the cover letter ( CV )

Cover letter
A cover letter or covering letter or motivation letter or motivational letter or letter of motivation is a letter of introduction attached to, or accompanying another document such as a résumé or curriculum vitae.
For employment
Job seekers frequently send résumés or employment applications as attachments to a cover letter, by way of introducing themselves to recruiters or prospective employers and indicating their interest in the positions. Employers may look for individualized and thoughtfully written cover letters to screen applicants who are not sufficiently interested in their position or who lack the required writing skills. A cover letter is an accompanying letter that introduces you and your resume to a potential employer. You can send a cover letter with every resume you submit. A cover letter should not be longer than one page in length and contain 2 to 3 short paragraphs. There are three types of cover letters:
The application letter which responds to a known job opening
The prospecting letter which inquires about possible positions
The networking letter which requests information and assistance in your job search
Format
Cover letters are generally one page at most in length, divided into a header, introduction, body, and closing.
Header. Cover letters use standard business letter style, with the sender's address and other information, the recipient's contact information, and the date sent after either the sender's or the recipient's address. Following that is an optional reference section (e.g. "RE: Internship Opportunity at Global Corporation") and an optional transmission note (e.g. "Via Email to jobs@example.net"). The final part of the header is a salutation (e.g., "Dear Hiring Managers").
Introduction. The introduction briefly states the specific position desired, and should be designed to catch the employer's immediate interest.
Body. The body highlights or amplifies on material in the resume or job application, and explains why the job seeker is interested in the job and would be of value to the employer. Also, matters discussed typically include skills, qualifications, and past experience. If there are any special things to note such as availability date, they may be included as well.


Closing. A closing sums up the letter, and indicates the next step the applicant expects to take. It may indicate that the applicant intends to contact the employer, although many favor the more indirect approach of simply saying that the applicant will look forward to hearing from or speaking with the employer. After the closing is a valediction ("Sincerely"), and then a signature line. Optionally, the abbreviation "ENCL" may be used to indicate that there are enclosures.
Other uses
Cover letters may also serve as marketing devices for prospective job seekers. Cover letters are used in connection with many business documents such as loan applications (Mortgage loan), contract drafts and proposals, and executed documents. They may serve the purpose of trying to catch the reader's interest or persuade the reader of something, or they may simply be an inventory or summary of the documents included along with a discussion of the expected future actions the sender or recipient will take in connection with the documents.

the clause

THE CLAUSE

A clause is a group of words that has a subject and a verb or predicate . It maybe independent or dependent .

An independent or principal clause is a group of words with a subject and a predicate that expresses a complete thought .

A dependent or subordinate clause cannot stand alone as a sentence . It functions as a sentence part and depends on another clause or the rest of the sentence to complete its meaning . A dependent clause is usually introduced by subordinators .

Subordinators are conjunctions that connect a subordinate or dependent clause to an independent or principal clause . They join elements of unequal grammatical rank e. g. a less important idea to a more important idea. They introduce these subordinate clause and link it to the main clause in order to show clearly the relation between the clause that are linked .

Example :

Although I hated Mathematics , I poured over my Algebra lessons diligently in order to pass the exam .

Another group of conjunction includes those that join two ideas that have equal rank or degree of importance . These conjunctions which are called coordinators link ideas that are parallel in structure . Coordinators are also classified into four depending on the kind of meaning they convey or relationship they indicate .

Addition : and

Contrast : but , yet

Alternation : or , nor

Reason : so , far

THE SENTENCE

A sentence is a single word or group of related words that expresses a thought more or less complete in itself . It may state a fact or an opinion , ask a question , express a wish or command , or convey an exclamation or interjection .

1. The simple subject is the main noun or noun substitute in the sentence . It is what basically spoken off .

Several buildings have crumbled as a result of the earthquake .

2. A sentence may have a compound subject .

Inserts and diseases are the major enemies of trees.

3. The complete subject consists of the simple subject and all the words that modify it .

One of my friends is stationed aboard a nuclear submarine .

THE PREDICATE

The predicate is the word or phrase which expresses what is said about the subject . It consists of the verb , together with such words as may be needed to complete its meaning .

1. The simple predicate refers to the verb in the sentence .

Janice jogs half an hour each morning before school .

2. The compound predicate consists of two or more verbs .

Mrs. Cruz once ran a chicken farm and operated a machine shop .

3. The complete predicate consists of the simple predicate and that which modifies it and completes its meaning .

Joel bring smiles the children’s face .

SENTENCE FRAGMENTS

A sentence fragment refers to a group of words without a verb or without a subject . It usually fails to tell who did something , what was done to someone or something , what happened a sin the following examples .

After the lighting struck a tree near the road .

Whenever Mom goes on a business trip and leaves us alone .

