Lecture 2 and Lecture 3Subject-verb Concord

1.Guiding principles

1) Grammatical concord 2) Notional concord 3) Proximity

The principle of grammatical concord refers to the rule that the verb must match its subject in number. If the subject is plural, the verb should take the plural form; if, on the other hand, the subject is singular or is a mass noun, the verb should take the singular form, eg:

Both boys have their own merits. Every girl comes on time. Much effort is wasted. back

The principle of notional concord refers to the rule that the verb can sometimes agree with the subject according to the notion of number rather than to the actual presence of the grammatical marker for that notion, eg:

The government have asked the country to decide by a vote. Fifteen miles seems like a long walk to me.

back

The principle of proximity denotes agreement of the verb with a closely preceding noun phrase in preference to agreement with the head of the noun phrase that functions as subject,eg:

Either my brothers or my father is coming. No one except his own supporters agree with him. Neither Julia nor I am going.

back

2. Problems of concord with nouns ending

in –s

1) Disease and game names ending in –s

2) Subject names ending in –ics

3) Geographical names endings in –s

4) Other nouns ending in -s

英语中一些以 -s 结尾的疾病名称通常作单数用：

Mumps is kind of infectious disease.

Phlebitis is a swollen condition of the blood vessels.

但有一些疾病既可作单数又可作复数用： Generally ， Measles occurs in children.

Measles are sometimes caused by a tapeworm.

表示游戏的名称通常作单数用： Darts is essentially a free and easy game.

但也有个别表示游戏的名称作复数用： Cards are not allowed here.

3. Problems of concord with collective nouns as subject

1) Collective nouns usually used as plural

2) Collective nouns usually used as singular

3) Collective nouns used either as plural or

as singular

4) A committee of, etc + plural noun

4. Problems of concord with a coordinate

subject

1) Coordination with “and” or “both…and”

2) Coordination with “or”/ “either…or”, “nor” /

“neither…nor”, “not only…but also”

5. Problems of concord with expressions

quantity as subject 1) Concord with expression of definite quantity

as subject

2) Concord with expression of indefinite

quantity as subject

6. Other problems of subject-verb concord

1) Problems of concord with a nominal clause as

subject

2) Subject-verb concord with a non-finite clause as

subject

3) Subject-verb concord in relative clauses

4) Subject-verb concord in cleft-sentences

5) Subject-verb concord in existential sentences

Assignment

Exercise in the Textbook