Structure and Written

Expression I
Presented by
Dr. Muhammad Sukirlan, S.Pd., M.A.
 Subject-verb Agreement
The subject and verb are separated by one or more prep
phrase
**Subject + prep phrase + verb**
Examples:
1. The series of articles was very
interesting.
2. The aftershocks of the recent
earthquake are frightening.
 Subject-verb Agreement
The Subject and verb are separated by one or
more clause.
**Subject + clause (s) + verb**
Examples:
1. The committee, which is composed
of four senators, meets every Friday.
2. The buildings that were constructed
before World war II are no longer
standing.
 Subject-verb Agreement
If the subject of the sentence is gerund, the verb is
singular.
**gerund as subject + singular verb**
Examples:
1. Walking six miles a day is good for
your health.
2. Exploring the oceans requires a knowledge of
currents
 Subject-verb Agreement
Certain expressions do not change the number of the
subject.
along with as well as
accompanied by together with
Examples:
1. The student, accompanied by his parents, is receiving
a prize.
2. The chair, along with the desk, is being given away.
 Subject-verb Agreement
Certain nouns always take a plural verb.
glasses pants scissors
jeans pliers shorts
Examples:
1. His glasses are on the desk.

2. The jeans are on sale.

 Subject-verb Agreement
Always takes singular verb
anybody anyone anything
somebody someone something
nobody no one nothing
everybody everyone everything
Example:
 Everybody is allowed to vote.

 Somebody is dreaming his future.

 Subject-verb Agreement
The article a and the in the expression a (the) number
of can change the “number” of the verb.
Examples:
1. A number of decisions were made
at the meeting.
2. The number of cells is less than the
biologist expected to find.
 Subject-verb Agreement
The expletive there and here take either singular or plural
verb. The subject follows the verb.
 There + plural verb (are) + plural subject.
 Here + plural verb (are) + plural subject.
Examples:
1. There are opportunities to become
successful.
2. Here are the documents you asked for.
 Subject-verb Agreement
 There + singular verb (is) + singular subject.
 Here + singular verb (is) + singular subject.

Examples:
1. There is enough evidence to convict
the thief.
2. Here is the opportunity we have
been waiting for.
 Subject-verb Agreement
Pronoun either and neither.
1. Either + singular noun + singular verb
2. Either + noun + or + singular noun +
singular verb.
3. Either + noun + or + plural noun + plural
verb
 Subject-verb Agreement
 Examples:
1. Either is acceptable.
2. Either plan is acceptable.
3. Either plan A or plan B is
acceptable.
4. Either my plan or their plans are
acceptable.
 Subject-verb Agreement
Pronoun neither.
1. Neither + singular verb
2. Neither + singular noun + singular verb
3. Neither + noun + nor + singular noun +
singular verb.
4. Neither + noun + nor + plural noun + plural
verb
 Subject-verb Agreement
Examples
1. Neither is acceptable.
2. Neither plan is acceptable.
3. Neither plan A nor plan B is
acceptable.
4. Neither my plan nor their plans are
acceptable.
 Subject-verb Agreement
 The pronoun some, none and no are dependent on
the “number” of the closest noun.
 None + of the + non-count noun + singular verb
 None + singular verb (when antecedent is a non-count
noun)
Examples:
1. None of the milk was spilled.
2. None was spilled .
3. No answers are correct
 Subject-verb Agreement
 None + of the + plural noun + plural verb.
 None + plural verb (when the antecedent is
plural noun)
Examples:
1. None of the students were late.
2. None were late.
 Subject-verb Agreement
 Pronoun NO
No + singular noun + singular verb
No + plural noun + plural verb
Examples:
1. No problem was unanticipated.
2. No person is expected.
3. No problems were left unsolved.
4. No votes are obtained.
 Subject-verb Agreement

Words that represent group of people, animals, time, money, and

measurements are usually singular.
army crowd organization
class family public
committee jury team
government congress minority
Examples:
1. The army is always prepared.
2. The class is made up of men and women.
 Subject-verb Agreement
Group of animals
flock of sheep pack of dogs
herd of cattle school of fish
pride of lions
Examples:
1. A pack of dogs roams the streets at
night.
2. The school of fish is being studied for
behavioral change.
 Subject-verb Agreement
Amount of time, money, measurement
cents seconds inches
dollars minutes feet
hours miles
Examples:
1. Four dollars is too much for lunch.
2. There is 45 minutes remaining to finish the
test.
3. Six feet is as long as the sofa can be.
 Subject-verb Agreement
Majority takes either plural or singular.
majority + singular verb
majority + plural verb
Examples:
1. The majority controls the election.
2. The majority of the voters control the election.
 Past Custom
used to + verb
1. He used to live in the country.
2. She used to work hard when she was young.
BE + Used to + ing form means to be
accustomed to
1. She was used to speaking in public.
2. I was used to speaking French when I was in
Paris.
 Gerund and Infinitives
2. Some verbs can only be followed by gerund.
admit finish regret
appreciate mind report
avoid miss resent
consider postpone resist
delay practice resume
deny quit risk
enjoy recall suggest
 Gerund and Infinitives
The following verbs are followed by to infinitives
agree intend tend
attempt learn try
claim need want wish
decide offer
demand plan
desire prepare
fail pretend
forget refuse
hesitate seem
hope strive
 Gerund and Infinitives
4. A verb plus preposition is always followed by gerund.
approve of keep on
confess to look forward to
count on object to think about
depend on put off think of
give up rely on worry about
insist on succeed in
 Gerund and Infinitives
1. These verbs can be followed by either gerund or an
infinitive
begin like
continue love
dread prefer
hate start
Examples:
1. It started to rain just before we left.
2. It started raining just before we left.
This is the end of the show
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