Verb Agreement in Grammar
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary reason for subject-verb agreement in passive voice sentences?

  • To indicate the time of the action
  • To emphasize the doer of the action
  • To create a more formal tone
  • To agree with the subject of the sentence (correct)

    • Which of the following sentences is an example of impersonal passive or agentless passive?

  • The letter was delivered yesterday
  • The play was written in 1599 (correct)
  • The book was written by Jane
  • The report is being written by the team

    • What is the function of modal verbs in passive voice sentences?

  • To express the degree of certainty or possibility (correct)
  • To emphasize the doer of the action
  • To create a more formal tone
  • To indicate the time of the action

    • What is the characteristic of a passive voice sentence that helps identify it?

    <p>The verb comes before the subject</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following sentences is in the passive voice?

    <p>The book is written by John</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the degree of certainty or possibility expressed by a verb?

    <p>Modality</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the construction where the doer of the action is mentioned in a prepositional phrase?

    <p>True passive</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following sentences is an example of a passive voice sentence with a plural subject?

    <p>The books are written by John</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the clue to identify passive voice sentences that involves the verb 'to be'?

    <p>The verb 'to be' is often used in passive voice</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the rearrangement of the sentence structure in passive voice, where the verb comes before the subject?

    <p>Subject-verb inversion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Verb Agreement

    • In passive voice, the subject of the sentence is acted upon by the verb.
    • The verb form agrees with the subject, not the doer of the action.
    • Singular subjects take singular verbs, plural subjects take plural verbs.
    • Example:
      • Singular: The book is written by John. (The subject "book" is singular, so the verb "is written" is also singular.)
      • Plural: The books are written by John. (The subject "books" is plural, so the verb "are written" is also plural.)

    Subject-verb Inversion

    • In passive voice, the subject and verb are inverted compared to active voice.
    • The verb comes before the subject in a passive sentence.
    • This inversion helps to identify passive voice sentences.
    • Example:
      • Active: John writes the book. (Subject "John" comes before the verb "writes".)
      • Passive: The book is written by John. (The verb "is written" comes before the subject "book".)

    Passive Constructions

    • There are two main types of passive constructions:
      1. True passive: The doer of the action is mentioned in a prepositional phrase.
        • Example: The play was written by Shakespeare.
      2. Impersonal passive or agentless passive: The doer of the action is not mentioned.
        • Example: The play was written in 1599.

    Modality

    • Modality refers to the degree of certainty or possibility expressed by a verb.
    • In passive voice, modality is expressed using modal verbs such as "can", "could", "may", "might", "shall", "should", "will", and "would".
    • Example:
      • The package can be delivered tomorrow. (Expressing possibility)
      • The report must be written by Friday. (Expressing necessity)

    Identifying Passive Voice

    • Look for the following clues to identify passive voice:
      • The verb "to be" (is, are, am, be, been) is often used in passive voice.
      • The subject of the sentence is not performing the action.
      • The doer of the action is mentioned in a prepositional phrase starting with "by".
      • The sentence can be rewritten in active voice by swapping the subject and object.
    • Example:
      • Active: The teacher gives the student a book. (Subject "teacher" performs the action)
      • Passive: The student is given a book by the teacher. (Subject "student" receives the action)

    Verb Agreement

    • In passive voice, the verb form agrees with the subject, not the doer of the action.
    • Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs.
    • Example: "The book is written by John" (singular subject, singular verb) vs. "The books are written by John" (plural subject, plural verb).

    Subject-verb Inversion

    • In passive voice, the subject and verb are inverted compared to active voice.
    • The verb comes before the subject in a passive sentence, helping to identify passive voice.
    • Example: "John writes the book" (active voice) vs. "The book is written by John" (passive voice, with verb-subject inversion).

    Passive Constructions

    • There are two main types of passive constructions:
    • True passive: The doer of the action is mentioned in a prepositional phrase. (Example: "The play was written by Shakespeare")
    • Impersonal passive or agentless passive: The doer of the action is not mentioned. (Example: "The play was written in 1599")

    Modality

    • Modality refers to the degree of certainty or possibility expressed by a verb.
    • In passive voice, modality is expressed using modal verbs such as "can", "could", "may", "might", "shall", "should", "will", and "would".
    • Example: "The package can be delivered tomorrow" (expressing possibility) and "The report must be written by Friday" (expressing necessity).

    Identifying Passive Voice

    • Look for the following clues to identify passive voice:
      • The verb "to be" (is, are, am, be, been) is often used in passive voice.
      • The subject of the sentence is not performing the action.
      • The doer of the action is mentioned in a prepositional phrase starting with "by".
      • The sentence can be rewritten in active voice by swapping the subject and object.
    • Example: "The teacher gives the student a book" (active voice) vs. "The student is given a book by the teacher" (passive voice).

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    Test your understanding of verb agreement in sentences, including active and passive voice, singular and plural subjects, and more.

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