Unit 4 Lesson 7: Verbs

Question 1

What is subject-verb agreement

Answer 1

the rule that the subject and verb of a sentence must match in number

Question 2

What is a compound subject

Answer 2

a subject that consists of two or more simple subjects

Question 3

What are compound sentences joined by

Answer 3

conjunction; a word that connects other words or groups of words

Question 4

This sentence contains a compound subject, indicated by the conjunction and, and a plural verb:

Answer 4

Using reusable bags and taking public transportation are both excellent ways to protect the environment.

Question 5

Sometimes, a subject may appear to be a compound subject due to the use of a conjunction, but in fact only applies to a single entity. In this case, the subject is singular in meaning, and so it must use a singular verb. This sentence contains a subject that is compound in form but singular in meaning:

Answer 5

Avoiding the use of disposable water bottles and utensils helps to reduce waste.

Question 6

Break down this sentence: Avoiding the use of disposable water bottles and utensils helps to reduce waste.

Answer 6

The subject is avoiding the use of disposable water bottles and utensils. While the subject includes and, it is only referring to one single entity: avoiding the use of specific objects. So, the subject is singular in meaning and uses the singular verb helps.

Question 7

Read this sentence, which also contains a subject that is in compound form:
The founder and CEO of the company is instituting a new eco-friendly initiative.

Elaborate

Answer 7

In this sentence, the subject is the founder and CEO of the company. Though the subject contains two different nouns linked by the word and, both nouns refer to the same person. So, the subject uses the singular verb is.

Question 8

What parts of speech do plural subjects typicaly contain

Answer 8

Plural subjects typically contain plural nouns, so they use plural verbs.

Question 9

For example, this sentence contains a subject with a plural noun:

Answer 9

Certain lightbulbs conserve energy by using very little heat.
The noun lightbulbs ends in -s, indicating it is plural, and so it uses the plural verb conserve.

Question 10

However, some nouns end in -s even when they are singular. When these nouns are part of a subject, they should use singular verbs. Look at how these sentences use words that appear plural in form but are singular in meaning:

Answer 10

• That species is in danger due to climate change.
• Mathematics helps us understand the speed at which climate change is progressing.
  Though the nouns species and mathematics end in -s, they are both singular in meaning and use singular nouns.

Question 11

What are indefinite pronoun

Answer 11

a pronoun that does not refer to any person in particular

Question 12

Other subjects that appear plural but are singular in meaning are indefinite pronouns that do not specifically refer to anyone in particular, these include:

Answer 12

• everyone
• anyone
• someone
• everybody
• anybody
• somebody

Question 13

Because indefinite pronouns could refer to more than one person, they are often mistaken to be plural in meaning. However, they use singular verbs. These sentences contain indefinite pronouns that use singular verbs:

Answer 13

• Everyone knows that recycling is good for the environment.
• Anybody is welcome to help with conservation efforts.

Question 14

How can writers follow the rules of subject-verb agreement?

Answer 14

Writers can use singular verbs with singular subjects and plural verbs with plural subjects.

Question 15

How can a writer recognize whether a subject that seems plural in form is singular in meaning?

Answer 15

If a noun in a subject ends in -s or -es but only applies to one entity, it is singular in meaning.

Question 16

Should a writer use a singular or plural verb with an indefinite pronoun?

Answer 16

singular verb

Question 17

For which of the following subjects would a writer use a singular verb?

• the king’s son and heir
• my hands and feet
• walking and hiking
• washing dishes and cleaning the floor

Answer 17

the king’s son and heir

Question 18

verb mood

Answer 18

the form of the verb that expresses meaning or attitude

Question 19

What is conditional mood

Answer 19

the grammatical mood used to express a situation that is dependent on a given condition; Writers use verbs in the conditional mood to describe what might or could happen if a certain condition is met.

Question 20

The conditional and subjunctive moods can both be used to describe..

Answer 20

hypothetical situations.

Question 21

What is the structure of a sentence written in a condtional clause

Answer 21

a writer typically uses a dependent if clause and a main clause with the potential result.

Question 22

What verb will The clause with the potential result contain

Answer 22

The clause with the potential result will contain the conditional verb with an auxiliary verb that supports the main verb.

Question 23

auxiliary verb

Answer 23

a verb that is used to show another verb’s tense or mood

Question 24

How can you spot different types of conditional setences

Answer 24

There are different types of conditional sentences, and each type determines the tense of the verbs in the if clause and in the main clause.

Question 25

When a conditional sentence expresses a possible situation either now or in the near future. How will it be structured

Answer 25

the if clause should use a verb in the simple present tense. The main clause, which expresses a probable result, should use a verb in the simple future tense.

Question 26

Give example of a conditional sentence that expresses a possible situation either now or in the near future

Answer 26

If the sun is out, we will go to the beach.