CHOPPY SENTENCES

When a series of very short yet closely related sentences are written consecutively to convey only one big idea , the result is a comedy .

Weak : She looks frail . She seems weak . She appears so vulnerable . She is wearing a black evening gown .

Better : She seems frail , weak and so vulnerable in her black evening gown .

RUN – ON SENTENCE

If two or more sentences are written as one with a comma , or no mark between them , the result is called a run – on sentence .

Faulty : “ Did you really fall from a tree and break your arm how in the world did that happen ?

Right : Did you really fall from a tree and break your arm ? How in the world did that happen ?

Faulty : My friend Tess reads three books a week . I am lucky to read one every two or three hours .

Right : My friend reads three books a week . I am lucky to read one every two or three weeks .

Sentences According to Structure

According to their structure - simple , compound , complex and compound complex .

1. Simple Sentence . A simple sentence contains only one independent clause and no dependent clause . It may have a simple or compound subject and a simple or compound predicate .

Examples :

Sharon will decorate the stage .

Cora and her friends will decorate the stage .

Cora will decorate the stage and distribute the invitation .

2. Compound Sentence . A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction. Some of the coordinating conjunction or connectives used in a compound sentence are : and , also , but yet , still , beside , furthermore , either … or , neither … nor , not only .. but also .

- A compound sentence may also be formed with a punctuation mark like a comma or a semi – colon between the clauses , without the need for a conjunction .

Examples :

Set your alarm or you will be late for school tomorrow .

The telephone rang but no one answered .

Man proposes ; God disposes.

Please ring me up in an hour ; by then I can give you a definite answer .

3. Complex Sentence . A complex sentence consists of one independent and one or more dependent clauses connected by a subordinator .

Examples :

If you can’t make a mistake , you can’t make anything .

Eventhough the water was cold , the dog swam to the other side of the lake .

4. Compound – Complex Sentence . A compound complex sentence contains two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses .

Examples :

I never saw a busier person that the First Lady seemed to be , yet it was difficult to say what she did .

Leaves can make sugar out of water and air , but no one knows how they do this .

paragraph development

· Unity

· Coherence

· Adequate Development

· Topic Sentences

A paragraph is a collection of sentences which all relate to one main idea or topic. Effective paragraphs have four main characteristics: a topic sentence, unity, coherence, and adequate development. Each of these characteristics is discussed below.

Unity

Unity refers to the extent to which all of the ideas contained within a given paragraph "hang together" in a way that is easy for the reader to understand. When the writer changes to a new idea -- one which is not consistent with the topic sentence of the paragraph -- the writer should begin a new paragraph. Unity is important because it aids the reader in following along with the writer's ideas. The reader can expect that a given paragraph will deal only with one main topic; when a new paragraph begins, this signals that the writer is moving on to a new topic.

Consider the following example. Note that there are two main ideas presented in this paragraph. The topic sentence indicates that the paragraph will deal with the subject of "employees' attitudes," but the paragraph shifts unexpectedly to the topic of "management's attitudes." To achieve unity in this paragraph, the writer should begin a new paragraph when the switch is made from employees to managers.

Example

"Employees' attitudes at Jonstone Electric Company should be improved. The workers do not feel that they are a working team instead of just individuals. If people felt they were a part of a team, they would not misuse the tools, or deliberately undermine the work of others. Management's attitude toward its employees should also be improved. Managers at Jonstone Electric act as though their employees are incapable of making decisions or doing their own work. Managers treat workers like objects, not human beings."

Coherence

Coherence refers to the extent to which the flow of ideas in a paragraph is easily understood by the reader. For this reason, coherence is closely related to unity. When a writer changes main ideas or topics within a paragraph, confusion often results. To achieve coherence, then, a writer should show how all of the ideas contained in a paragraph are relevant to the main topic.

Consider the example below. In this paragraph, the writer begins with the topic of job-skills courses, but veers off onto the topic of algebra and history before returning to the subject of courses on employment. As a result, the paragraph is disjointed and difficult to understand.

Example

"Schools should offer courses to help students with the problems of unemployment. Such a course might begin with a discussion of where to find employment, then cover resume writing and interviewing. Algebra and history don't help students with real-world needs. They are required courses that students aren't interested in, and this is frustrating for students who would rather learn about other subjects. If schools offered job-skills courses, students would be well prepared for the difficult task of finding a job once they finish school."

Adequate Development

A paragraph is adequately developed when it describes, explains and supports the topic sentence. If the "promise" of the topic sentence is not fulfilled, or if the reader is left with questions after reading the paragraph, the paragraph has not been adequately developed. Generally speaking, a paragraph which consists of only two or three sentences is under-developed. A good rule of thumb to follow is to make sure that a paragraph contains at least four sentences which explain and elaborate on the topic sentence.

