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LESSON 142.
CONSTRUCTION OF NUMBER AND PERSON FORMS.
AGREEMENT.—VERBS—PRONOUNS.
+Caution+.—A verb must agree with its subject in number and person.
+Remarks+.—Practically, this rule applies to but few forms. +Are+ and +were+ are the only plural forms retained by the English verb. In the common style, most verbs have one person form, made by adding +s+ or +es+ (has, in the present perfect tense, is a contraction of the indicative present—ha(ve)s). The verb be has +am+ (first person) and +is+ (third person).
In the solemn style, the second person singular takes the ending +est+, +st+, or +t+, and, in the indicative present, the third person singular adds +eth+. (See Lessons 134 and 135.)
Need and dare, when followed by an infinitive without to, are generally used instead of needs and dares; as, He need not do it; He dare not do it.
+Caution+.—A collective noun requires a verb in the plural when the individuals in the collection are thought of; but, when the collection as a whole is thought of, the verb should be singular.
+Examples+.—
l. The multitude were of one mind.
2. The multitude was too large to number.
3. A number were inclined to turn back,
4. The number present was not ascertained.