OPG Intermediate unit 79, 80, 81

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• mavo, havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 3

OPG intermediate 79, 80, 81

79 Agreement

80 Singular or plural?

81 Pair nouns and group nouns

Basic rules

1. The amount of the subject should match the amount of the verb. 

2 A plural noun takes a plural verb, a singular noun a singular verb. 

3. Singular noun --> SHIT rule. 

The news ... on at 10 o'clock.

1. is
2. are

Neither of these seats ... taken.

1. is
2. are

The police ... warned motorists to take extra care.

1. has
2. have

Singular verb

Everyone was at the party. 

Something is wrong. 

Nothing has changed. 

Every seat was taken. 

One of the seats was taken. 

A lot of noise was heard. 

Plural verb

All of the seats were taken. 

A number of the seats were taken. 

A few of the seats were taken.

A lot of friends were there.  

Both singular and plural

Als achter any of..., either of..., neither of..., none of... een zelfstandig naamwoord in meervoudsvorm staat, wordt beide vormen van het werkwoord gebruikt. 

None of these books is/are very interesting. 

Exception

Een hoeveelheid geld, afstand, gewicht, of tijd krijgt een werkwoord in enkelvoud. 

Eight pounds is a fair price. 

Five minutes is long to wait. 

Every policeman ... waiting outside the bank.

1. is
2. are

Not all policemen ... allowed to cary guns.

1. is
2. are

A lot of crime ... caused by people being careless.

1. is
2. are

Vertaal: Honderd meters zijn niet ver om te zwemmen.

Always plural noun --> plural verb

Your clothes are dirty. 

Customs

Contents

Goods

Thanks

Surroundings

Always plural noun --> singular verb

The news was worse than I expected. 

Physics is a great subject. 

Politics is rather interesting. 

Nouns ending in s --> both verbs

Series

Means of transport

Species

This series is fantastic.

Both series are good. 

Maths ... her favourite subject.

1. was
2. were

The contents of his wallet ... been stolen.

1. has
2. have

Vertaal: De serie die ik kijk is fantastisch.

Vertaal: Ik wil een spijkerbroek.

A pair of...

jeans

glasses

pyjamas

scissors

trousers

shorts

Group nouns

Can take both singular or plural verbs, depending on wether we see them as a group or as indivuduals

My family is a very ols and famous one. 

My family are delighted with their presents. 

Police, people, cattle --> plural verb

Police are looking for the thief. 

People don't know the truth. 

The cattle are going to be sold. 

The crowd ... all enjoying the game.

1. is
2. are

The population ... growing rapidly because of immigration.

1. is
2. are

Vertaal: Mag ik een zonnebril?

Write down one thing you learnt this lesson.