Nama : Annida Nurul Islami
NPM : 21213117
Kelas : 3EB18
Skill 11 : AGREEMENT AFTER
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
Subject/verb
agreement is simple : if the subject of a sentence is singular, then the verb
must be singular; if the subject of the sentence is plural, then the verb must
be plural. An s on a verb usually inidicates that the noun is plural. (Do not
forget irregular plurals of nouns such as women, children, and people.)
The dog
barks at night.
The dogs
bark at night.
In
the first example, the singular subject dog
requires a singular verb, barks. In the second example, the plural subject
dogs requires a plural verb, bark.
Sometimes prepositional phrases can
come between the subject and the verb on the TOEFL test, and this can cause
confusion. If the object of the preposition is plural and the subject is
singular, there can be a problem in making the subject and verb agree.
The door (to
the room) are* locked.
Singular Plural
The doors
(to the room) is* locked.
Plural singular
In
the first example, ypu might think that rooms
is the subject because it comes directly in front of the verb are. However, rooms is not the subject because it is the object of the
preposition to. The subject of the
sentence is door, so the verb should
be is. In the second example, you might think that room is
the subject because it comes directly in front of the verb is. You should
recognize in this example that room is
not the subject because it is the object of the preposition to. Because the subject of the sentence is doors, the verb should be are.
The following chart outlines the key
information that you shloud understand about subject / verb agreement with
prepositional phrases.
|
SUBJECT/VERB
AGREEMENT WITH PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
|
|
S (Prepositional phrase) V
|
|
When a prepositional phrase
comes between the subject and the verb. Be sure that the verb agrees with the
subject.
|
EXERCISE : Each of the following sentences has one or more
prepositional phrases between the subject and verb. Put parentheses around the
prepositional pharases. Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice. Then
indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I)
C
1. The subject (of the lectures) was
quite interesting.
I 2. The
supplies (for the camping trip) needs to be packed
I 3. The chairs
under the table in the dining room is quite comfortable.
C
4. The players on the winning team in the competition were very
talented.
I 5. The food for the guests at the party are
on the long table
C
6. The cost of the clothes was higher than I had expected.
C
7. The rugs in the front rooms of the house are going to be
washed today.
I 8. The servers in this restaurant
always does their job efficiently.
C
9. The lights in the corner of the room need to be kept on all
night.
C
10. the meeting of the members of the council begins at 3:00 in
the afternoon.
Skill 12 : AGREEMENT AFTER
EXPRESSIONS OF QUANTITY
A
particular agreement problem occurs when the subject is an expression of
quantity such as all, most, or some followed by the preposition of. In this situation, the subject (all, most, or some) can be singular or
plural,depending on what follows the preposition of.
Most (of the
meal) was delicious.
SINGULAR
Most (of the
meals) were delicious
PLURAL
Most (of the
food) was delicious
UNCONTABLE
In
the first example, the subject most refers to the singular noun meal, so the
correct verb is therefore the singular verb was. In the second example, the
subject most refers to the plural
noun meals, so the correct verb is
the plural verb were. In the third example, the subject most refers to the uncountable noun food, so the correct verb is therefore the singular verb was.
These sentences contain example of
the types of problems that are common on the TOEFL test.
All (of the book)
were* interesting.
Half (of the
students) is* late to class.
In
the first example, the plural verb were should be the singular verb was because
the subject all refers to the singular noun book. In the second example, the
singular verb is should be the plural verb are because the subject half refers to the plural noun stundent.
The following chart outlines the key information
that you should understand about subject/verb agreement after expressions of
quantity.
|
SUBJECT
/ VERB AGREEMENT AFTER EXPRESSIONS OF QUANTITY
|
|
All
Most
Some of the (object) V
Half
Part
|
|
When an expression of quantity
using of is the subject, the verb agrees with the object.
|
EXERCISE 12 : Each of the following sentences has a quantity
expression as the subject. Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice.
Circle the objects that the verbs agree with. Then indicate if the sentences
are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
C
1. Half of the student in the class arrive early.
I
2. Some of the fruit are
rotten.
C
3. All of the next chapter
contains very important information.
C
4. Most of the people in the room
is playing attention.
C
5. Part of the soup is
left on the stove.
I 6. Some of the movie were just too violent for me.
C
7. All of the details in the report
needs to be checked.
C
8. Most of the money is
needed to play the bills.
C
9. The first half of the class
consists of lecture and notr taking.
I 10. Some of the questions on the test was impossible to answer.
Reference: Philips,
Deborah.2004."Longman Introductory Course for the TOEFL Test: the Paper
Test".USA.
