Контрольная работа по "Иностранному языку"

I.        General cases

A. The singular predicate is used if the subject is expressed by:

1. singular nouns, Singularia Tantum;

Our only guide in the dark was the stars.

Note: Singularia Tantum (nouns used only with a verb in the singular):

- uncountable nouns (mass nouns, abstract nouns): water, love, excitement…;

- proper nouns: Brooklyn, The Strand, The Old Monk, Wales…;

- names of sports games: billiards, cards, droughts…;

- names of diseases: mumps, shingles, measles, rabies…;

- names of sciences and subjects: phonetics, linguistics, mathematics…;

- nouns that are uncountable in English, but countable in Ukrainian: advice, gallows, knowledge, news, progress, research, summons...;

- nouns that are Singularia Tantum in English, but Pluralia Tantum in Ukrainian: money, chess, applause…

2. an infinitive phrase or phrases, a prepositional phrase, a gerund or a clause;

To be loved and to be wanted is always good.

After the meeting is the time to speak.

Where you found him does not concern me.

Note: Subject clauses introduced by conjunctive pronouns what, who are followed by a singular verb if the following main noun is singular, and either a singular or a plural verb if the following main noun is plural (although a plural verb is preferred in more formal contexts).

What worries us is the poor selection process.

What is needed are additional resources. (or What is needed is additional resources. – more colloquial)

3. a numerical expression, such as arithmetical addition, subtraction, division;

Four and four is eight.

Four minus two is two.

Ten divided by five is two.

Note: However multiplication admits of two variants.

Twice two is/are four.

4. the group many a + noun;

Many a man has done it.

5. the plural nouns data and media.

All the data is available.

Note: In formal contexts the plural verb is preferred.

All the data are available.

B. The plural predicate is used if the subject is expressed by:

1. plural nouns, Pluralia Tantum.

His clothes were shabby.

Note: Pluralia Tantum (nouns that are used only with a verb in the plural):

- names of tools consisting of two parts: tweezers, scales, scissors, spectacles…;

- names of clothes consisting of two parts: trousers, pajamas, gloves, tights…;

- some geographical names: the Netherlands, the West Indies, the Highlands…;

- substantivised adjectives, denoting groups of people: the young, the blind, the rich...;

- other nouns: arms, ashes, contents, customs, earnings, goods, greens, holidays, odds, outskirts, suburbs, looks, premises, particulars, stairs, thanks, surroundings, troops, wages, proceeds, remains, forces, whereabouts, the Middle Ages…

C. The singular/plural predicate is used in the following case:

1. if a percentage, fraction or another expression of quantity is followed by a noun in the singular – the singular predicate is used, if they are followed by a noun in the plural – the plural predicate is used.

Around 10 per cent of the forest is destroyed each year.

50 % of the houses need major repairs.

Three fourths of the electorate is expected to vote.

Most of the homework is easy.

Half of our assignments are easy.

II.        Pronouns as subjects

A. The singular predicate is used if the subject is expressed by:

1. the formal subject it;

It was my friends who suddenly arrived.

2. indefinite pronouns (somebody, someone, anybody),

universal pronouns (everybody, everyone, everything, each, every, either),

negative pronouns (nobody, no one, neither, etc.);

Somebody is asking for you.

Nobody has come except me.

Note: None commonly takes a plural verb-predicate in the informal style.

None were here. (informal)

None was here. (formal)

All (все) has a singular verb, while all (всі) takes a plural verb.

All is well that ends well.

All were in favour of the plan.

3. interrogative pronouns who, what;

Who has come? What is there?

Note: If the pronoun denotes more than one person or thing a plural predicate is used.

Who have agreed to act?

B. The plural predicate is used if the subject is expressed by:

1. the universal pronoun both.

Which of the letters are yours? Both are mine.

C. The singular/plural predicate is used if the subject is expressed by:

1. the indefinite pronoun some, if it is followed by a noun in the singular – the singular predicate is used, if it is followed by a noun in the plural – the plural predicate is used;

Some of the book is interesting.

Some of the books are interesting.

2. pronouns any of, each of, either of, neither of, or none of followed by a plural noun;

However, it is more likely to use a singular verb in careful written English.

I don’t think any of them knows (or know) where the money is hidden.