Consider the paragraph below. The topic sentence promises to discuss "several" points of comparison and contrast between leadership and management, but the remainder of the paragraph falls short of fulfilling this promise. Only one point of comparison is raised, and this point is left unexplained. Several questions remain unanswered. How are leaders different from managers? In what specific ways are the two alike? Why must a manager be a good leader to be effective? Why must good leaders know how to manage people effectively? To achieve adequate development in this paragraph, these questions should be addressed.

Example

"The topics of leadership and management are both similar to and different from one another in several important ways. To be effective, a manager should be a good leader. And good leaders know how to manage people effectively."

Generally speaking, a paragraph should contain between three and five sentences, all of which help clarify and support the main idea of the paragraph. When a writer begins a new paragraph, it signals to the reader that the writer is changing thoughts or ideas, or is moving on to discuss a different aspect of a main idea.

Topic Sentences

Beginning a paragraph with a topic sentence is one of the best ways to achieve clarity and unity in one's writing. The function of a topic sentence is to describe what the paragraph will be about, such that the reader has clear expectations about what will follow. An effective topic sentence typically contains only one main idea. The remainder of the paragraph then develops that idea more fully, offering supporting points and examples. After reading a topic sentence, one should be able to anticipate the type of information contained in the rest of the paragraph. If the remainder of the paragraph does not fulfill the "promise" of the topic sentence, the paragraph will lack unity, coherence and adequate development.

Examples

"The cockroaches that inhabit many city apartments and homes are parasites that are almost impossible to exterminate completely."

Notice that this sentence clearly identifies that the key topic of the paragraph is cockroaches. It also indicates what the remainder of the paragraph will discuss: the difficulty of exterminating cockroaches. The reader can then expect the rest of the paragraph to explain how and why cockroaches are difficult to eliminate.

"Many television cartoons contain an unhealthy amount of violence."

Notice that this sentence clearly identifies that the key topic of the paragraph is violence in television cartoons. It also indicates that the remainder of the paragraph will discuss how much violence cartoons typically contain, and how/why this violence is unhealthy for viewers.

"An increasing number of people in America are enjoying the benefits of organically grown fruits and vegetables."

This topic sentence indicates that the remainder of the paragraph will cover the trend in the United States toward eating organic foods. The reader can also anticipate learning more in this paragraph about the specific benefits of organic foods.

subject verb agreement

HUNTER COLLEGE READING/WRITING CENTER
GRAMMAR AND MECHANICS
The Verb System: Subject-Verb Agreement

     Subject-verb agreement refers to a change in the form of a

verb depending on its subject. The subject of a verb may be

singular or plural and it may be first-person (I, we) second-person

(you [singular], you [plural]), or third-person (he/she/it, they).

     In English a verb changes form only when its subject is third-

person singular (he/she/it) and only in the present tense. The

following chart illustrates this rule:

           Present                                Past

   singular       plural                singular          plural     

   I walk          We walk             I walked          We walked

   You walk        You walk            You walked        You walked

   He/she walks    They walk           He/She walked     They walked 

   It walks                            It walked         

      The rule for subject-verb agreement is that in the present

tense, a verb with a third-person singular subject must always end

in -s.  As you can see, the past tense form is the same regardless

of its subject.

     A third-person singular subject is any person or thing that

can be replaced with one of the pronouns he, she, or it.

      Nancy Colon [she] is going to lead a march on the           

      White House. The rest of the group [it] will follow         

      her. The rally [it] is scheduled for 1:15 PM. Some          

      marchers [they] may arrive early. They should wait for      

      the rest of the group before raising their placards. In     

      fact, no one [he/she] should raise a placard, sign, or      

      banner until the entire group [it] is assembled on the lawn. 

SPECIAL PROBLEMS IN SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

     There are several sentence constructions that may make it

difficult for you to determine whether the main verb should have an

-s  ending.

1. When Words Separate the Subject from Its Verb

     Words that come between a subject and its verb do not affect

the number (singular or plural) of the subject. You must determine

which word is the sentence's subject and then use it to decide

whether the verb needs an -s  ending.

     The color  of the stage setting seems drab.

     The colors of the stage setting seem drab.

      A computer  with a variety of memory chips serves a special 

      purpose.

      Computers  with a variety of memory chips serve a special   

      purpose.

     Sometimes words that come between a subject and its verb may

contain a complete clause with a subject and verb of its own.  Most

often this will be a relative clause, beginning with who, which,

that or, less often, where or when.  This can be confusing because

it's hard to tell which verb goes with which subject.  Remember, a

subject and verb need only agree when they are in the same clause.

     A woman who has a career and a family has very little time

     for herself.       

     Relative pronouns may be either singular or plural, depending

on what noun they refer to.  Therefore the verb of a relative

clause must agree with the noun that it is referring to.

     A woman who has a career can still be a good mother.

     Women who have careers sometimes wait to have children.

