Page 173 - DENG401_Advance Communication Skills

Advanced Communication Skills

Notes Rule 11: The words here and there have generally been labeled as adverbs even though they
indicate place. In sentences beginning with here or there, the subject follows the verb.

Examples: 1. There are four hurdles to jump.

2. There is a high hurdle to jump.
Rule 12: Use a singular verb with sums of money or periods of time.

Examples: 1. Ten dollars is a high price to pay.
2. Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense.
Rule 13: Sometimes the pronoun who, that, or which is the subject of a verb in the middle of the
sentence.
The pronouns who, that, and which become singular or plural according to the noun directly in
front of them. So, if that noun is singular, use a singular verb. If it is plural, use a plural verb.

Examples: 1. Salman is the scientist who writes the reports.
The word in front of who is scientist, which is singular. Therefore, use
the singular verb writes.
2. He is one of the men who does/do the work.
The word in front of who is men, which is plural. Therefore, use the
plural verb do.
Rule 14: Collective nouns such as team and staff may be either singular or plural depending on
their use in the sentence.

Examples: 1. The staff is in a meeting.
2. Staff is acting as a unit here.
3. The staff are in disagreement about the findings.

The sentence would read even better as:
The staff members are in disagreement about the findings.

The staff are acting as separate individuals in this example.
9.2 Articles

An article is a word that combines with a noun to indicate the type of reference being made by
the noun, and may also specify the volume or numerical scope of that reference.

The articles used in the English language are a, an and the. An article is sometimes called a noun
marker.
Articles can have various functions:

1. A definite article (the) is used before singular and plural nouns that refer to a particular
member of a group.

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