Agreement of the Predicate with the Subject

Ex. 649. Read the sentences and comment on the agreement of the verb with the subject

I. The dog barks. 2. The dogs bark. 3. A list of many things has been drawn up. 4. Agreement is one of those points in grammar that always confuse me. 5. Three months of my work were wasted. 6. The longest of modern epics is Joyce's Ulysses. 7. Ulysses is one of the most interesting books that have ever been written. 8. The cause of the typhoon is known. 9. One of the cats has scratched the children. 10. Charles is one of those experienced accountants who never fail to spot an error. II. Two ships of the Asiatic fleet are missing. 12. The theme of the novel is the experiences of a Hollywood writer.

Ex. 650. Choose the right verb form

1. Nora and I (am, are) great friends. 2. (Was, were) there three patients due today? 3. Laughing and giggling (irritate, irritates) John's Granny. 4. Here, in the desk, of all places, (was, were) the thermometer and the screwdriver. 5. Candlelight and wine (add, adds) a touch of romance to the party. 6. A black and white dog (is, are) guarding the house. 7. A black and a white dog (is, are) sitting on the porch. 8. The Dean and Lexicology lecturer (was, were) in the lecture theatre. 9. The director and the manager (has, have) signed the contract. 10. The cheese and the butter (is, are) in the shopping bag. 11. Whisky and soda (is, are) his favourite drink. 12. For supper there (was, were) fish and different vegetables to it. 13. There (was, were) cakes and tea for breakfast. 14. Cleopatra, as well as her entire retinue, (was, were) eager to meet Caesar. 15. Cleopatra and her entire retinue (was, were) eager to meet Caesar. 16. New York, together with all the other states, (vote, votes) for President. 17. Ellen, as well as her friends, (dislike, dislikes) classical music. 18. The soldiers, along with their commander, (enter, enters) the bivouac area. 19. The bacon and the eggs (is, are) in the fridge. 20. My cousin with his workmate (is, are) visiting us today. 21. David and his wife (has, have) just come. 22. All of the cake (was, were) eaten. 23. All the candidates (promises, promise) to do their best. 24. Every plant and animal (has, have) its own ecological niche.

 

Ex 651. Translate into English.

1. Женщина с ребенком на руках стояла у ворот.

2. Оба брата, также как и их сестра, учатся водить машину. 3. У Ирины и Кати много общего. 4. На сто­ле лежала раскрытая книга и несколько журналов. 5. Джин и тоник — его любимый напиток. 6. Первого сентября каждый студент получает студенческий би­лет. 7. Эта фотография моих школьных друзей напо­минает мне о школьных годах. 8. Качество этих то­варов прекрасное. 9. Рекламные ролики на телеви­дении становятся все более изобретательными. 10. У каждого из нас свои обязанности. 11. Я, также как и вы, удовлетворен результатами работы. 12. Все гото­во. 13. Все готовы начать опыт. 14. Алексей — один из тех сотрудников, которые всегда работают сверх нормы. 15. Фактически, Алик единственный сотруд. ник, который всегда работает сверхурочно. 16. В каж­дом городе, городке, деревушке имеется главная ули ца. 17. Вон там идут наши студенты и секретарша. 18. Вот и наш декан и преподаватели.

Ex. 652. Read and translate the sentences. Comment on the cases of agreement in them

I. The committee have not agreed on many points. 2. The committee has been appointed for a second term. 3. After consulting, the jury reports its verdict. 4. The jury still disagree on many points. 5. The data is all in. (informal) 6. The data are all in. (formal) 7. The team need time to learn to cooperate with one another. 8. The team wearing black and red controls the ball. 9. The crew have divided the loot among themselves. 10. The crew is well-trained.

II. The director chose this cast because they had experience in the roles. 12. This cast consists of twenty actors. 13. The family of ducklings scatter when the cat approaches. 14. His family now is rather big. 15. All is clear. 16. All were happy. 17. The staff of this bank is very competent. 18. Our staff are visiting theatres, restaurants, different presentations from time to time. 19. The public stop and stare. 20. The council have been promising to mend the fences, doors and windows for years. 21. A huge fire broke out near a farm. The country fire department were called out. 22. The school were happily anticipating their Halloween feast. 23. The public have the right to know.

Ex. 653. Choose the right verb form. Mind the ambiguous cases.

1. Visiting relatives (is, are) treacherous. 2. Flying planes (is, are) dangerous. 3. It (pains, plain) me to see so much misery in the world. 4. Walls of glass (characterizes, characterize) much modern architecture. 5. In many species, the male, as well as female, (cares, care) for the offspring. 6. A backpack, a canteen, and a rifle (was, were) issued to each recruit. 7. Drinking and driving (remains, remain) a major cause of highway fatalities. 8. Fried ham and grits (is, are) Diane's idea of a great breakfast. 9. His closest friend and political ally (was, were) his brother. 10. Laws, rules, or convention (governs, govern) most of our everyday decisions. 11. The football team (was, were) beginning to quarrel with one another when the manager arrived. 12. There (is, are) a table, four chairs, and a sofa in the room. 13. The committee (has, have) arranged a new series of programmes. 14. The jury (has, have) been unable to decide upon a verdict. 15. He inspected each of the cars which (was, were) in the garage. 16. Fiona, along with her friends, (is, are) planning a party. 17. Each generation (has, have) its own slang. 18. That generation (has, have) sold their souls for money. 19. The crew (was, were) experienced pilots. 20. This bunch (was, were) whispering excitedly.