     Be particularly careful editing subject-verb agreement when

the words that separate a singular subject from its verb sound like

they are making the subject plural. These words include expressions

such as in addition to, as well as, including, and together with.

These expressions do not function like the word and. In other

words, they do not make the subject plural even though they sound

like they do.

     A microcomputer, as well as a mainframe, uses silicon chips.

     A microcomputer and a mainframe use silicon chips.

     The processing unit, together with all of its types of memory, 

     forms the heart of the machine.

     The processing unit and the various types of memory form the 

     heart of the machine.

     The memory, including the ROM and RAM, performs the computer's 

     operations.

     The memory unit and the ROM and RAM perform the computer's   

     operations.

2. When the Subject Comes after Its Verb

     In some sentences, you may reverse the order of a subject and

its verb in order to achieve an interesting effect. In other

sentences, you may want to begin with the words There or Here.

These sentence openers move the true subject to a position after

its verb. When you are editing your verbs, make sure that you check

these sentences very carefully to find the subject and to determine

the correct form of the verb.

     At the end of the list is the divorced man.

     At the end of the list are divorced men.

     There is one significant reason why men remarry.

     There are many reasons why men remarry.

     However, remember that when you write a sentence that begins

with the word it you must always use the singular form of the main

verb (which usually ends in -s).

     It seems that women have the greatest difficulty remarrying.

     It does not mean that men do not have any problems.

     It appears that men have a greater tendency to avoid         

     commitment than do women.

3. When Two or More Subjects are Joined by Or or Nor

     When two or more subjects in a sentence are joined by or or

nor, the verb form is usually determined by the subject that is

closest to the verb.

     Neither that woman nor her friends are unfulfilled.

     Neither those women nor this one is unfulfilled.

     It is true that a career or children affect a woman's        

     marriageability.

     It is true that children or a career affects a woman's       

     marriageability.

4. When the Subject is a Singular Pronoun

     When used as a subject, the following pronouns are always

considered singular and need verbs with -s endings on them in the

present tense: each, either, neither, every, everybody, everyone,

everything, anybody, anyone, anything, somebody, someone,

something, nobody, no one, nothing.

     Everything contributes to the problem.

     Someone who was abused as a child is likely to victimize his

     or her own children.

     Nobody who deals with the problem has all of the answers.

     In terms of subject-verb agreement, the most troublesome

pronouns on the list above are everybody, everyone, either,

neither, every, and each. Everybody and everyone sound like groups

but grammatically they behave like singular subjects.

     Everybody has to be concerned about family violence.

     Everyone who deals with families sees these problems.

Either, neither, each, and every are always singular subjects

unless they are used with or or nor.

     Neither is going to explode soon.

     Either his sister or his parents are going to explode soon.

     Each family member has control over his/her aggression.

5. When Words Separate a Singular Pronoun Subject from Its Verb

     When a singular pronoun, such as either, neither, each, or 

every is separated from its verb by other words, it is easy to get

confused about the form of the verb. Remember that words that come

between a subject and its verb do not affect the number of the

subject or the form of the verb.

       Either of the parents is going to explode soon.

       Neither parent is in control.

       Each of the family members has to control his or her       

       aggression.

     Each and every cause subject-verb agreement confusion when

they are separated from their verbs by the phrase of them or by two

nouns joined by and.

       Each of them seems to be prone to violence.

       Each of their parents has a repressed personality.

       Every father and mother has to be careful.

     The pronouns some, none, any, and most can be either singular

or plural subjects depending upon the words that follow them.  For

example, some can mean "more than one," in which case the subject

is plural, or it can mean "a part of one," in which case the

subject is singular.

       Some of the families studied commit emotional abuse.

       Some of the problem is caused by television.

       Most of the family members remain silent about it.

       Most of the information comes from their neighbors.

6. When the Subject is a Collective Noun

     A collective noun is the name of a group that usually

functions like a single unit. Some examples include family, class, 

audience, crowd, committee, team, jury, orchestra and group. If you

are referring to the group as a single unit, then the noun is a

singular subject (and needs an -s  ending on its verb).  If you are

referring to the individual members of the group, then the noun is

a plural subject.

     The team of scientists monitors the Milky Way.

     The team of scientists disagree about those stars.

     This group of stars is known as the Andromeda Galaxy.

     That group of stars have separated to form new galaxies.

     There is one collective noun that does function like the

others listed above: the word number. When it is used in the phrase

the number of, it is always a singular subject, and when it is used

in the phrase a number of, it is always a plural subject.

     A number of galaxies are shaped like disks.

     The number of disk-shaped galaxies is growing.

7. When the Subject is a Quantity

     Like collective nouns, words that state a quantity or an

amount usually function like singular subjects, but they can

function like plural subjects when they refer to a part of

something, not the whole thing.  Usually in this case, the quantity

is followed by the word of.  Words of quantity include amounts of

time, money, height, length, width, space, and weight.