Neither of the French athletes has (or have) won this year.

3. relative pronouns, the form of the verb depends on the noun or pronoun which is its antecedent.

Do you know the girl who lives next door?

Do you know the girls who live next door?

It is you who are right. It is I who am wrong.

Note: It’s me who is wrong.

III.        Two or more homogeneous subjects

A. The singular predicate is used in the following cases:

1. with homogeneous subjects expressed by infinitives or gerunds;

To live and to love is what she wants.

2. with homogeneous subjects proceeded by every/each.

Every man, woman and child needs love.

Each book and magazine is listed in the bibliography.

B. The plural predicate is used in the following cases:

1. with homogeneous subjects connected by and or asyndetically;

Sun and air are necessary for life.

Note: With structures where coordinated nouns refer to one thing or person a singular predicate is used.

Bacon and eggs makes a traditional English breakfast. (one dish is meant)

The painter and decorator is here. (one person is meant)

If the article is repeated, the reference is to two persons or objects, and a plural verb-predicate is used.

The painter and the decorator are here. (two persons are meant)

Likewise, when a singular noun-subject has two attributes characterizing the same person or object connected by and it has a singular verb and the article is not repeated.

A black and white kitten was playing on the rug.

But if the attributes characterize different persons or non-persons the verb is in the plural and the article is repeated.

A black and a white kitten were playing on the rug. (A black kitten was playing and a white kitten was playing.)

With plural nouns only one article is used.

The Black and Mediterranean Seas never freeze.

2. with homogeneous subjects connected by both… and.

Both the bread and the butter are fresh.

C. The singular/plural predicate is used in the following cases:

1. with homogeneous subjects connected by the conjunctions not only… but also, either… or, or, neither… nor the predicate agrees with the nearest noun-subject;

Either my sister or my parents are at home.

Either my parents or my sister is at home.

2. with homogeneous subjects connected by the conjunctions as well as, rather than, as much as, more than the predicate agrees with the first one;

My parents as well as my sister are teachers.

My sister as well as my parents is a teacher.

3. with there/here – constructions the predicate agrees with the subject that stands first.

There was a textbook and many notebooks on the table.

There were many notebooks and textbook on the table.

A. The singular predicate is used if the subject is expressed by:

1. nouns denoting measure, weight, time, distance etc.;

Ten years is a long time.

A million francs is a lot of money.

2. plural nouns or phrases when they are used as names, titles, quotations;

‘Fathers and Sons’ is the most popular of Turgenev’s novels.

Note: The titles of some works which are collections of stories may have either a singular or a plural verb.

Turgenev’s ‘Hunter’s Tales’ was/were published in 1852.

3. structures where coordinated nouns refer to one thing or person.

In many economic models R&D (research & development) is the engine of growth.

B. The singular/plural predicate is used if the subject is expressed by:

1. collective nouns (army, association, audience, band, board, chorus, class, club, college, committee, company, community, crew, crowd, department, family, firm, gang, generation, government, group, jury, party, population, press, public, school, staff, team…);

names of organisations (the Bank of England, the BBC, IBM, Sony…);

The singular predicate is used if a single undivided body is meant and the plural predicate – if a group of separate individuals is meant.

The crowd was enormous.

The crowd were silent.

2. word-groups including nouns of quantity: a/the number of..., a/the majority of..., a/the part of..., a/the variety of...;

Compare: The number (кількість) of pages in this book isn’t large. – The number is the subject of the sentence (answers the question What?).

It was Sunday and a number (кілька) of people were walking about. – A number is an adverbial modifier of quantity (answers the question How many?).

The variety (різноманітність) of shades was impressive.

A variety (безліч) of hooks were used for different kinds of fish.

3. Some nouns such as statistics, economics, physics, acoustics, politics...

Statistics is an interesting science to study. (a subject) — What are the statistics on this point? (figures)

Economics has only recently been recognized as a scientific study. (a science) – The economics behind their policies are unreasonable. (The financial system)

Physics studies the laws of nature. (a science) — Her Physics are very poor: (grades)

Acoustics is the scientific study of sound and sound waves. (a science) – The acoustics of this concert hall are unusual. (the acoustics characteristics of a room)

Politics is popular at this university. (a science)

Her politics are bordering on the fascist. (political views)