Simple sentences
A sentence is a group of words that:
a) Contains at least one object and one verb and,
b) Expresses a complete thought
There are four kinds of sentences in English:
1. Simple sentences
2. Compound sentences
3. Complex sentences
4. Compound-complex sentences
First let's learn about simple sentences.
A simple sentence contains a subject and a verb. The subject tells who or what did something.
The verb tells the action (jump, work, think) or condition (is, was, seem, appear)
A simple sentence can have one or several possible "formulas". Here are FOUR possibilities:
The subjects and verbs in each sentence are in bold font.
1. Some student like to study in the morning. S V
2. Juan and Arturo play football every afternoon. S S V
3. The films entertained and thrilled audiences everywhere. S V V
4. Luke and his friends battled evil and made us laugh at the same time. S S V V
Subject-verb Agreement
The Subject should agree with the verb in number.
if the S is singular then the V is also singular
if S is plural then V should be plural too
for example:
* my sister is married
my sister = subject = singular
so the verb should be singular too
is = verb
* my sisters are married
sisters is plural therefore we use are
there are however 5 situations which are confusing ,
1. if the sentence begins with the word [there] + the verb [be]
and the subject follows the [be] verb
for example:
- There is a student in the hall. (the verb is is singular to agree with a student)
we used is here, coz the subject is student and its singular
- There are three students in the hall.
we used are bcuz three students
. . . . . . . ❀
2. a prepositional phrase (a group of words beginning with a preposition such as of, with, in, at, on) and end with a noun or pronoun , and it comes between the subject and a varb in a sentence
we will ignore the prepositional phrase which contains the subject
for example:
One (of my sisters) is a singer.
note: the subject is one, not sisters
becuz sisters is a prepositional phrase
OF my sisters >>> prepositional because the word of .
Q : The color of her eyes is blue
OR
the color of her eyes are blue ??
The answer is : the color of her eyes is blue .
the subject we are talking about is color not eyes
and color is singular ..
another Q :
Six kinds of rice is available in the grocery store
OR
Six kinds of rice are available in the grocery store ??
The subject is ( six ) so we use ( are )
The answer is : ^^ Six kinds of rice are available in the grocery store
. . . . . . . ❀
3. some words are always singular
one (of my brothers) is a musician
Neither (of my parents) is living
Much (of my time) is spent in the library
Each (of my brothers) wants his own car
Either of my sisters is able to baby-sit for u tonight
Nothing ever happens in my life
Is anyone home
those words [one - Neither - Much - Each - Either - Nothing - anyone] always singular
. . . . . . . ❀
4. A few words are always plural
Both (of my parents) are teachers
Several (of the teachers) speak my language
many (of my friends) work in the library
So [both - several - many] are always plural
. . . . . . . ❀
5. A few words can be either singular or plural. In these cases, u must refer to the noun in the prepositional phrase
All (of my time) is spent in the library. (time singular)
All (of my brothers) are singers. (brothers plural)
Some (of the money) was missing. (money singular)
Some (of the students) were missing. (students plural)
A lot (of the work) was too easy
A lot (of the people) were angry
None (of the fruit) is fresh
None (of the apples) are fresh
Most (of the ice) was melted
Most (of the ice cubes) were melted
so with [Some - All - Most - A lot - None] we have to look at the subject in the prepositional phrase ..
↣ By : LAW ..
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