     One hundred thousand light years is an extremely long time.

     Three million dollars is the cost of the typical telescope.

     Two-thirds of the galaxies are elliptical in shape.

8. When the Subject Looks Plural But is Singular in

Meaning

     There are many subjects that look plural (in other words, that

end in -s) but are singular in meaning. These include the names of

school subjects--mathematics, linguistics, physics, economics, 

civics--and the names of some diseases--measles, mumps, AIDS, and

herpes. They also include miscellaneous words like politics and

news.

     Physics is the study of vector and scalar quantities.

     Herpes is now impossible to cure.

     The news about spiral galaxies seems unbelievable.

     Mumps makes one's cheeks hurt and causes swelling and fever.

9. When the Subject is a Title

     Even when a title is plural (like The New York Times), it

functions like a singular subject, and it needs an -s ending on its

verb.

     The Hales Observatories tracks comets and meteors.

     Principles of Astronomy explains the rotations of that galaxy.

     One Hundred Thousand Galaxies provides fascinating

     explanations about the content of the universe.

10. When the Subject is a Verbal Phrase

     Sometimes an -ing or to + infinitive verb form is used as a

noun.  A phrase containing one of these forms may appear as the

subject of a sentence.  In these cases, the subject is always

singular.

     Learning how to do something well takes practice and

     determination.

     To see is to believe.

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Last updated Thursday, 25-February-99 02:14:00 EDT.
All pages Copyright © 1998 Hunter College Reading/Writing Center.
Please contact WebMaster with any questions or comments.

HUNTER COLLEGE READING/WRITING CENTER
GRAMMAR AND MECHANICS
The Verb System: Subject-Verb Agreement

     Subject-verb agreement refers to a change in the form of a

verb depending on its subject. The subject of a verb may be

singular or plural and it may be first-person (I, we) second-person

(you [singular], you [plural]), or third-person (he/she/it, they).

     In English a verb changes form only when its subject is third-

person singular (he/she/it) and only in the present tense. The

following chart illustrates this rule:

           Present                                Past

   singular       plural                singular          plural     

   I walk          We walk             I walked          We walked

   You walk        You walk            You walked        You walked

   He/she walks    They walk           He/She walked     They walked 

   It walks                            It walked         

      The rule for subject-verb agreement is that in the present

tense, a verb with a third-person singular subject must always end

in -s.  As you can see, the past tense form is the same regardless

of its subject.

     A third-person singular subject is any person or thing that

can be replaced with one of the pronouns he, she, or it.

      Nancy Colon [she] is going to lead a march on the           

      White House. The rest of the group [it] will follow         

      her. The rally [it] is scheduled for 1:15 PM. Some          

      marchers [they] may arrive early. They should wait for      

      the rest of the group before raising their placards. In     

      fact, no one [he/she] should raise a placard, sign, or      

      banner until the entire group [it] is assembled on the lawn. 

SPECIAL PROBLEMS IN SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

     There are several sentence constructions that may make it

difficult for you to determine whether the main verb should have an

-s  ending.

1. When Words Separate the Subject from Its Verb

     Words that come between a subject and its verb do not affect

the number (singular or plural) of the subject. You must determine

which word is the sentence's subject and then use it to decide

whether the verb needs an -s  ending.

     The color  of the stage setting seems drab.

     The colors of the stage setting seem drab.

      A computer  with a variety of memory chips serves a special 

      purpose.

      Computers  with a variety of memory chips serve a special   

      purpose.

     Sometimes words that come between a subject and its verb may

contain a complete clause with a subject and verb of its own.  Most

often this will be a relative clause, beginning with who, which,

that or, less often, where or when.  This can be confusing because

it's hard to tell which verb goes with which subject.  Remember, a

subject and verb need only agree when they are in the same clause.

     A woman who has a career and a family has very little time

     for herself.       

     Relative pronouns may be either singular or plural, depending

on what noun they refer to.  Therefore the verb of a relative

clause must agree with the noun that it is referring to.

     A woman who has a career can still be a good mother.

     Women who have careers sometimes wait to have children.

     Be particularly careful editing subject-verb agreement when

the words that separate a singular subject from its verb sound like

they are making the subject plural. These words include expressions

such as in addition to, as well as, including, and together with.

These expressions do not function like the word and. In other

words, they do not make the subject plural even though they sound

like they do.

     A microcomputer, as well as a mainframe, uses silicon chips.

     A microcomputer and a mainframe use silicon chips.

     The processing unit, together with all of its types of memory, 

     forms the heart of the machine.

     The processing unit and the various types of memory form the 

     heart of the machine.

     The memory, including the ROM and RAM, performs the computer's 

     operations.

