HOW TO MAKE CORRECT SENTENCES (Part 4)


HOW TO MAKE CORRECT SENTENCES   (Part 4)
                                                                                                                              
                In this article, we will consider four more subject-verb rules under ‘How to Make Correct Sentences (Part 4).
Rule 11:                       If two subjects in a sentence are both plural and are connected by the words or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also, the verb would be plural.
          This rule applies because plural subjects must go with plural verbs, and not the other way round.  The rule therefore, guides a sentence-maker from using plural subjects with singular verbs or singular subjects with plural verbs.
Examples:
1.     Neither the teachers nor the pupils were seen in the school premises today, for fear of terrorists.
2.     Not only were the danger zones condoned off by the police, they were also thoroughly searched by the soldiers.
3.     Either the electricians or the electronics-technicians failed to do their jobs properly on the building project, and thereby caused disaster.
4.     Either the students of Abraka Grammar School or those of Ojeta Secondary School shall represent Abraka in the tournament.
5.     The students of Ekarihwo Grammar School did not write well nor did they speak well during the competition.
Rule 12:             If one subject in a sentence is singular and another one is plural and they are connected by the words or, nor,  neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also, you should use the verb form of the subject that is nearer or nearest to the verb.    
          This rule helps to teach us that the subject closer or closest to the action verb in a sentence, controls such an action verb, and thus, guides us to avoid muddling up the sense of what we are expressing in a sentence.
Examples:
1.     Neither the teachers nor the principal was seen in the school premises today, following the rumour of possible terrorists’ attack.
2.     Either the rats or the cat has escaped from the house.
3.     Neither the lion nor the bears have escaped from the zoo.
4.     Neither the pupils nor their class monitor has reported this morning, despite the strong advice given to them by the headmaster yesterday.
5.     Not only the tenants of Okpogoro Compound, but also their landlord, was present for the environmental sanitation exercise.
Rule 13:             Indefinite pronouns, as subjects, go with singular verbs.
          This rule applies because indefinite pronouns are imprecise, and not specific.     They assume the form and colouration of singular subjects.
Examples:
1.     Everybody wants to be loved.
2.     Every wife wants to be cuddled and given romantic affection by her husband.
3.     Nobody wants to be neglected in any arrangement.
4.     Every husband deserves deep respect from his wife, as stated in the Holy Scriptures at Ephesians 5:33.
5.     This desk-top computer, though old, still serves the need of somebody in this school.
Rule 14:             As exception, the pronouns few, many, several, both, all and some go with plural verbs.
          This rule applies because the pronouns few, many, several, both, all and some are not imprecise or vague.  By mentioning them, we easily know that they are plural and not singular.  They are more than one (even though the exact number is not stated).
Examples:
1.     Some boys were picked from the front of the school principal’s office last night.
2.     All the girls who came to perform in the show yesterday, were disqualified because they were half-naked.
3.     Several mechanics have tried to repair Chief Oniovo’s German-made car, but they were unable to fix it right.
4.     Both John and James are children of one mother, but different fathers.
5.     Many job-seekers applied for the vacant post and they were interviewed orally to ascertain the standard of their spoken English.

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