English Grammar English Grammar

Week 3:Week 3:

Subject-Verb ConcordSubject-Verb ConcordLectures 2 & 3Lectures 2 & 3

Introduction:Introduction:

• Concord refers to the agreement Concord refers to the agreement relationship between two grammatical units.relationship between two grammatical units.

• Subject-verb concordSubject-verb concord– The most important type of concordThe most important type of concord– The number agreement between the The number agreement between the

subject and the verbsubject and the verb» Susan runs every morning.Susan runs every morning.

2.1 Guiding principles2.1 Guiding principles

• Grammatical concordGrammatical concord

• Notional concordNotional concord

• ProximityProximity

Grammatical concordGrammatical concord

The The Verb must match its subjectVerb must match its subject both both in person and number. Singular in person and number. Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs.subjects take plural verbs.

ExampleExample:: Each boy Each boy hashas his own book. his own book. Two girls Two girls werewere standing on the corner. standing on the corner. Much effort Much effort isis wasted. wasted.

Notional concord: agreement Notional concord: agreement in in meaningmeaning

The verb can sometimes agree The verb can sometimes agree with the subject according to the with the subject according to the notionnotion of number of number rather than to the rather than to the actualactual number. number.

ExampleExample:: Fifteen miles Fifteen miles seemsseems like a long like a long

walk to me.walk to me. The government The government havehave asked the asked the

country to decide by a vote.country to decide by a vote.

ProximityProximity The verb should agree with the The verb should agree with the

closercloser of the of the two subjectstwo subjects. .

ExampleExample: :

Either you or I Either you or I amam responsible for the responsible for the mistake.mistake.

No one except his own supporters No one except his own supporters agreeagree with him. with him.

Brief summary of the three Brief summary of the three principlesprinciples

• The The grammatical concord is the basic grammatical concord is the basic principleprinciple, and generally applies to formal , and generally applies to formal English. English. The other twoThe other two, on the other hand, , on the other hand, play an auxiliary role in informal Englishplay an auxiliary role in informal English..

• Usually grammatical concord and Usually grammatical concord and notional concord coincide. notional concord coincide. ProblemsProblems often often arise when the grammatical concord arise when the grammatical concord comes into the conflict with the other two. comes into the conflict with the other two.

Activity: Find the Rule!Activity: Find the Rule!

• In groups of 4 In groups of 4

• You will be given two sentences and You will be given two sentences and from these two sentences you will from these two sentences you will make your own rulemake your own rule

• DO NOT use your book! You will use DO NOT use your book! You will use your heads instead :) your heads instead :)

• You will have 5-10 minutes and then You will have 5-10 minutes and then will present your rule to the classwill present your rule to the class

Find the Rule:Find the Rule:

• The government is going to meet The government is going to meet tomorrow.tomorrow.

• The government are divided on the The government are divided on the topic of raising taxes.topic of raising taxes.

2.3 Problems of concord with 2.3 Problems of concord with collective nouns as subjectcollective nouns as subject

Collective nouns are singular in Collective nouns are singular in form but plural in meaning. form but plural in meaning.

The choice between grammatical The choice between grammatical and notional concord is mostly and notional concord is mostly governed by usagegoverned by usage..

2.3 Collective nouns used 2.3 Collective nouns used either as either as pluralplural or as or as singularsingular

They include They include army, audience, family, army, audience, family, team, committee, classteam, committee, class, etc., etc.

The choice of the verb form depends The choice of the verb form depends on the exact meaning of the noun in a on the exact meaning of the noun in a specific context. specific context.

when the noun is used as a whole, when the noun is used as a whole, the verb takes the singular form. If the the verb takes the singular form. If the noun is used as the individuals that noun is used as the individuals that make the collective, the verb takes the make the collective, the verb takes the plural form.plural form.

Example:Example:

The audience The audience isis requested to remain requested to remain seated during the intermission.seated during the intermission.

The audience The audience areare listening to a listening to a Beethoven symphony.Beethoven symphony.

The class are busy taking notes.The class are busy taking notes.

The class is a modal one.The class is a modal one.

2.3 Collective nouns used as 2.3 Collective nouns used as pluralplural

They include They include people, police, cattle, people, police, cattle, poultry, vermin poultry, vermin etcetc..

e.g. e.g.

The police The police areare searching for the searching for the murderer.murderer.

Domestic cattle Domestic cattle provideprovide us with milk, us with milk, beef and hides. beef and hides.

Poultry Poultry areare less less expensive in rural areas.expensive in rural areas.