Question 27

a conditional sentence expresses a hypothetical situation that could happen at any time, and its probable result. How will it be strcutured

Answer 27

In this case, the if clause uses the simple past tense, while the main clause uses the present conditional tense.

Question 28

Exmaple of a conditional sentence expresses a hypothetical situation that could happen at any time, and its probable result.

Answer 28

If I had a job, I would save more money.

Question 29

A conditional sentence can also express a hypothetical situation that could have happened in the past but did not, as well as its probable result. What would be the strucutre of this setnece be like

Answer 29

In this sentence, the if clause uses the past perfect tense, while the main clause uses the perfect conditional tense.

Question 30

Example of a A conditional sentence can also express a hypothetical situation that could have happened in the past but did not, as well as its probable result.

Answer 30

If you had bought that dress, you could have worn it to the dance.

Question 31

What is subjunctive mood used for

Answer 31

Writers use verbs in the subjunctive mood to express wishes, demands, recommendations, and imagined situations.

Question 32

Jow is the subjunctive indicated

Answer 32

The subjunctive is indicated by the use of the third-person plural verb, no matter the subject of the verb.

Question 33

Examples of subjunctive mood

Answer 33

• It is essential that he submit his application as soon as possible.
• The speaker asks that audience members silence their phones during the lecture.

Question 34

What verb from the verb to be should be used when expressing a subjunctive mood

Answer 34

In the case of the verb to be, were should always be used instead of was when expressing the subjunctive mood.

Question 35

In the case of wishes or imagined situations when is the subjunctive mood used

Answer 35

Note that in the case of wishes or imagined situations, the subjunctive mood is used only when referring to improbable situations.

Question 36

How do writers use the subjunctive mood nad condtional mood when expressing an imagine situatuon

Answer 36

Often, when expressing an imagined situation, a writer will use the subjunctive mood to express the imagined situation in one clause and the conditional mood to express the result of that situation in the other clause.

Question 37

If I were you, I would go to class.
Break down this setnece

Answer 37

In this sentence, the first clause uses the subjunctive mood to express an imagined, but impossible, scenario. The second clause uses the present conditional tense to state what would happen as a result of that scenario.

Question 38

When should a writer use the conditional mood?

Answer 38

A writer should use the conditional mood when describing what might or could happen if a certain condition is met.

Question 39

Which of the following sentences correctly uses verb tenses to express the conditional mood?

• If the store had been open, I could have bought ingredients for dinner.
• If the store had been open, I would buy ingredients for dinner.
• If the store was open, I could have bought ingredients for dinner.
• If the store were open, I would have bought ingredients for dinner.

Answer 39

If the store had been open, I could have bought ingredients for dinner.

Question 40

Which of the following sentences correctly expresses the subjunctive mood?

• He wishes he was able to make it to the party.
• My parents asked that my sister sets the table.
• If I was taller, I would be better at basketball.
• The coach suggests that the player take a break.

Answer 40

The coach suggests that the player take a break.

Question 41

What is imperative mood

Answer 41

the grammatical mood used to express a command

Question 42

4

What is indiactive mood

Answer 42

the grammatical mood used to express a fact

Question 43

When can writers use indicative mood

Answer 43

Writers can use verbs in the past, present, or future tense when employing the indicative mood.

Question 44

When is imperative mood used in explanorty text

Answer 44

Because writers of explanatory texts are looking to educate their readers rather than convince them to do something, they may not often use verbs in the imperative mood. However, writers may want to call readers’ attention to something, or encourage them to reflect on their own experiences. In these cases, writers will use verbs in the imperative mood. The imperative mood is typically only used in the present tense, second person

Question 45

When do writers use subjunctive mood

Answer 45

Writers will use the subjunctive mood when discussing any situation that is contrary to fact. While it may not seem as though writers of explanatory texts have any reason to write about situations that are not factual, they will often need to reference hypothetical scenarios that are based in theory or reflect a person’s desires or demands:

Question 46

Finally, writers will use the conditional mood to communicate what will or might happen as a result of a certain condition being fulfilled in the present or future, or what would have or might have happened if a condition had been fulfilled in the past

Answer 46

When do wirters use conditonal mood

Question 47

Why might a writer use multiple verb moods in the same sentence?

Answer 47

When a sentence contains two clauses, the verb in each clause may reflect a different mood, depending on the meaning that a writer wants to communicate. For instance, the writer might use the subjunctive in one clause to state a hypothetical condition, and then use a verb in the conditional mood in the next clause to express what will happen as a result―such as, “If it were warmer, we could go swimming.” Or, a writer might use the indicative and subjunctive moods in the same sentence when introducing a desire or hypothetical situation with the indicative mood, followed by the desire or hypothetical situation with the subjunctive mood―such as, “I wish today were warmer.” The writer could also add a verb in the conditional mood to such a sentence―such as “I wish today were warmer so that we could go to the beach.”