Page 21 - DENG201_ENGLISH_II

Unit 1: Functional English Grammar—Types of Sentences, Sentence Structure

(ii) In Africa, women work harder than men because they work 67 hours per week but men Notes
work only 53.
(iii) Although Latin American women work 60 hours Latin men work only 54 and in Asia women
work 62 hours to men’s 48.
(iv) Men in Western Europe work the least they put in only 43 hours per week although women
average 48.
(v) The report stated that even when men’s working hours were reduced they used the extra
time for leisure activities rather than for housework or childcare.
1.4 Agreement of the Verb with the Subject

Read the following sentences:
1. He is a good speaker.
2. They are good speakers.
In the sentence 1 the Subject ‘he’ is in the Singular Number ; the Verb ‘is’ is also in the Singular. But in
the sentence 2 the Subject ‘they’ is in the Plural Number ; the Verb ‘are’ is also in the Plural. Examples
1. Sham is reciting a poem.
My brother does not speak the truth.
He likes milk but his sister does not.
2. Boys are taking a test.
Women were weeping bitterly.
They have not finished their work.
Now study these sentences:
He learns his lesson daily.
You have not replied to my letter.
I am sure to win a scholarship.
In the above sentences, the Verbs have changed according to the persons of the Subjects. Thus we
know that the Verb agrees with the Subject in Number and Person.
We use ‘is’ and ‘was’ when the subject is ‘he’, ‘she’ or ‘it’; ‘am’ and ‘was’ when the subject is ‘I’
while ‘are’ and ‘were’ when the subject is ‘we’ you’ or ‘they. In all other tenses we use a Plural
Verb with ‘I’ and ‘you’.
Examples
She/he is in the wrong.
It was very hot yesterday.
I am also ready to go.
You too are mistaken.
Were you present in the meeting?
I respect my elders.
Do you also approve of this decision?
1. When two or more Singular Subjects are joined by ‘and’ they take a Plural Verb ; as —
Shashi and Indu are sisters.
Two and two make four.
You, he and I play together.
2. When two Subjects are joined by ‘as well as’ the Verb agrees with the first Subject ; as—
I as well as you am in the wrong.
His parents as well as he are illiterate.

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