HOW TO MAKE CORRECT SENTENCES (Part 3)

HOW TO MAKE CORRECT SENTENCES    (Part 3)

                Our discussion of How to Make Correct Sentences continues in this article with consideration of Subject-Verb Rules 7 to 10.

Rule 7.                     If one of the words each, every, or no comes before the subject, the verb is singular.

     This rule applies because the words:  each, every or no connote

singular form of the person, animal or thing that they apply to, and that would follow.

Examples:

(i)                          “Each of you must finish your household chore this morning, before taking breakfast”, Mr. Ovwighovwiroro instructed his children.

(ii)                       Every candidate who came for the entry examination this morning was thoroughly screened before ushered into the examination hall.

(iii)                     No pupil is allowed to bring mobile phone to Delta State University Nursery and Primary Staff School.

(iv)                     Each of the eggs which Umuto put on the tray has cracks.

(v)                        Everyone resident in North-Eastern Nigeria must be security-conscious, considering the high level of insecurity now being experienced there.

(vi)                     Every candidate applying for the post of the administrative manager is required to have 15 years cognate experience.

8.    If two subjects in a sentence are both singular and are connected by the words or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also the verb should be singular.

                This rule applies to help us avoid using plural verbs for singular sentences.  The fact that two or more singular subjects are connected with words like or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also does not change their forms singular to plural.  They are standing as singular, but only connected by their relation to each other.

Examples:

(i)                Neither James nor Peter is to blame for the unfortunate episode.

(ii)             Either Chief Jude Okeke or Sir Tom Emedaye is to open the ceremony.

(iii)           Not only did the drunken soldier flog Juliana, but his colleague also attempted to have carnal knowledge of her.

(iv)           Neither the book nor the pen belongs to Ophiwayo, the fraudster.

(v)             Not only has JAMB increased its registration fees, but it has also regulated its examination lapses.

(vi)           Neither Juliet nor Julie agreed to take the cleaning responsibilities.

9.      Subjects or nouns which are plural in form but singular in meaning, go with singular verb.

              Even though most of such subjects or nouns which are plural in form end with ‘s’, that does not make them plural in meaning.  They are still singular and hence must go with singular verb.

Examples:

(i)                Accurate statistics is very important for any organization, as such is needed to make realistic budgets and projections.

(ii)             Learning of mathematics is enjoyed by students when handled by a good teacher.

(iii)           The news of our lecturer’s kidnap tonight is indeed, a very bad news.

(iv)           Economics is one of my best subjects, which I am never tired of studying.

(v)             Physics is very boring to those who are not science-inclined.

(vi)           The synopsis of the thesis was submitted to the Dean for approval yesterday.

10.          The singular verb form is usually used for units of measurement or time (where applicable).

Examples:

(i)                Ten litres of petrol is needed to run the generator for 5 hours.

(ii)             50 litres of potable water is consumed by my family every day.

(iii)            A three-hour paper is to be written by the final-year Education students tomorrow.

(iv)           Is a quart of oil sufficient for the pepper-grinding machine?

(v)             After a brain-storming 6-hour meeting, the committee members went for lunch.

(vi)           A 6-inch nail was driven into the door, and it resulted into serious damage.