AGREEMENT OF SUBJECT AND VERB

Nama  : Rizki Anandari Yuliati
NPM  : 16210122
Kelas  : 4EA16

BASIC PRINCIPLE OF AGREEMENT

1.      The basic principle of agreement of subject and verb is as follows: A verb must agree with its subject in person and number. Note how this principle is applied in the following sentences.

HOW TO IDENTIFY THE SUBJECT

The following suggestion will help you properly identify the subject and therefore help you choose the correct verb to use with it.

2.      Subject and Verb Separated by Modifiers.

Word and phrases that appear between the subject and the verb ordinarily do not affect the number of the subject and therefore should not be allowed to affect the number of the verb. The verb agrees with its subject, not with a noun or pronoun placed between the verb and its subject.

3.      Subject and Verb Separated by Parenthetical Expressions.

Parenthetical expressions introduced by such words and phrases as including, as well as,  and together with do not affect the number of the subject or of the verb that should be used with it. These expressions are not necessary to the sense of the sentence.

4.      Verb Followed by Subject.

When the verb or part of the verb phrase precedes the subject, the best procedure is to mentally place the subject and the verb in their normal order. In normal order, the subject and modifiers closely connected to it appear before the verb.

5.      Verb Preceded by There or Here.

When the word there or here preedes the verbs, as in the following examples, the subjects follow the verb.

6.      Verb followed by a Predicate Nominative.

When the verb is followed by a predicate nominative (a noun or pronoun that renames or further identifies the subject), the verb agrees with is subject, not with the predicate nominative

7.      Two or more Singular Subjects.

Singular subjects that are joined by and and that identify different persons or things require a plural verb.

8.      Singular Subjects Modified by Every or a Similar Expression.

When two or more singular subjects connected by and are modified by every, each, many a, or many an, a singular verb is required.

9.      Plural or Plural and Singular Subjects.

Plural subjects or a plural subject and a singular subject connected by and require a plural verb.

10.  Singular subjects.

Singular subjects connected by or, either..... or, or neither...  nor are singular and require a singular verb. If the subjects differ in person, the verb agrees in person with the subject nearer or nearest the verb.

11.  Singular Subject and a Plural Subject.

When or, either... or, or neither ... nor connects a singular subject and a plural subject, the verb agrees in number with the subjects immediately preceding it. If the subjects differ in person as well as in number, the verb agrees in person and number with the subject nearer or nearest to it.

EXAMPLE

My dog always growls at the postal carrier. Basketballs roll across the floor. I don’t understand the assignment. These clothes are too small for me. Peter doesn’t like vegetables. My mom or dad is coming to the play. Neither gray nor white is my favorite color. Either Grandpa or my sisters are going to the park. Either my sisters or Grandpa is going to the park. Neither she nor I am going to college.

Each gets a trophy for playing. Somebody will pay for this. Anybody is more fun than you. Something is very wrong here. Everybody enjoys a good book. Nothing has been determined as of yet. Both are qualified for the job. Many went to the beach and got sunburned. Few know what it really takes to get ahead. Several are already on location.

A theory of physics ascertains that a body in motion stays in motion. A virus in all the company’s computers is a real threat to security. The causes of this prevalent disease are bad diet and lack of exercise. The couch and chair I got at the store look really nice in here. The members of the choir are very happy with the performance. The committee meets here every Thursday. The crowd is getting angry. The jury has finally reached a decision. The majority rules most of the time. The staff have gone their separate ways for the holidays. (plural).

Sumber : Buku      : MODERN BUSINESS ENGLISH

                Penulis   : VOILES

                Penerbit : McGRAW- HILL INTERNATIONAL EDITIONS

                Edisi       : EIGHTH EDITION