2.3 Collective nouns used as 2.3 Collective nouns used as SingularSingular

They include They include foliage, machinery, foliage, machinery, furniture, jewelry, merchandisefurniture, jewelry, merchandise, etc., etc.

e.g. e.g.

All the machinery in that country All the machinery in that country isis made in China. made in China.

Jewelry is no longer a mark of wealth.Jewelry is no longer a mark of wealth.

Find the Rule:Find the Rule:

• Diabetes is a disease in which your Diabetes is a disease in which your blood sugar levels are too high.blood sugar levels are too high.

• Spades is my favorite card game to Spades is my favorite card game to play with my family.play with my family.

2.2 Disease and game names 2.2 Disease and game names ending in –sending in –s They are mostly treated as singular.They are mostly treated as singular.

e.g.e.g.Mumps Mumps isis a kind of infectious disease. a kind of infectious disease.Generally, measles Generally, measles occursoccurs in children. in children.

Find the Rule:Find the Rule:

• Applied Linguistics was my major in Applied Linguistics was my major in graduate school.graduate school.

• Economics is one of my least favorite Economics is one of my least favorite subjects.subjects.

2.2 Subject names ending in –ics 2.2 Subject names ending in –ics

They are generally singular nouns, They are generally singular nouns, but some are treated as plural when but some are treated as plural when used in other senses.used in other senses.

Example:Example:Mathematics Mathematics isis the study of numbers. the study of numbers.His mathematics His mathematics areare not good. not good.

Find the Rule:Find the Rule:

• The United Nations was formed in The United Nations was formed in 1945.1945.

• The United States is where I come The United States is where I come from.from.

3.3 Geographical names ending in –s3.3 Geographical names ending in –s

They are usually used as plural They are usually used as plural except when used as country names..except when used as country names..

Example:Example:The Himalayas The Himalayas havehave a magnificent a magnificent variety of plant and animal life.variety of plant and animal life.The West Indies The West Indies areare commonly divided commonly divided into two parts.into two parts.

2.2 Problems of concord with 2.2 Problems of concord with nouns ending in -snouns ending in -s

The regular plural is formed by The regular plural is formed by adding –s or –es to the base.adding –s or –es to the base.

Quite a few nouns ending in –s are Quite a few nouns ending in –s are uncountable.uncountable.

Some are treated as singular, Some are treated as singular, some as plural, and some either as some as plural, and some either as singular or as plural.singular or as plural.

Find the Rule:Find the Rule:

• The Scissors are so sharp they cut The Scissors are so sharp they cut her.her.

• The pair of scissors is on the table.The pair of scissors is on the table.

2.2 Other nouns ending in –s2.2 Other nouns ending in –s

Names for things made of two parts Names for things made of two parts such as scissors, glasses, trousers, such as scissors, glasses, trousers, shorts, etc. are used as plural. shorts, etc. are used as plural.

His trousers are torn. His trousers are torn. **Except when preceded by “a pair of” Except when preceded by “a pair of” Nouns usually taking plural endings Nouns usually taking plural endings

such as arms, clothes, contents, goods, such as arms, clothes, contents, goods, etc. are used as plurals.etc. are used as plurals.

High wages often result in high High wages often result in high prices.prices.

Find the Rule:Find the Rule:

• Both Jessica and Helen are Both Jessica and Helen are sophomores this year.sophomores this year.

• Soup and salad is a good lunch.Soup and salad is a good lunch.

3.1 Problems of concord with a 3.1 Problems of concord with a coordinate subjectcoordinate subject

Coordination with “and” or “both… Coordination with “and” or “both… and”and”

It is usually treated as It is usually treated as pluralplural when it when it refers to refers to two or more persons/thingstwo or more persons/things, but as , but as singularsingular when it when it refers to only one person refers to only one person or thingor thing..

Example:Example:

Peter and Bob Peter and Bob areare deadly rivals. deadly rivals.

Both John and his son Both John and his son havehave gone fishing. gone fishing.

*The poet and musician *The poet and musician visitsvisits our our school today.school today.

Ham and egg Ham and egg isis a good breakfast. a good breakfast.

Every boy and every girl Every boy and every girl waswas asked asked to complete the form.to complete the form.

3.1 coordination with “or”/ 3.1 coordination with “or”/ “either… or”, “nor”/ “neither… “either… or”, “nor”/ “neither… nor”, “not only… but alsonor”, “not only… but also”” It is generally dealt with according It is generally dealt with according to the principle of proximity.to the principle of proximity.Example:Example:Neither you nor your husband Neither you nor your husband is is responsible for the mistake. responsible for the mistake. Not only the students but also their Not only the students but also their teacher teacher hashas participated in the game. participated in the game.

