Subject Verb Concord & Modals

8/8/2019 Subject Verb Concord & Modals

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OnSubject Verb Concord

Modals


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Subject Verb Concord

y Concord, also termed agreement, can be defined

as the relationship between two grammaticalunits such that one of them displays a particularfeature (e.g. plurality) that accords with adisplayed (or semantically implicit) feature in theother.

y Concord refers to the agreement relationshipbetween two grammatical units . The mostimportant type of the concord is Subject verbconcord. The number agreement between the

subject and the verb


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PrinciplesyGrammatical concord

yNotional concord

yProximity


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Grammatical Concord

The Verb must match its subject both in

person and number. Singular subjectstake singular verbs, and plural subjectstake plural verbs.

e.g.Each boy has his own book.Two girls were standing on the corner.Much effort is wasted


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Notional ConcordThe verb can sometimes agree with the

subject according to the notion ofnumber rather than to the actualpresence of the grammatical marker ofthat notion.

e.g.Fifteen miles seems like a long walk to

me.The government have asked the

country to decide by a vote.


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ProximityThe verb agree with a closely preceding noun

phrase in preference to with the head of the

noun phrase that functions as subject.The verb should agree with the closer ofthe two subjects.

e.g. Either you or I am responsible for themistake.No one except his own supporters agree

with him.


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Collective nouns used asplural

They include people, police, cattle, poultry, vermin etc.

For 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.

Names for things made of two parts such as scissors,glasses, trousers, shorts, etc. are used as plural.E.g. His trousers are torn.

Nouns usually taking plural endings such as arms, clothes,contents, goods, etc. are used as plurals.

E.g. High wages often result in high prices.


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Collective nouns used asSingular

They include foliage, machinery, furniture,jewelry, merchandise, etc.

E.g.

All the machinery in that country is made inChina.

Jewelry is no longer a mark of wealth.


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Collective nouns used either asplural or as singularThey include army, audience, family, team, committee,

class, etc.The choice of the verb form depends on the exactmeaning of the noun in a specific context.

when the noun is used as a whole, the verb takesthe singular form. If the noun is used as theindividuals that make the collective, the verb takesthe plural form.

e.g.The audience is requested to remain seated during theintermission.The audience are listening to a Beethoven symphony.


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Concord with nounsending in -s

The regular plural is formed by adding s or esto the base.

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.


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Subject names ending inics

y

They are generally singular nouns, butsome are treated as plural when used inother senses.e.g.

Mathematics is the study of numbers.His mathematics are not good.


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Geographical names ending ins

y They are usually used as plural except a few country

names..e.g.The Himalayas have a magnificent variety of plant andanimal life.The West Indies are commonly divided into two parts.

The United States is a country of people with variedorigins.

The United Nations was founded in 1945.


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Subject + as well as, in

addition to, together with, etc.Subjects linked by as well as, etc, normallycomply with the principle of the grammaticalconcord.

e.g. The President, as well as his advisors, wasaware of the risk of the mission.The head coach, together with his team,

was overjoyed when they won the NBA final.


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Singular subjects grammatically need singular verbs, and plural subjectsneed plural verbs. But sometimes notional concord is used -concord according to meaning rather than strict grammar.

1. The global total of homes with TV WAS/were estimated to be over 500 million by1987.

2. But in 1988 the Chinese News Agency said the number of TV viewers in China alonwas/were 600 million, watching 100 sets.

3. 600 million is/are a lot of viewers.

4. The greatest number of episodes of any TV programme ever sold was/were 1,144episodes of Coronation Street.

5. This pop star and fund raiser are/is now world famous.

6. Actually Michael Jackson as well as Madonna - was/were behind these concerts.


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7. 25 hours 21 minutes are/is said to be the average Indian viewer's weekly 'fix'.

8. A majority of viewers worldwide probably watch/watches news programmersregularly.

9. Around one in ten Indian households was/were without colour TV in 1988.

10. But more than one in two households in the UK has/have two or more sets.

12 Having two or three sets seem/seems unnecessary to me.

11. News of disasters reach/reaches a huge audience.

12. What you both see and hear has/have an enormous impact.

13. So many people being killed in earthquakes and cyclones are/is tragic.

14. So-called programs of entertainment are/is not always entertaining.

15. People are/is addicted towards the daily soap operas.


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ModalsModals are auxiliary verbs which help other Verbsin formation of sentences . There are two kinds ofAuxiliaries

y Primary Modals

y

Modal Auxiliaries


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Primary AuxiliariesThese are three in number

y Be = be, is, am, are, being, been, was, werey Have = have, has, having, had

y Do = do, does, doing, doneIn the following sentences , be , have and do

act as full verbs: Ram is the most brilliant student of the class.

I have many books I do my work regularlyHowever in the following sentences , be, have and

do" been used as Auxiliaries, as they help other

verbs in the formation of sentences


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BE DO

It is used in: The continuous Tense The passive Voice Form

1. Continuous Tensea) I am waiting for my

friend.b) They were doing work.

2. Passive Voicea) You are advised to do

work.b) She was given a prize.

It is used in formation of :

Negative Sentences

Interrogative Sentences

Emphatic Sentences

1.Negative Sentences

a)He does like your pranks.

2. Interrogative sentencesa) Doyou know ram ?

3. Emphatic sentences

a) He does know English.


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HaveIt is used in the formation of a sentence in the

Perfect TenseE.g.

a) They have learnt lesson .

b) I had never seen the Taj Mahal before.

c) He has finished his work in time.


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Modal AuxiliariesModal Auxiliaries are also known as Helping Verbs,

as they help other verbs in formation of

sentences. The following is a list of ModalAuxiliaries:

y Shall Might Ought to

y Will Could Have to

y Should Must Used toy Would Mustnt Need

y May Dare Neednt

y Can Darent Had to


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Shally To express Simple Future Tense or a Prediction:

y I shall go to Bombay tomorrow.

y

To express a suggestion :y Shall we go out for a walk?

y To act according to the will of the listener :y Shall I go home now ?

y A command :y You shall not steal .

y A promise:y You shall get a prize for your brilliance.


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Willy Prediction:

y It will rain tonight.

y To express general truth or universal truthy The stars will shine at night.

y To express a request :

y Will you help me in solving this sum.

y Determination :

y We will all die Fighting for our country.

yARefusal :

y

I will not accompany you.


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Shouldy Indirect Speech :

y I told him that I should visit him every now then.

y To express a tentative use or a condition:y Should you need my help, please call me out loudly.

y To express conjecture or probability:y We should be near our destination now.

y To express guess or assumption:y It should be about 5:00 p.m. now.

y To express duty or moral obligation :y We should stand by our friends.


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A - Right or Wrong?My clothes are dirty

a-I should / ought to wash them.b-I should to wash them.c-I ought washing them.

B - Right or Wrong?You need your sleep.a-You should not (shouldn't) stay up late.b- You should (shouldn't) stay not up late.c-You ought to not stay up late.d-You ought to not stay up late.

C - Right or Wrong?1a-Bob: I'm tired today.

Tom: You should take a nap./You ought to take a nap.b-Bob: I'm tired today.

Tom: You should to take a nap./You ought take a nap.


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Spot the mistake then rewrite the sentence correctly.

1. You will better not be late.

2. I should to go to the post office today.

3. I ought paying my bills today.

4. You'd had better to call the doctor today.

5. You don't should stay up too late tonight.

Fill in the lanks:

1) I'm hungry. You should ____something2) I'm cold. You ought to ____coat.3) I have a toothache. You should ____dentist.4) I have the hiccups. hat should I do You ought to ______breathing.


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Subject Verb Concord & Modals

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