     The memory unit and the ROM and RAM perform the computer's   

     operations.

2. When the Subject Comes after Its Verb

     In some sentences, you may reverse the order of a subject and

its verb in order to achieve an interesting effect. In other

sentences, you may want to begin with the words There or Here.

These sentence openers move the true subject to a position after

its verb. When you are editing your verbs, make sure that you check

these sentences very carefully to find the subject and to determine

the correct form of the verb.

     At the end of the list is the divorced man.

     At the end of the list are divorced men.

     There is one significant reason why men remarry.

     There are many reasons why men remarry.

     However, remember that when you write a sentence that begins

with the word it you must always use the singular form of the main

verb (which usually ends in -s).

     It seems that women have the greatest difficulty remarrying.

     It does not mean that men do not have any problems.

     It appears that men have a greater tendency to avoid         

     commitment than do women.

3. When Two or More Subjects are Joined by Or or Nor

     When two or more subjects in a sentence are joined by or or

nor, the verb form is usually determined by the subject that is

closest to the verb.

     Neither that woman nor her friends are unfulfilled.

     Neither those women nor this one is unfulfilled.

     It is true that a career or children affect a woman's        

     marriageability.

     It is true that children or a career affects a woman's       

     marriageability.

4. When the Subject is a Singular Pronoun

     When used as a subject, the following pronouns are always

considered singular and need verbs with -s endings on them in the

present tense: each, either, neither, every, everybody, everyone,

everything, anybody, anyone, anything, somebody, someone,

something, nobody, no one, nothing.

     Everything contributes to the problem.

     Someone who was abused as a child is likely to victimize his

     or her own children.

     Nobody who deals with the problem has all of the answers.

     In terms of subject-verb agreement, the most troublesome

pronouns on the list above are everybody, everyone, either,

neither, every, and each. Everybody and everyone sound like groups

but grammatically they behave like singular subjects.

     Everybody has to be concerned about family violence.

     Everyone who deals with families sees these problems.

Either, neither, each, and every are always singular subjects

unless they are used with or or nor.

     Neither is going to explode soon.

     Either his sister or his parents are going to explode soon.

     Each family member has control over his/her aggression.

5. When Words Separate a Singular Pronoun Subject from Its Verb

     When a singular pronoun, such as either, neither, each, or 

every is separated from its verb by other words, it is easy to get

confused about the form of the verb. Remember that words that come

between a subject and its verb do not affect the number of the

subject or the form of the verb.

       Either of the parents is going to explode soon.

       Neither parent is in control.

       Each of the family members has to control his or her       

       aggression.

     Each and every cause subject-verb agreement confusion when

they are separated from their verbs by the phrase of them or by two

nouns joined by and.

       Each of them seems to be prone to violence.

       Each of their parents has a repressed personality.

       Every father and mother has to be careful.

     The pronouns some, none, any, and most can be either singular

or plural subjects depending upon the words that follow them.  For

example, some can mean "more than one," in which case the subject

is plural, or it can mean "a part of one," in which case the

subject is singular.

       Some of the families studied commit emotional abuse.

       Some of the problem is caused by television.

       Most of the family members remain silent about it.

       Most of the information comes from their neighbors.

6. When the Subject is a Collective Noun

     A collective noun is the name of a group that usually

functions like a single unit. Some examples include family, class, 

audience, crowd, committee, team, jury, orchestra and group. If you

are referring to the group as a single unit, then the noun is a

singular subject (and needs an -s  ending on its verb).  If you are

referring to the individual members of the group, then the noun is

a plural subject.

     The team of scientists monitors the Milky Way.

     The team of scientists disagree about those stars.

     This group of stars is known as the Andromeda Galaxy.

     That group of stars have separated to form new galaxies.

     There is one collective noun that does function like the

others listed above: the word number. When it is used in the phrase

the number of, it is always a singular subject, and when it is used

in the phrase a number of, it is always a plural subject.

     A number of galaxies are shaped like disks.

     The number of disk-shaped galaxies is growing.

7. When the Subject is a Quantity

     Like collective nouns, words that state a quantity or an

amount usually function like singular subjects, but they can

function like plural subjects when they refer to a part of

something, not the whole thing.  Usually in this case, the quantity

is followed by the word of.  Words of quantity include amounts of

time, money, height, length, width, space, and weight.

     One hundred thousand light years is an extremely long time.

     Three million dollars is the cost of the typical telescope.

     Two-thirds of the galaxies are elliptical in shape.

8. When the Subject Looks Plural But is Singular in

Meaning

     There are many subjects that look plural (in other words, that

end in -s) but are singular in meaning. These include the names of

school subjects--mathematics, linguistics, physics, economics, 

civics--and the names of some diseases--measles, mumps, AIDS, and

herpes. They also include miscellaneous words like politics and

news.