Group ActivityGroup Activity

Make a conversation using the rule Make a conversation using the rule that I assign youthat I assign you

Make sure you use forms at least Make sure you use forms at least twice in your conversationtwice in your conversation

Be ready to explain the rule after!Be ready to explain the rule after!

3.2 Expressions of quantity as 3.2 Expressions of quantity as subjectsubject

Definite quantity as subjectDefinite quantity as subject a. When it is regarded a single a. When it is regarded a single

unit, the verb takes a singular form.unit, the verb takes a singular form.

Six months Six months isis too short a time. too short a time.

A hundred dollars A hundred dollars is is a large sum a large sum of money to a university student. of money to a university student.

b. When it is used in the sense of the b. When it is used in the sense of the individuals, the verb takes the plural individuals, the verb takes the plural form.form.

e.g.e.g.The first two years The first two years werewere quite successful. quite successful.

There There areare six dollars in his pocket. six dollars in his pocket.

3.2 “a fraction/percentage + of-3.2 “a fraction/percentage + of-phrase” as subjectphrase” as subject

The verb form is determined by the The verb form is determined by the noun in the of-phrase.noun in the of-phrase.

e.g.e.g.

Over 60% of the city Over 60% of the city waswas destroyed destroyed in the war.in the war.

Two-thirds of the students Two-thirds of the students areare willing to take the test.willing to take the test.

3.2 Indefinite quantity as subject3.2 Indefinite quantity as subject

a. “all of, some of, none of, half of + a. “all of, some of, none of, half of + noun” as subjectnoun” as subject

The verb is determined by the noun The verb is determined by the noun in of-phrase.in of-phrase.

Example:Example:

Some of the money Some of the money hashas been stolen. been stolen.

Half of the students Half of the students areare girls. girls.

3.2 “one in/out of + plural noun” as 3.2 “one in/out of + plural noun” as subjectsubject

The verb takes the singular form The verb takes the singular form in formal (British) style, but plural in in formal (British) style, but plural in informal style.informal style.

Example:Example:

One in ten students has / have One in ten students has / have failed the exam. failed the exam.

3.2 “many a/more than one + noun” as 3.2 “many a/more than one + noun” as subjectsubject

This kind of noun phrase, though This kind of noun phrase, though notionally plural, is treated as notionally plural, is treated as singular.singular.

Example:Example:

Many a man Many a man hashas done his duty. done his duty.

More than one student More than one student hashas failed the failed the exam. exam.

3.3 Other problems3.3 Other problems Nominal clauses as subjectNominal clauses as subject Generally, a one-clause subject Generally, a one-clause subject

takes the singular verb, and a two-takes the singular verb, and a two-clause subject, the plural verb.clause subject, the plural verb.

Example:Example:What caused the accident was a What caused the accident was a

complete mystery.complete mystery.What he did and what he said are What he did and what he said are

totally different.totally different.*What she wanted from him were just *What she wanted from him were just

promises.promises.

3.3 Non-finite clauses as subject3.3 Non-finite clauses as subject The verb usually takes the singular The verb usually takes the singular form.form.

Example:Example: Playing tennis Playing tennis isis a very good a very good exercise.exercise. To eat well To eat well isis all he asks. all he asks.

* * Singing and dancing Singing and dancing areare her her

favorite hobbies.favorite hobbies.

3.3 Concord in relative clauses3.3 Concord in relative clauses

a. In the construction of “one of + a. In the construction of “one of + plural noun + relative clause”, the plural noun + relative clause”, the principle of proximity is generally principle of proximity is generally preferred (especially in BE). preferred (especially in BE).

Example:Example: She is one of the girls who have She is one of the girls who have

trouble making up their minds. trouble making up their minds.

3.3 Concord in existential 3.3 Concord in existential sentencesentence

The verb agrees with the notional The verb agrees with the notional subject.subject.

e.g.e.g.

There There is is a note left on the desk.a note left on the desk.

There There areare three routes you can take. three routes you can take.

*There *There isis a sofa and two chairs in the a sofa and two chairs in the room. (principle of proximity) room. (principle of proximity)

b. When one is premodified by the or b. When one is premodified by the or the only/very , the verb can only be the only/very , the verb can only be singular.singular.

Example:Example: She is the only one of her family She is the only one of her family who who hashas trouble making up her mind. trouble making up her mind.

HomeworkHomework

Read Lecture 4Read Lecture 4

Do exercises 4A, 4D, 4EDo exercises 4A, 4D, 4E