Topic 23

Topic 23                  Agreement

In the Subject – Verb Agreement, we are dealing with the Simple Present Tense.  For the Simple Past Tense,  only ‘was / were’ is involved.

     [Singular Subject]  Singular Verb-----------------------------------.

     [Plural Subject] Plural Verb  -----------------------------------------.

The Subject is always a noun.  [A Singular Subject] has a Singular noun.  [A Plural Subject] has a Plural noun.

     Singular Verb=======    is / was

                                             F1 + s / es

     Plural Verb ========  are / were

                                            F1

`1.  Verb-to-be

            am

            is          was            

            are        were

2.  have / has

           He                                      I     /     We

           She       has                       You   /     You         have  

           It                                                     They

3.  do / does

           He                                       I     /     We

           She     does  (not)               You   /     You         do  (not)

           It                                                      They   

____________________________________________________________

          [George] is a hardworking boy.

          [Rice] is our staple food.

          [The children] are very noisy now.

          [Henry] was very busy yesterday.

          [My parents] were not at home last Tuesday.

          Leena has an expensive racket.                                     

          I have a box of crayons.

          He does his work well.

          You do your homework in the afternoon.                             (81)

Topic 23                      Agreement                                              

Exercise 133

Fill in the blanks with ‘is / are / was / were’.

1.  The children __________ obedient and good now.

2.  Peter _________ excited and cheerful yesterday.

3.  The food ________ cold just now.

4.  James and his friends ___________ talkative and noisy last Tuesday.

5.  Siew Ing and I __________ good friends.  We talk every day.

6.  One of the boys __________ late this morning.

7.  Water _________ vital to life.

8.  The geese _________ hungry just now.

9.  This bus _________ air-conditioned.  It is so comfortable.

10. The men __________ hardworking.  They do the work well.

Exercise 134

Fill in the blanks with ‘Simple Present Tense ’.

1.  One of the pupils __________ (study) hard every day.

2.  I __________ (read) for knowledge and pleasure.  I enjoy reading.

3.  Becky and her friends ___________ (co-operate) every day.

4.  You ___________ (gossip) too much every day.

5.  The child ____________ (need) a lot of attention.  He needs help.

6.  The teacher ___________ (lecture) them every day.

7.  Look!  Tien Tien and I always ___________ (try) our best to do well.

8.   Every living thing __________ (need) air, water and food to live.

9.   The children ____________ (cheer) loudly every day.

10.  Every cent __________ (count) in business.

11.  Polluted air ____________(cause) lung cancer.

12.  All her dresses ____________ (look) beautiful.

Exercise 135

Fill in the blanks with ‘ have / has / do / does ’.  Use each word thrice.

1.  You __________ your work very well.

2.  Mrs Ling _________ all the accounts by herself.

3.  I _________ a chance to win the game.

4.  The maid __________ the cleaning and washing every day.

5.  The old man _________ a walking stick.

6.  They __________ no choice but do the work.

7.  Tom _________ not wash his shoes weekly.

8.  The children __________ their homework quietly every day.

9.  The kangaroo _________ a pouch.

10.  I _________ not wipe the window panes every day.

11.  Ali and his friends __________ a lot of groundnuts to crack.

12.  Lucia _________ an aunt living in New Zealand.                       (82)

Exercise 136                                                                                 

Fill in the blanks with ‘Have / Has / Do / Does’.

1.  _________ Mary often comb her hair?

2.  _________ Yalee a pillow with duck down?

3.  __________ Peter and his friends often climb coconut trees?

4.  __________ Francis a computer of his own?

5.  _________ the hamster squeak a lot?

6.  __________ the girls sew well ?

7.  __________ the children a good time during the Physical Education period?

8.  __________ Jim’s grandparents exercise every day?

9.  _________ they a top to play with?

10.  _________ the little girl scream a lot?

Exercise 137

Fill in the blanks with ‘is / are / was / were / do / does / have / has’.

1.  They __________ disobedient and bad the day before yesterday.

2.  Look!  San San and I ___________  many colourful hairclips.

3.  It  _________  very windy today.

4.  Nora and Nina ___________ cousins.  They are good friends, too.

5.  Doris _________ absent from school a few days ago.

6.  Becky’s parents always _________ gardening together.  They are good.

7.  Mr Teng and Mrs Teng _________ gentle and good.

8.  Chialee _________ the laundry herself.

9.  The people __________ very upset about the cost of living now.

10.  I _________ very forgetful yesterday.

11.  Elinda and her friends __________ the general cleaning themselves.

12.  Jee Hua and his friends ___________unfriendly and proud yesterday.

Exercise 138

Fill in the blanks with ‘is / are / was / were / do / does / have / has’.

1.  __________ the children naughty and noisy last Thursday?

2.  __________ the pupils a flag each?

3.  __________  your grandparents drink enough fruit juice every day?

4.  __________ they very co-operative and disciplined now?

5.  __________ Ramus selfish and greedy yesterday?

6.  __________ Joseph very capable and intelligent?  Yes, he is.

7.  __________ Joan a scarf?

8.  __________ you a rucksack now?

9.  __________ Hai Chang speak many languages?

10.  __________  the squirrel a fluffy tail?

11.  __________ Peter and Patrick often catch insects?

12.  __________ Leena often trim her fingers?