Advanced Agreement: Inverted Sentences & Special Nouns
Advanced
Handle subject-verb agreement in tricky structures like inverted sentences (where the subject follows the verb) and with special nouns that look plural but are singular (e.g., 'news', 'mathematics').
Advanced Agreement: Inverted Sentences & Special Nouns
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What is an inverted sentence, and how do you find the subject?
An inverted sentence places the verb before the subject. To find the subject, look for the noun or pronoun that the verb is describing or that is performing the action, which will appear *after* the verb.
Are the words 'Here' and 'There' ever the subject of a sentence?
No. In sentences beginning with 'Here' or 'There', the true subject follows the verb. These words are adverbs indicating place.
Choose the correct verb: "There (is/are) several reasons for my decision."
"are". The subject is "reasons" (plural), which comes after the verb.
Choose the correct verb: "Across the finish line (races/race) the three lead runners."
"race". This is an inverted sentence. The subject is "runners" (plural).
How do you check subject-verb agreement in a question?
Mentally rephrase the question as a statement to easily identify the subject and verb. Example: "Where are my keys?" becomes "My keys are where." (Subject: keys, Verb: are).
Choose the correct verb: "What (is/are) the consequences of this action?"
"are". Rephrased: "The consequences of this action are what." The subject is "consequences" (plural).
Are nouns that end in '-ics' (like 'politics', 'economics', 'mathematics') and words like 'news' typically singular or plural?
They are typically singular and take a singular verb, as they represent a single field of study or concept. Example: "Politics *is* a complicated field."
Choose the correct verb: "The news about the election (was/were) surprising."
"was". The subject "news" is singular.
Are subjects like 'scissors', 'trousers', 'pants', and 'tweezers' singular or plural?
They are considered plural because they are made of two equal parts. They take a plural verb. Example: "The scissors *are* on the table."
How can you make a "pair noun" like 'scissors' or 'pants' singular?
By adding the phrase "a pair of" before it. The subject then becomes the singular word "pair." Example: "A pair of scissors *is* on the table."
Are titles of books, movies, or works of art singular or plural?
They are always singular, even if the title itself sounds plural, because they refer to one work. Example: "'The Simpsons' *is* a famous TV show."
Are names of countries, cities, or organizations treated as singular or plural?
They are treated as singular entities. Example: "The United States *has* a large population."
Choose the correct verb: "Gulliver's Travels (was/were) written by Jonathan Swift."
"was". The subject, "Gulliver's Travels," is the title of a single book.
