1. English Grammar Week 3: Subject-Verb Concord Lectures 2 & 3

2. Introduction: Concord refers to the agreement relationship between two grammatical units. Concord refers to the agreement relationship between two grammatical units. Subject-verb concord Subject-verb concord – The most important type of concord – The number agreement between the subject and the verb » Susan runs every morning.

3. 2.1 Guiding principles Grammatical concord Grammatical concord Notional concord Notional concord Proximity Proximity

4. Grammatical concord The Verb must match its subject both in person and number. Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs. The Verb must match its subject both in person and number. Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs. Example: Each boy has his own book. Each boy has his own book. Two girls were standing on the corner. Two girls were standing on the corner. Much effort is wasted. Much effort is wasted.

5. Notional concord: agreement in meaning The verb can sometimes agree with the subject according to the notion of number rather than to the actual number. The verb can sometimes agree with the subject according to the notion of number rather than to the actual number. Example: Fifteen miles seems like a long walk to me. Fifteen miles seems like a long walk to me. The government have asked the country to decide by a vote. The government have asked the country to decide by a vote.

6. Proximity The verb should agree with the closer of the two subjects. The verb should agree with the closer of the two subjects. Example: Either you or I am responsible for the mistake. No one except his own supporters agree with him. No one except his own supporters agree with him.

7. Brief summary of the three principles The grammatical concord is the basic principle, and generally applies to formal English. The other two, on the other hand, play an auxiliary role in informal English. The grammatical concord is the basic principle, and generally applies to formal English. The other two, on the other hand, play an auxiliary role in informal English. Usually grammatical concord and notional concord coincide. Problems often arise when the grammatical concord comes into the conflict with the other two. Usually grammatical concord and notional concord coincide. Problems often arise when the grammatical concord comes into the conflict with the other two.

8. Activity: Find the Rule! In groups of 4 In groups of 4 You will be given two sentences and from these two sentences you will make your own rule You will be given two sentences and from these two sentences you will make your own rule DO NOT use your book! You will use your heads instead :) DO NOT use your book! You will use your heads instead :) You will have 5-10 minutes and then will present your rule to the class You will have 5-10 minutes and then will present your rule to the class

9. Find the Rule: The government is going to meet tomorrow. The government is going to meet tomorrow. The government are divided on the topic of raising taxes. The government are divided on the topic of raising taxes.

10. 2.3 Problems of concord with collective nouns as subject Collective nouns are singular in form but plural in meaning. Collective nouns are singular in form but plural in meaning. The choice between grammatical and notional concord is mostly governed by usage. The choice between grammatical and notional concord is mostly governed by usage.

11. 2.3 Collective nouns used either as plural or as singular They include army, audience, family, team, committee, class, etc. They include army, audience, family, team, committee, class, etc. The choice of the verb form depends on the exact meaning of the noun in a specific context. The choice of the verb form depends on the exact meaning of the noun in a specific context. when the noun is used as a whole, the verb takes the singular form. If the noun is used as the individuals that make the collective, the verb takes the plural form. when the noun is used as a whole, the verb takes the singular form. If the noun is used as the individuals that make the collective, the verb takes the plural form.

12. Example: The audience is requested to remain seated during the intermission. The audience is requested to remain seated during the intermission. The audience are listening to a Beethoven symphony. The audience are listening to a Beethoven symphony. The class are busy taking notes. The class are busy taking notes. The class is a modal one. The class is a modal one.

13. 2.3 Collective nouns used as plural They include people, police, cattle, poultry, vermin etc. They include people, police, cattle, poultry, vermin etc.e.g. The police are searching for the murderer. Domestic cattle provide us with milk, beef and hides. Poultry are less expensive in rural areas.

14. 2.3 Collective nouns used as Singular They include foliage, machinery, furniture, jewelry, merchandise, etc. They include foliage, machinery, furniture, jewelry, merchandise, etc. e.g. e.g. All the machinery in that country is made in China. Jewelry is no longer a mark of wealth.

15. Find the Rule: Diabetes is a disease in which your blood sugar levels are too high. Diabetes is a disease in which your blood sugar levels are too high. Spades is my favorite card game to play with my family. Spades is my favorite card game to play with my family.

16. 2.2 Disease and game names ending in –s They are mostly treated as singular. e.g. Mumps is a kind of infectious disease. Generally, measles occurs in children.

17. Find the Rule: Applied Linguistics was my major in graduate school. Applied Linguistics was my major in graduate school. Economics is one of my least favorite subjects. Economics is one of my least favorite subjects.

18. 2.2 Subject names ending in –ics They are generally singular nouns, but some are treated as plural when used in other senses. Example: Mathematics is the study of numbers. His mathematics are not good.

19. Find the Rule: The United Nations was formed in 1945. The United Nations was formed in 1945. The United States is where I come from. The United States is where I come from.

20. 3.3 Geographical names ending in –s They are usually used as plural except when used as country names.. Example: The Himalayas have a magnificent variety of plant and animal life. The West Indies are commonly divided into two parts.

21. 2.2 Problems of concord with nouns ending in -s The regular plural is formed by adding – s or –es to the base. The regular plural is formed by adding – s or –es to the base. Quite a few nouns ending in –s are uncountable. Quite a few nouns ending in –s are uncountable. Some are treated as singular, some as plural, and some either as singular or as plural. Some are treated as singular, some as plural, and some either as singular or as plural.

