GRAMMATICAL SENTENCE – ISSUES:SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

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Journalistic Writing MCM310

LECTURE 15

GRAMMATICAL SENTENCE ISSUES

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT:

G1-a

Make the verb agree with its subject not with a word that comes between.

�

The tulip in the pot on the balcony needs watering.

�

High levels of air pollution cause damage to the respiratory tract.

�

A good set of golf clubs costs about eight hundred dollars.

�

The governor, as well as his press secretary was shot.

G1-b

Treat most compound subject connected by and as plural.

�

Leon and Jan often jog together.

�

Jill's natural ability and here desire to help others have led to a career in the ministry.

With compound subjects connected by or, nor, make the verb agree with the part of the

G1-c

subject nearer to the verb.

�

A driver's license or credit card is required.

�

If a relative or neighbour is abusing a child, notify the police.

�

Neither the real estate agent nor her clients were able to find the house.

G1-d

Treat most indefinite pronouns as singular.

�

Everyone on the team supports the coach.

�

Each of the furrows has been seeded.

�

None of these trades requires a college education.

G1-e

Treat collective nouns as singular unless the meaning is clearly plural.

SINGULAR

The class respects the teacher.

PLURAL

The class are debating among themselves.

�

The scout troop meets in our basement on Tuesdays.

�

The young couple were arguing about politics while holding hands. (focus is on their

individualities)

G1-f

Make the verb agree with its subject even when the subject follows the verb.

There are surprisingly few children in our neighbourhood.

�

There were a social worker and a crew of twenty volunteers.

�

At the back of the room are a small aquarium and an enormous terrarium.

Journalistic Writing MCM310

G1-g Make the verb agree with its subject not with a subject complement.

� A tent and a sleeping bag is the required equipment.

�

A major force in toady's economy is women as earners, consumers, and investors.

G1-h

Who, which, and that take verbs that agree with their antecedents.

�

Take a suit that travels well.

�

Our ability to use language is one of the things that set us apart from animals.

�

Dr. Barker knew Frank was the only one of his sons who was responsible enough to handle the

estate.

G1-i

Words such as athletics, economics, mathematics, physics, statistics, measles, and news are

usually singular, despite their plural form.

�

Statistics is among the most difficult courses in our program.

G1-j

Titles of works and words mentioned as words are singular.

�

Lost Cities describes the discoveries of many ancient civilizations.

�

Controlled substance is a euphemism for illegal drugs.

PROBLEMS OF PRONOUNS:

G3-a

Make pronouns and antecedents agree.

SINGULAR

The doctor finished her rounds.

PLURAL

The doctors finished their rounds.

�

When someone has been drinking, he/she is more likely to speed.

Generic Nouns

�

Every runner must train rigorously if her or she wants [not they want] to excel.

�

A medical student must study hard if he/she wants to succeed.

Compound antecedents

Treat compound antecedents jointed by `and' as plural.

�

Joanne and John moved to the mountains, where they build a log cabin.

�

Either Aroma or Viola should receive first prize for his sculpture.

G3-b

Make pronoun references clear.

Ambiguous references

Ambiguous reference occurs when the pronoun could refer to two possible antecedents.

�

When Gloria set the pitcher on the glass-topped table, it broke. (What broke?)

�

Tom told James, that he had won the lottery. (Who won?)

Journalistic Writing MCM310

G1-c Use personal pronouns in the proper case.

Subjective case (I, we, you, he, she, it, they)

�

Sandra confessed that the artist was she.

Objective case (me, us, you, him, her, it, them)

�

Bruce found Tony and brought him home.

�

Alice gave me a surprise party.

�

Jessica wondered if the call was for her.

�

Joel ran away from home because his stepfather and he (him) had quarrelled.

�

Geoffrey went with my family and me (not I) to King's Dominion.

Appositives

�

At the drama festival, two actors, Christina and I (not me), were selected to do the last scene of

King Lear.

�

The reporter interviewed only two witnesses, the shopkeeper and me (not I).

We or us before a noun

�

We (not us) tenants would rather fight than move.

Comparisons with, than or as

�

My husband is six years older than I (not me).

�

We respected no other candidate as much as her (not she).

Subjects of infinitives

�

We expected Chris and him (not he) to win the doubles championship

Possessive case to modify a gerund

�

My father and mother always tolerated our (not us) talking after the lights were out.

G3-d

Use who and whom in the proper case.

In subordinate clauses

�

He tells that story to whoever (not whomever) will listen.

�

You will work with our senior engineers, whom (not who) you will meet later.

In questions

� Who (not whom) is responsible for this dastardly deed?

�

Whom (not who) did the committee select?

Source: Hacker, Dianna. `A Writer's Reference' Boston: St. Martin's Press. 1992.

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