     Physics is the study of vector and scalar quantities.

     Herpes is now impossible to cure.

     The news about spiral galaxies seems unbelievable.

     Mumps makes one's cheeks hurt and causes swelling and fever.

9. When the Subject is a Title

     Even when a title is plural (like The New York Times), it

functions like a singular subject, and it needs an -s ending on its

verb.

     The Hales Observatories tracks comets and meteors.

     Principles of Astronomy explains the rotations of that galaxy.

     One Hundred Thousand Galaxies provides fascinating

     explanations about the content of the universe.

10. When the Subject is a Verbal Phrase

     Sometimes an -ing or to + infinitive verb form is used as a

noun.  A phrase containing one of these forms may appear as the

subject of a sentence.  In these cases, the subject is always

singular.

     Learning how to do something well takes practice and

     determination.

     To see is to believe.

HUNTER COLLEGE READING/WRITING CENTER
GRAMMAR AND MECHANICS
The Verb System: Subject-Verb Agreement

     Subject-verb agreement refers to a change in the form of a

verb depending on its subject. The subject of a verb may be

singular or plural and it may be first-person (I, we) second-person

(you [singular], you [plural]), or third-person (he/she/it, they).

     In English a verb changes form only when its subject is third-

person singular (he/she/it) and only in the present tense. The

following chart illustrates this rule:

           Present                                Past

   singular       plural                singular          plural     

   I walk          We walk             I walked          We walked

   You walk        You walk            You walked        You walked

   He/she walks    They walk           He/She walked     They walked 

   It walks                            It walked         

      The rule for subject-verb agreement is that in the present

tense, a verb with a third-person singular subject must always end

in -s.  As you can see, the past tense form is the same regardless

of its subject.

     A third-person singular subject is any person or thing that

can be replaced with one of the pronouns he, she, or it.

      Nancy Colon [she] is going to lead a march on the           

      White House. The rest of the group [it] will follow         

      her. The rally [it] is scheduled for 1:15 PM. Some          

      marchers [they] may arrive early. They should wait for      

      the rest of the group before raising their placards. In     

      fact, no one [he/she] should raise a placard, sign, or      

      banner until the entire group [it] is assembled on the lawn. 

SPECIAL PROBLEMS IN SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

     There are several sentence constructions that may make it

difficult for you to determine whether the main verb should have an

-s  ending.

1. When Words Separate the Subject from Its Verb

     Words that come between a subject and its verb do not affect

the number (singular or plural) of the subject. You must determine

which word is the sentence's subject and then use it to decide

whether the verb needs an -s  ending.

     The color  of the stage setting seems drab.

     The colors of the stage setting seem drab.

      A computer  with a variety of memory chips serves a special 

      purpose.

      Computers  with a variety of memory chips serve a special   

      purpose.

     Sometimes words that come between a subject and its verb may

contain a complete clause with a subject and verb of its own.  Most

often this will be a relative clause, beginning with who, which,

that or, less often, where or when.  This can be confusing because

it's hard to tell which verb goes with which subject.  Remember, a

subject and verb need only agree when they are in the same clause.

     A woman who has a career and a family has very little time

     for herself.       

     Relative pronouns may be either singular or plural, depending

on what noun they refer to.  Therefore the verb of a relative

clause must agree with the noun that it is referring to.

     A woman who has a career can still be a good mother.

     Women who have careers sometimes wait to have children.

     Be particularly careful editing subject-verb agreement when

the words that separate a singular subject from its verb sound like

they are making the subject plural. These words include expressions

such as in addition to, as well as, including, and together with.

These expressions do not function like the word and. In other

words, they do not make the subject plural even though they sound

like they do.

     A microcomputer, as well as a mainframe, uses silicon chips.

     A microcomputer and a mainframe use silicon chips.

     The processing unit, together with all of its types of memory, 

     forms the heart of the machine.

     The processing unit and the various types of memory form the 

     heart of the machine.

     The memory, including the ROM and RAM, performs the computer's 

     operations.

     The memory unit and the ROM and RAM perform the computer's   

     operations.

2. When the Subject Comes after Its Verb

     In some sentences, you may reverse the order of a subject and

its verb in order to achieve an interesting effect. In other

sentences, you may want to begin with the words There or Here.

These sentence openers move the true subject to a position after

its verb. When you are editing your verbs, make sure that you check

these sentences very carefully to find the subject and to determine

the correct form of the verb.

     At the end of the list is the divorced man.

     At the end of the list are divorced men.

     There is one significant reason why men remarry.

     There are many reasons why men remarry.

     However, remember that when you write a sentence that begins

with the word it you must always use the singular form of the main

verb (which usually ends in -s).

     It seems that women have the greatest difficulty remarrying.

     It does not mean that men do not have any problems.

     It appears that men have a greater tendency to avoid         

     commitment than do women.

