Grammar Midterm Flashcards
What is the rule for number of a verb phrase?
1st helping verb agrees with number of the subject
Ex: She is attending college; They are attending college.
What is the rule for number of gerund/infinitive phrase?
verb is always singular as there is always one subject
What are the number rules for subject-verb agreement?
has to do with number of subject in relation to number of verb ->singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs
number of a subject (therefore number of verb) is usually not determined by a word or phrase or clause following the subject
What are indefinite pronouns?
pronouns referring to a person, place, or thing not specifically named; can be singular, plural, or neither
What are the singular indefinite pronouns?
body, one, thing, either, neither, each
What are the plural indefinite pronouns?
both, many, few, several
What are the indefinite pronouns with either number?
all, any, more, most, none, some-> use OP to find number
What are compound subjects?
subjects joined by “and” that usually take plural verb
What are the number rules for compound subjects?
singular verb- joined by “and”, name only one person, place, or thing
singular verb- joined by “or/nor”, subject closest to verb is singular
plural verb- joined by “or/nor”, subject closest to verb is plural
plural verb- joined by “and”, name multiple people, places, or things
What are the number rules for expression of amount?
singular- when grouping it together in one unit
-Two years is a long time.
plural- when referring to different individual pieces
-Two years, 1995 and 19996, were rainy.
What are the number rules for relative pronouns?
number agrees with word to which the pronoun (that, which, who) refers; separate relative clause and define pronoun
-Where are the students who have stolen your lunch?
What are the number rules for every/many a?
subject takes a singular verb when preceded by either
-Every parent and grandparent is looking on proudly.
What are the number rules for collective nouns?
may be either singular or plural depending on meaning in a sentence, look at pronouns which agree with verb
