Exercise 37

Write five sentences which illustrate the correct use of be in the third person singular without an auxiliary, and five which illustrate the correct use of were in the third person singular.

Exercise 38

Choose the preferable form in the following sentences, and be able to give a definite reason for your choice. In some of the sentences either form may be used correctly:

  1. He acts as if it were was possible always to escape death.
  2. If it was were near enough, I should walk.
  3. If I was were only wealthy!
  4. If I were was in his place, I should study medicine.
  5. If you are be right, then the book is wrong.
  6. If he was were I, he would come.
  7. Though he was were very economical, he remained poor.
  8. Though she was were an angel, I should dislike her.
  9. If he be is there, ask him to pay the bill.
  10. If he be is there, he makes no sign of his presence.
  11. If this be is wrong, then all love of country is wrong.
  12. If it rains rain, I stay at school.
  13. Take care lest you are be deceived by appearances.
  14. Would that I was were a bird.
  15. If it snow snows, I can't come.
  16. If your father comes come, bring him to dinner.
  17. If your father was were here, you would act differently.
  18. Though he were was king over all the earth I should despise him.
  19. If he come comes, he will find me at home.
  20. Was were it necessary, I should jump.
  21. If to-morrow be is pleasant, we shall go driving.
  22. If my mother was were here, she would say I might go.
  23. If she was were at home, I did not hear of it.
  24. If that is be his motive, he is unworthy.
  25. Though this seem seems improbable, it is true.
  26. If a speech is be praised by none but literary men, it is bad.
  27. If the father pays pay the debt, he will be released.
  28. Though Mary be is young, she is a writer of note.
  29. Unless he takes take better care of his health, he will die.
  30. If he be is honest, he has not shown it.
  31. If he be is honest, he will insist on paying me.
  32. If he ever tell tells the truth, he conceals the fact.

61. Agreement of Verb with its Subject. The verb should agree with its subject in person and number. The most frequent error is the failure of the verb to agree in number with its subject. Singular subjects are used with plural verbs, and plural subjects with singular verbs. These errors arise chiefly from a misapprehension of the true number of the subject.

The s-form of the verb is the only distinct singular form, and occurs only in the third person, singular, present indicative; as, He runs, she goes, it moves. Is, was, and has are the singular forms of the auxiliaries. Am is used only with a subject in the first person, and is not a source of confusion. The other auxiliaries have no singular forms.

Failure of the verb and its subject to agree in person seldom occurs, and so can cause little confusion.

Examine the following correct forms of agreement of verb and subject:

A barrel of clothes was shipped (not were shipped).