Why I Agree With You

Today's lesson is all about SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT. 

Subject and Verb cannot be separated. You can't talk about the subject without touching the topic of verbs and vice versa. 

Here is the rule of thumb in SVA (Subject-Verb Agreement):

SINGULAR SUBJECT needs SINGULAR VERB.

PLURAL SUBJECT needs PLURAL VERB.

How do you do that? Of course, look at your subjects, honey. But before that, here are some rules I want to share before you proceed. 

1. In case you forgot 

Subjects are the ones being talked about in the sentence. It can be a noun or a pronoun. 

Verbs are action words and your subject is the doer of the action.

2. I LOVE YOU 

The pronoun I is always taken as a plural subject. It's never "I loves you".

For example: I feel my body giving up. 

    

3. Indefinitely not 

Indefinite pronouns (each, every, somebody, nobody) take singular verbs because these pronouns are considered to be SINGULAR in nature. 

For example: Everyone stands to see the new Chanel bag. (little note: don't use stand up, it's redundant) 

                      Somebody is calling me.

Indefinite pronouns such as many, few, several, some take plural verbs because they are plural in nature.
                      Some students are already leaving the room.
                      Several policemen were deployed at the mall after the incident.                      

4. Of course not

The "of-phrase" is very misleading. Just remember that the REAL SUBJECT comes BEFORE the preposition of.
For example: A bottle of wine is good for your health. (You are safe here. The subject is singular.)
                      A box of chocolates were given to Tilda.

5. Close to you

Correlative conjunctions "either-or" and "neither-nor" agrees with the subject nearest to it. For these guys, don't look away. Locate the SUBJECT CLOSEST to the VERB and give your final judgement.
For example: Either Marian or Jerome is coming to the party. (Jerome is the nearest subject.)
                       Neither Samantha nor the kids are invited by the Anderson's. 

6. Along with the gods (k-drama vibes)
When the subject is separated from the verb by words such as together with, along with, as well as, besides, etc. These words and phrases are not part of the subject. Don't pay attention to them; some appositives* can be removed.
For example: Benjamin, together with his teachers, is having a meeting upstairs.
            If we removed the italicized words, then we'll have: Benjamin is having a meeting upstairs.
            SEE? The appositive phrase does not affect the subject.

                       The students of Room 3-D, as well as their class adviser, pose for their class picture.
 
(Appositives are modifiers; they can add a description to the subject.)

7. pISo
No matter how much money you have, it's all the same with verbs. It's going to be SINGULAR forever. Even if you win one hundred million pesos in the lottery. Weight, distance, and periods of times take singular form of verbs too.
For example: Ten million pesos is the grand lotto price. (See what I mean?)
                      Two miles is a long walk for me.
                      Five kilograms of meat is needed to make 20 servings of Sinigang.
                      Two grams of sugar and a cup of flour are some of the ingredients of croissant.

(This rule is applicable when you used these as subjects. They will change depending on the number of subjects used.)

8. All of the Stars
With words that indicate portion such as most, all, some, a lot, etc., need to consider the of-phrase.
For example: All of the stars are your guide home.
                      Most of the bags are being decorated by the artists.
                      All of the food is gone. 

References: https://webapps.towson.edu/ows/sub-verb.htm

              https://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectVerbAgree.asp

Voices of Verbs

Active Voice
   This is the usual and the basic form of sentence. 
   It tells what a person or thing does.
   In the S-TV-DO format, the subject is the doer of the action.

For example:

• The students eat all the chocolates.

     Subject: students 
     Verb: eat
     Object: chocolates

• Mila and her friends attended the seminar last Monday.

     Subject: Mila and her friends
     Verb: attended 
     Object: seminar

• The facilitator will be teaching another topic about ecosystem.

     Subject: facilitator

     Verb: will be teaching 

     Object: topic

• Susie sells seashells by the seashore. 

     Subject: Susie

     Verb: sells

     Object: seashells

Passive Voice
   It tells what is done to someone or something. 
   The object is the doer of the action. 
   The form of a passive sentence is: Subject + to be + past participle of the verb 

A little reminder: 

1. In passive sentences above, the subjects are the italicized words. When making an active voice a passive voice, the one being talked about will be the subject.  
2. Passive voice is used for a formal tone and if you want to focus on what is “done” or the “action” rather than who did it. 
3. Active voice is used to convey direct meaning.  

Sources: https://webapps.towson.edu/ows/activepass.htm

https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-active-and-passive-voice.html

Please be quiet

A Post about Imperatives

Imperatives are verbs used to give orders, commands, warning or instructions, and to make a request.

Example: Give me that tape, please.

To make an Imperative...

• To make the imperative, use the infinitive of the verb without "to"

           Read this. 

           Stand on the corner.

• To make a negative imperative, put "do not" or "don't" before the verb:

           Don't read this!

           Do not walk on the grass.

           Do not litter. 

• You can also use "let's" before the verb if you are including yourself in the imperative. The negative of "let's" is "let's not".

          Let's bake a cake.

          Let's have pizza for snack.

          Let's not argue.

Orders

An order can be a command or a polite request. In a polite request, please or may is used to make the tone more light. In command, it is more curt and brief; each word is stressed, and the tone falls at the end of the sentence.

• Request

Please, give me a piece of bread.

May I have those flowers?

Pass the sauce, please. 

• Command

Give me those books. 

Clap your hands loudly.

Say the word again.

Warnings

Watch out!

Don't smoke inside the house.

Duck!

Instructions

Cut the onions into small pieces and fry in oil.

Save your document and put it in a new folder.

A little reminder: An imperative sentence does not require a subject; it has a hidden subject which is "YOU" (an implied subject). 

Sources: http://www.englishlanguageguide.com/grammar/imperative.asp

               https://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/imperat.htm