppies.
2. Pork a n d beans (was, were) o u r favourite campfire food w h e n we
were younger.
3. T h e glass in the panes of these Colonial cabinets (comes, c o m e )
from England.
4. Each fruit and vegetable in these bins (was, were) grown on o u r
farm.
5. Either the Capitol or the White H o u s e (fits, fit) into our schedule.
6. N e i t h e r the flowers in this drawing nor the landscapes in that o n e
(looks, look) realistic.
7. This dress and that pair of jeans (costs, cost) more this year t h a n
they did last year,
8. F r a n c i n e a n d Clare always (performs, perform) together in o u r va­
riety shows.
9. Jeff (does, d o ) fine work.
10. T h e players on either football t e a m (is, are) almost too m u d d y to
tell apart.
Exercise № 4 (correct errors)
N e i t h e r the m o o n nor the stars is visible tonight.
N e i t h e r t h e m o o n nor the stars are visible tonight (correct).
1. Strawberries, sour cream and brown sugar is the ingredients in t h e
dessert.
2. N e i t h e r the hurricane lamps nor t h e chandelier provide sufficient
light for this room.
3. E a c h basketball uniform and sweat suit were embossed with the
n a m e of the school.
4. Every typewriter in our main office c o m e equipped with compu­
ter m e m o r i e s .
Башлак, І.А. Making words agree [Text] //
Іноземні мови в навчальних закладах. - 2007. - №8. - C. 126-127.