Shouldn`t Joe be followed by the what and not by the merchandise, since Joe is singular? But Joe isn`t really there, so let`s say who wasn`t. The sentence demonstrates the subjunctive mood used to express hypothetical, useless, imaginary, or factually contradictory things. The subjunctive connects singular subjects to what we generally consider plural verbs. 1. If the different parts of the composite subject are traversing and connected, always use a plural verb. Nouns such as civics, mathematics, dollars, measles and short stories require singular verbs. A prepositional sentence can be placed between the subject and the verb. Sugar is countless; therefore, the theorem has a singular verb. Although each part of the composite subject is singular (ranger and camper), taken together (connected by and), each becomes part of a plural structure and must therefore take a plural verb (see) to match in the sentence. Have you ever received a ”subject/verb match” as an error on a piece of paper? This document will help you understand this common grammar problem.
This theorem uses a composite subject (two subject nouns that are traversing and connected) and illustrates a new rule on subject-verb correspondence. NOTE: Sometimes, however, ics nouns can have a plural meaning: we can talk about individual parts of this set. In this case, we apply the same rule as for group nouns when we examine the individual members of the group (see section 3.3): We use a plural verb. Rule 1. A topic comes before a sentence that begins with von. This is a key rule for understanding topics. The word of is the culprit of many, perhaps most, subject-verb errors. Authors, speakers, readers, and hasty listeners might overlook the all-too-common mistake in the following sentence: None of the books are reproducible without permission. None of the peas are left on Sean`s plate.
(”Peas” is the speaker and is in the plural) The compound word consists of two or more parts. Two or more words can be put together or linked by linking them to one of three words: Rule of Thumb. A singular subject (she, Bill, car) takes a singular verb (is, goes, shines), while a plural subject takes a plural verb. Oil and gas are a popular heating choice. Peanut butter combined with bread and jelly is a delicious snack. (Here, peanut butter, bread and jelly are a unit, a sandwich, so no comma is needed and we keep the singular verb.) The subject-verb correspondence sounds simple, doesn`t it? A singular subject takes a singular verb: in the example above, plural verbs coincide with the closest subject actors. Note: In this example, the subject of the sentence is the pair; therefore, the verb must correspond to it. (Since scissors are the object of preposition, scissors have no effect on the number of verbs.) Sometimes, however, a prepositional sentence inserted between the subject and the verb makes it difficult to match.
3. If a composite subject contains both a singular and plural noun or pronoun that is connected by or or, the verb must correspond to the part of the subject that is closer to the verb. While you`re probably already familiar with basic subject-verb matching, this chapter begins with a brief overview of the basic matching rules. Another pitfall for writers is the transition from a strict grammatical chord to a ”fictitious chord”,that is, the verb is consistent with the term or idea that the subject is trying to convey, whether singular or plural: rule 3. The verb in a sentence or, either/or, or neither/yet is in agreement with the noun or pronoun closest to it. Key: Subject = yellow, bold; Verb = green, underscore 4. Is not a contraction of not and should only be used with a singular subject. Don`t is a contraction of do not and should only be used with a plural subject.
The exception to this rule occurs with the first-person and second-person pronouns I and U. With these pronouns, contraction should not be used. A clause that starts with whom, that or that comes between the subject and the verb can cause matching problems. False: The arrival of the new autumn fashion has delighted all back-to-school buyers. That`s right: the arrival of the new autumn fashion has delighted all back-to-school buyers. (should agree with arrival) 4. Think of the indefinite pronoun EXCEPTIONS considered in section 3.5, p.18: Some, All, None, All, and Most. .