Ex. 654. Translate into English

1. Эта команда— призер чемпионата. 2. Команда мыла палубу. 3. Семья сидела за столом. 4. — А ка­кая у него семья? — Они чудные люди. 5. Была об­разована комиссия для разработки нового проекта. 6. Комиссия придерживается мнения, что план может быть выполнен за два года. 7. Люди обычно любят, когда их хвалят. 8. Мой класс — 7Б. 9. Мой класс сегодня совершенно неуправляемый. 10. Жюри раз­делилось. Они были не в состоянии прийти к едино­му решению. 11. В моей семье все обожают шоколад (to be a chocoholic). 12. На площади была огромная толпа народа. 13. Труппа этого театра учит роли но­вого спектакля. 14. Наша школа закрывается на все лето. 15. Вся школа только и говорила об этом про­исшествии. 16. Совет состоит из одиннадцати чело­век. 17. Британский Совет работает со многими ре­гионами Российской Федерации. 18. Сотрудники со­бираются в конференц-зале.

 

Ex. 655. Say which of the following words agree with is and which with are

Clothes, money, customs, news, memoirs, pence, linen, leafage, glasses, advice, police, arms, information, scissors, weather, progress, knowledge, scales, jeans, furniture, work, equipment, pajamas, poultry, measles, cattle, mumps, the French, the rich, the mysterious.

Ex. 656. Use the right form of the verbs in brackets.

1. Measles still (strike) many Americans. 2. A pair of jeans (be) what I need to buy. 3. These trousers (be) very good. 4. (Be) your glasses expensive? 5. There (be) a lot of news in the e-mail. 6. The customs (be) at the end of the terminal. 7. Where your linen (come) from? 8. (Be) furniture sold here? 9. The cattle (be) in the fields now. 10. Diabetes (be) an illness caused by too much sugar in the blood. 11. His earnings (be) quite good. 12. What (be) the weather like in London now? 13. Dice (be) used in many games. 14. Your progress (make) everybody happy. 15. Work (be) the best cure of all the problems. 16. Her clothes (be) chic and (cost) a fortune. 17. Martha's poultry (be) the best in the village. 18. How (be) the wounded? 19. The goods (be) checked regularly. 20. The contents of the contract (change) yesterday. 21. Dice (tell) us interesting things. 22. All the floor sweepings and potato peelings (be) carried away into this particular chute. 23. Your hair (grow) fast?

Ex. 657. Read the sentences and comment on agreement in them.

1. Neither my roommate nor my parents are going to vote. 2. Neither you nor Maria was among the invited. 3. Either you or I am wrong. 4. Either the defendant or the witnesses are lying. 5. Of the two jobs, neither holds much appeal. 6. Neither Boris nor his sisters plan to enter University. 7. Either my mother or I make breakfast each morning. 8. Either of these buses goes

past my college. 9. None of the projects was useful to use. 10. None of these books is (are) worth reading. 11. None of the cake is left. 12. None of the applicants was (were) competent enough.

Ex. 658. Translate into English.

1. И тот, и другой вариант возможен. 2. Ни тот, ни другой ответ не является верным. 3. Либо управля­ющий, либо его помощники ответственны за постав­ки. 4. Ни дети, ни их мама не занимаются спортом. 5. Никто из нас не знает, было ли изменено содержа­ние программы. 6. — Либо ты, либо он виноват. — Никто не виноват, просто не повезло. 7. Она приме­рила несколько пар обуви, но ни одна не пришлась ей по вкусу. 8. Ни одно из заданий не было доста­точно трудным. 9. Здесь не говорят ни по-русски, ни по-немецки. 10. Ни одна из двух альтернатив меня не устраивает. 11. Было поздно, но ни один из детей еще не спал. 12. Ни один из симптомов этой болезни пока не проявился.

Ex. 659. Read the sentences and comment on agreement in them.

I. The number of Congress members is about 400. 2. An enormous number of photographs were taken. 3. The number of books in this library is great. 4. A number of new dictionaries are on sale now. 5. Mathematics is not always an exact science. 6. The mathematics (calculations) of the project are not quite exact. 7. Statistics is a course many students really dread. 8. The statistics of that study are highly questionable. 9. A great variety of whisky is produced in Scotland. 10. The variety of magazines on sale today is amazing. I1. A great variety of children's toys are produced in the world. 12. He tells me that most of Majorca is mountains. 13. Most of us have strong views on life. 14. Most Arabic speakers understand English. 15. The amount of student grants at this University is considerable. 16. The percentage of young voters has risen. 17. A percentage of the work is finished. 18. a percentage of the reports are finished. 19. Sixty percent of the students are working. 20. Sixty percent of th_e work force is absent. 21. A (the) majority of teachers at our school are women.

Ex. 660. Read the text and retell it Comment on the words in bold type