For the sake of doing some grammar talking

– UFMG –

Fernando Magno Quintão Pereira

31 de Agosto de 2010
Lie and Lay, sit and set, rise and raise

Base Past tense Past part. Present part. -s form

lie lay lain lying lies
lay laid laid laying lays
sit sat sat sitting sits
set set set setting sets
rise rose risen rising rises
raise raised raised raising raises
Verb Moods

I Indicative used for stating facts or opinions and for asking

questions.
I did the right thing.
I Imperative used for giving commands and instructions.
Do the right thing!
I Subjunctive used primarily in dependent clauses beginning
with that or if. It expresses wished, suggestions, requests and
requirements, as wells as conditions that do not exist.
If I had done the right thing, I would not be in troubles.
Using the subjunctive mood

I It is important that children (are/be?) psychologically ready

for a new sibling.
I If the store (was/were?) better located, it would attract more
customers.
I He wished that his mother (was/were?) still living nearby.
I If I (would have/had?) played harder, I would have won.
Subject/verb agreement

I The president, along with many senators, (opposes/oppose?)

the bill.
I John Kennedy’s closest friend and political ally (was/were?)
his brother.
I Drinking and driving (remains/remain?) a major cause of
highway fatalities.
I Neither my roommate nor my neighbors (like/likes?) my loud
music.
I Either the witnesses or the defendant (is/are?) lying.
I Beside the barn (stand/stands?) a silo and several tractors.
Subject/verb agreement

I The president, along with many senators, opposes the bill.

I John Kennedy’s closest friend and political ally was his
brother.
I Drinking and driving remains a major cause of highway
fatalities.
I Neither my roommate nor my neighbors like my loud music.
I Either the witnesses or the defendant is lying.
I Beside the barn stand a silo and several tractors.
Collective nouns and fractions as subjects

I After deliberating, the jury (report/reports?) its verdict.

I The jury still (disagrees/disagree?) on a number of counts.
I Two-thirds of the park (have/has?) burned.
I Two-thirds of the students (was/were?) commuters.
I The number of applications for the internship (were/was?)
unbelievable.
I A number of applicants (was/were?) put on the waiting list.
I Statistics (are/is?) a course that I really dread.
I The statistics in that study (is/are?) highly questionable.
Collective nouns and fractions as subjects

I After deliberating, the jury reports its verdict.

I The jury still disagree on a number of counts.
I Two-thirds of the park has burned.
I Two-thirds of the students were commuters.
I The number of applications for the internship was
unbelievable.
I A number of applicants were put on the waiting list.
I Statistics is a course that I really dread.
I The statistics in that study are highly questionable.
More on subject/verb agreement

I Of the two jobs, neither (holds/hold?) much appeal.

I Each of the plays (depicts/depict?) a hero undone by a tragic
flaw.
I All of the cake (was/were?) eaten.
I All of the candidates (promise/promises?) to improve the
schools.
I Carla is one of the employees who always (work/works?) late.
I Sam is the only one of the employees who always
(works/work?) overtime.
I The signings of these treaties (are/is?) the topic of my talk.
I Nero Wolfe’s passion (was/were?) orchids.
Good, well, bad, and badly

I I look (well/good?) in blue.

I Now that the fever has broken, I feel (good/well?) again.
I He plays the trumpet (good/well?).
I I feel (badly/bad?) for the Toronto fans.
I Their team played (bad/badly?).
What is the problem with these phrases?

I Reluctantly, the hound was given away to a neighbor.

I As a young boy, his grandmother told stories of her years as a
country schoolteacher.
I Thumbing through the magazine, my eyes automatically
noticed the perfurme ads.
I Students who practice writing often will benefit.
I Vegetables will, if they are cooked too long, lose most of their
nutritional value.
I Hitler expected the British to fairly quickly surrender.
Pronoun usage

I I remember (him/his?) singing.

I (Who/Whom?) did you visit?
I (Whom/Who?) do you think wrote the story?
I Anyone can hypnotize someone (whom/who?) wants to be
hypnotized.
I (Whoever/Whomever?) the party suspected of disloyalty was
executed.
I When Zelda and (him/he?) were first married, they lived in
New York.
I The boss invited (she/her?) and her family to dinner.
I This morning saw yet another conflict between my sister and
(I/me?) .
Elliptical constructions

I His sister has always been more athletic than (he/him?).

I Willie likes Lily more than (she/her?).
I (We/Us?) fans never give up hope.
I The Rangers depend on (us/we?) fans.
Sexist pronouns

Pronouns often refer to antecedents that may be either male of

female. Writers used to use a masculine pronoun, known as the
generic he, to refer to such antecedents: A child needs a way to
express himself. Everyone paid his own way. In recent decades,
however, many people have pointed out that such wording ignores
or even excludes females – and thus should be revised: Children
need ways to express themselves. Everyone paid his or her own
way.
Revise the sentences

I When the senators realized the bill would be defeated, they

tried to postpone the vote but failed. It was a fiasco.
I Nancy just found out that she won the lottery, which explains
her sudden resignations from her job.
I In Texas, you often hear about the political influence of big oil
corporations.
I On the Weather Channel, it said that Hurricane Fran will hit
Virginia Beach tomorrow morning.
I In france, they allow dogs in most restaurants.
I In Welty’s story, she characterizes Bowman as a man unaware
of his own isolation.