GRAMMAR SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT A singular subject takes a singular verb. Examples: Mahmud buys a newspaper to read every day.

. The vase is on the dining table. A plural subject takes a plural verb Examples: They were at the football field the whole day. Ronny and Ronaldo are brothers. Verbs that link the subject to the predicate in a sentence are called linking verbs. Examples: They were at the football field the whole day. Agreement Words like each, every, none, anyone, everyone, someone, no one and nobody take singular verbs Two singular or plural subjects connected by and take a plural verb. Two singular subjects with either. or and neither.nor take a singular verb Plural subjects with either . or and neither nor take a plural verb

Grammar Tips Examples Everyone is responsible for the state of the environment. No one is allowed to litter the compound. The river and the lake in this district are polluted by waste. Landslides and soil erosions are matters of grave concern. Either Rita or Alina has to separate the things for recycling. Neither the plastic container nor the plastic bottle is appropriate for use in the microwave. Neither the lions nor the giraffes have built their habitats here. Either the boys or the gardeners are responsible for this open burning.

1. 2. 1. 2. 1. 2.

1. 2.

Subject

linking verb

predicate

There are three types of linking verbs: i. be verb ii. has and have iii. do verb iv. action verbs, e.g. take The table below shows you the simple present and simple past forms of linking verbs for singular and plural subjects. Subject It / She / He / Aziz I You / We / They / Aziz and Amin BE is / was am / was are / were HAS has / had have / had have / had DO does / did do / did do / did VERB eats / ate eat / ate eat / ate

EXERCISE 1 Choose the correct answer from the words given in brackets. Circle the word. Toxic wastes (is, are) poisonous materials that (is, are) being

dumped into the ocean. They (harm, harms) many plants and animals in the ocean and (has, have) a huge impact on our health. It (is, are) known that when toxic wastes (harm, harms) an organism, it can quickly be passed along food chain and may eventually end up being our seafood. In the food chain, one toxic organism (get, gets) eaten by another larger animal and this process (goes, go)on and can end up being part of our meal.

Exercise 2 Underline the correct answers.

EXERCISE 3 Complete the passage by choosing the correct answer for each blank. Bonsais are dwarf trees or plants grown in small pots or containers. In

1. Pineapple (is, are) grown in peat soil. 2. Pets (need, needs) a lot of care and attention. 3. An investigation (is, are) being conducted. 4. That taxi driver (speak, speaks) rudely to his passenger. 5. Masjid Jamek (attract, attracts) a lot of tourists. 6. The sun (rise, rises) in the East. 7. That kindergarten (close, closes) at noon. 8. Leena (has, have) decided to give up the opportunity to compete in the race.

Japan, growing bonsai plants (1) ________ an art. Growing bonsai (2) ______ a lot of skill. Trees which (3) ________ about 30 metres tall can be forced to grow into just 30 centimetres tall. Some bonsai collectors (4) _______ for bonsai plants in jungles. These plants (5) _______ by themselves in the cracks of rocks. Bonsai collectors (6) ______ away the roots a little at a time. This (7) ______ new roots to grow. When the plant is ready to be dug up, they (8) ________ special prayers to move it. They keep the plant in a nursery, and then (9)_____ it in a small pot. Creative bonsai enthusiasts (10)_______ attractive landscapes with the plants. 1. A is B be B need B be B looks B grew B cuts B forces C are C involves C are C looked C grows C are cut C forced C performed C replant C created D was D requires D was D looking D growing D cutting D is forcing D have performed D replace D have created

9. (Do, Does) you believe in me? 10. I (am, is) innocent. 11. Sarah (is, are) late. Everyone (is, are) waiting for her. 12. Shera (want, wants) to cook today. 13. The soldiers (practice, practices) their footdrills at dawn. 14. There (is, are) meat in the freezer. 15. Mother (is, are) going to defrost the fish in the microwave.

2. A took 3. A is 4. A look 5. A grow 6. A cut 7. A force

8. A perform B performs 9. A put 10. A create B grow B creates