A.
BASIC PRINCIPLE OF AGREEMENT
The
basic principle of agreement of subject and verb is as follows: A
verb must agree with its subject in person an number. Note how this
principle is applied in the following sentences.
-
I am
familiar with their products. (The first person singular verb am agrees with the first person singular
subject I. Note that be is the only verb that has a special
first person singular form: am, which
is used with the pronoun subject I. ).
Errors in agreement of subject and verb
often occur, however, when the subject and the verb are separated by a number
of words, when the subject is composed of more than one word, and when the verb
appears before the subject.
B.
HOW TO IDENTIFY THE SUBJECT
1) 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.
If the subject is all, some, or another indenfinite pronoun that may be either
singular or plural, the modifying phrase that follows the subject must be
considered.
-
Some
of the information in each of those pamphlets is inaccurate. (Some is
used with reference to the singular noun information;
therefore, some is a singular subject
and requires the singular verb is).
2) 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.
-
I,
as well as most of my neighbors, am
happy with the new streetlights.
- The price,
including taxes and dealer preparation charges, has been reduced to $11,540.
3)
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.
- Is
the house next to yours for sale?
(The house next to yours is for sale).
- Does
the
amount of the proposed settlement surprise you? (The amount of the proposed settlement does surprise you).
4)
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.
-
There is a newsstand in the
lobby of this building.
-
Perhaps there are too many topics on
the agenda.
5) 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.
-
Expenses
are
something we must watch carefully.
-
Something
we
must watch carefully is expenses.
C.
SUBJECT JOINED BY AND
1) Two
or More Singular Subject.
Singular subject that are joined by and and that identify different persons
or things require a plural verb.
-
Friday
and Saturday are the two busiest days
for us.
-
She
and Jim have offered to help us.
-
The owner
and the manager were in Fort Worth.
2) Singular
Subject Modified by Every or a
Similar Expression.
When two or more singular subject
connected by and are modified by every, each, many a, or many an, a
singular verb is required.
-
Every stove and refrigerator in
the store is on sale at unbelievable
low prices.
-
Many a man, woman, and child has
visited this amusement park.
3) Plural
or Plural and Singular Subject.
Plural subjects or a plural subject and
a singular subject connected by and require a plural verb.
-
Drivers
and pedestrians need to be very
careful at that intersection.
-
Two rings
and bracelet were lying on the
counter.
D.
SUBJECT JOINED BY OR OR NOR
1) Singular
Subjects.
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.
-
Is the owner or the manager willing to meet with the reporters?
-
Does he or Vera plan to join that organization?
-
Either a set
of towels or a portable mixer is a
pratical gift.
-
Neither the taxi nor the bus was
badly damaged.
2) 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.
-
Neither the carpet
nor the drapes need to be replaced.
-
Neither the walls
nor the ceiling has been painted
recently.
-
Either they
or I was not listening.
-
She, he, or you are likely to get the assignment.
Sumber : Buku
Judul : Modern Business English
Penulis : Voiles
Penerbit : McGraw-Hill International Edition
Edisi : Eight Edition