22. Find the Rule: The Scissors are so sharp they cut her. The Scissors are so sharp they cut her. The pair of scissors is on the table. The pair of scissors is on the table.

23. 2.2 Other nouns ending in –s Names for things made of two parts such as scissors, glasses, trousers, shorts, etc. are used as plural. Names for things made of two parts such as scissors, glasses, trousers, shorts, etc. are used as plural. His trousers are torn. His trousers are torn. *Except when preceded by “a pair of” Nouns usually taking plural endings such as arms, clothes, contents, goods, etc. are used as plurals. Nouns usually taking plural endings such as arms, clothes, contents, goods, etc. are used as plurals. High wages often result in high prices. High wages often result in high prices.

24. Find the Rule: Both Jessica and Helen are sophomores this year. Both Jessica and Helen are sophomores this year. Soup and salad is a good lunch. Soup and salad is a good lunch.

25. 3.1 Problems of concord with a coordinate subject Coordination with “and” or “both… and” It is usually treated as plural when it refers to two or more persons/things, but as singular when it refers to only one person or thing. It is usually treated as plural when it refers to two or more persons/things, but as singular when it refers to only one person or thing.Example: Peter and Bob are deadly rivals. Both John and his son have gone fishing.

26. *The poet and musician visits our school today. Ham and egg is a good breakfast. Ham and egg is a good breakfast. Every boy and every girl was asked to complete the form. Every boy and every girl was asked to complete the form.

27. 3.1 coordination with “or”/ “either… or”, “nor”/ “neither… nor”, “not only… but also ” It is generally dealt with according to the principle of proximity. Example: Neither you nor your husband is responsible for the mistake. Not only the students but also their teacher has participated in the game. 3.1 coordination with “or”/ “either… or”, “nor”/ “neither… nor”, “not only… but also ” It is generally dealt with according to the principle of proximity. Example: Neither you nor your husband is responsible for the mistake. Not only the students but also their teacher has participated in the game.

28. Group Activity Make a conversation using the rule that I assign you Make sure you use forms at least twice in your conversation Be ready to explain the rule after!

29. 3.2 Expressions of quantity as subject Definite quantity as subject a. When it is regarded a single unit, the verb takes a singular form. a. When it is regarded a single unit, the verb takes a singular form. Six months is too short a time. Six months is too short a time. A hundred dollars is a large sum of money to a university student. A hundred dollars is a large sum of money to a university student.

30. b. When it is used in the sense of the individuals, the verb takes the plural form. e.g. The first two years were quite successful. There are six dollars in his pocket.

31. 3.2 “a fraction/percentage + of-phrase” as subject The verb form is determined by the noun in the of-phrase. The verb form is determined by the noun in the of-phrase.e.g. Over 60% of the city was destroyed in the war. Over 60% of the city was destroyed in the war. Two-thirds of the students are willing to take the test. Two-thirds of the students are willing to take the test.

32. 3.2 Indefinite quantity as subject a. “all of, some of, none of, half of + noun” as subject The verb is determined by the noun in of- phrase. The verb is determined by the noun in of- phrase.Example: Some of the money has been stolen. Some of the money has been stolen. Half of the students are girls. Half of the students are girls.

33. 3.2 “one in/out of + plural noun” as subject The verb takes the singular form in formal (British) style, but plural in informal style. The verb takes the singular form in formal (British) style, but plural in informal style.Example: One in ten students has / have failed the exam. One in ten students has / have failed the exam.

34. 3.2 “many a/more than one + noun” as subject This kind of noun phrase, though notionally plural, is treated as singular. Example: Many a man has done his duty. Many a man has done his duty. More than one student has failed the exam. More than one student has failed the exam.

35. 3.3 Other problems Nominal clauses as subject Generally, a one-clause subject takes the singular verb, and a two-clause subject, the plural verb. Generally, a one-clause subject takes the singular verb, and a two-clause subject, the plural verb.Example: What caused the accident was a complete mystery. What he did and what he said are totally different. *What she wanted from him were just promises.

36. 3.3 Non-finite clauses as subject The verb usually takes the singular form. Example: Playing tennis is a very good exercise. To eat well is all he asks. * Singing and dancing are her favorite hobbies. 3.3 Non-finite clauses as subject The verb usually takes the singular form. Example: Playing tennis is a very good exercise. To eat well is all he asks. * Singing and dancing are her favorite hobbies.

37. 3.3 Concord in relative clauses a. In the construction of “one of + plural noun + relative clause”, the principle of proximity is generally preferred (especially in BE). a. In the construction of “one of + plural noun + relative clause”, the principle of proximity is generally preferred (especially in BE).Example: She is one of the girls who have trouble making up their minds. She is one of the girls who have trouble making up their minds.

38. 3.3 Concord in existential sentence The verb agrees with the notional subject. The verb agrees with the notional subject.e.g. There is a note left on the desk. There is a note left on the desk. There are three routes you can take. There are three routes you can take. *There is a sofa and two chairs in the room. (principle of proximity)

39. b. When one is premodified by the or the only/very, the verb can only be singular. Example: She is the only one of her family who has trouble making up her mind.

40. Homework Read Lecture 4 Do exercises 4A, 4D, 4E