3. When Two or More Subjects are Joined by Or or Nor

     When two or more subjects in a sentence are joined by or or

nor, the verb form is usually determined by the subject that is

closest to the verb.

     Neither that woman nor her friends are unfulfilled.

     Neither those women nor this one is unfulfilled.

     It is true that a career or children affect a woman's        

     marriageability.

     It is true that children or a career affects a woman's       

     marriageability.

4. When the Subject is a Singular Pronoun

     When used as a subject, the following pronouns are always

considered singular and need verbs with -s endings on them in the

present tense: each, either, neither, every, everybody, everyone,

everything, anybody, anyone, anything, somebody, someone,

something, nobody, no one, nothing.

     Everything contributes to the problem.

     Someone who was abused as a child is likely to victimize his

     or her own children.

     Nobody who deals with the problem has all of the answers.

     In terms of subject-verb agreement, the most troublesome

pronouns on the list above are everybody, everyone, either,

neither, every, and each. Everybody and everyone sound like groups

but grammatically they behave like singular subjects.

     Everybody has to be concerned about family violence.

     Everyone who deals with families sees these problems.

Either, neither, each, and every are always singular subjects

unless they are used with or or nor.

     Neither is going to explode soon.

     Either his sister or his parents are going to explode soon.

     Each family member has control over his/her aggression.

5. When Words Separate a Singular Pronoun Subject from Its Verb

     When a singular pronoun, such as either, neither, each, or 

every is separated from its verb by other words, it is easy to get

confused about the form of the verb. Remember that words that come

between a subject and its verb do not affect the number of the

subject or the form of the verb.

       Either of the parents is going to explode soon.

       Neither parent is in control.

       Each of the family members has to control his or her       

       aggression.

     Each and every cause subject-verb agreement confusion when

they are separated from their verbs by the phrase of them or by two

nouns joined by and.

       Each of them seems to be prone to violence.

       Each of their parents has a repressed personality.

       Every father and mother has to be careful.

     The pronouns some, none, any, and most can be either singular

or plural subjects depending upon the words that follow them.  For

example, some can mean "more than one," in which case the subject

is plural, or it can mean "a part of one," in which case the

subject is singular.

       Some of the families studied commit emotional abuse.

       Some of the problem is caused by television.

       Most of the family members remain silent about it.

       Most of the information comes from their neighbors.

6. When the Subject is a Collective Noun

     A collective noun is the name of a group that usually

functions like a single unit. Some examples include family, class, 

audience, crowd, committee, team, jury, orchestra and group. If you

are referring to the group as a single unit, then the noun is a

singular subject (and needs an -s  ending on its verb).  If you are

referring to the individual members of the group, then the noun is

a plural subject.

     The team of scientists monitors the Milky Way.

     The team of scientists disagree about those stars.

     This group of stars is known as the Andromeda Galaxy.

     That group of stars have separated to form new galaxies.

     There is one collective noun that does function like the

others listed above: the word number. When it is used in the phrase

the number of, it is always a singular subject, and when it is used

in the phrase a number of, it is always a plural subject.

     A number of galaxies are shaped like disks.

     The number of disk-shaped galaxies is growing.

7. When the Subject is a Quantity

     Like collective nouns, words that state a quantity or an

amount usually function like singular subjects, but they can

function like plural subjects when they refer to a part of

something, not the whole thing.  Usually in this case, the quantity

is followed by the word of.  Words of quantity include amounts of

time, money, height, length, width, space, and weight.

     One hundred thousand light years is an extremely long time.

     Three million dollars is the cost of the typical telescope.

     Two-thirds of the galaxies are elliptical in shape.

8. When the Subject Looks Plural But is Singular in

Meaning

     There are many subjects that look plural (in other words, that

end in -s) but are singular in meaning. These include the names of

school subjects--mathematics, linguistics, physics, economics, 

civics--and the names of some diseases--measles, mumps, AIDS, and

herpes. They also include miscellaneous words like politics and

news.

     Physics is the study of vector and scalar quantities.

     Herpes is now impossible to cure.

     The news about spiral galaxies seems unbelievable.

     Mumps makes one's cheeks hurt and causes swelling and fever.

9. When the Subject is a Title

     Even when a title is plural (like The New York Times), it

functions like a singular subject, and it needs an -s ending on its

verb.

     The Hales Observatories tracks comets and meteors.

     Principles of Astronomy explains the rotations of that galaxy.

     One Hundred Thousand Galaxies provides fascinating

     explanations about the content of the universe.

10. When the Subject is a Verbal Phrase

     Sometimes an -ing or to + infinitive verb form is used as a

noun.  A phrase containing one of these forms may appear as the

subject of a sentence.  In these cases, the subject is always

singular.

     Learning how to do something well takes practice and

     determination.

     To see is to believe.