EXERCISE 30. Write the correct form of the given verb. Use only the SIMPLE PRESENT
1. My alarm clock rings at seven every morning, (ring)
2. There are a lot of sheep in the field, (be)
3. One of my friends __________ a goldfish bowl on her kitchen table, (keep)
4. Sensitivity to other people's feelings _________________him a kind and understanding person, (make)
5. Each penny, nickel, dime, and quarter _______ counted carefully by the bank teller, (be)
6. My driver's license ______________ in my wallet, (be)
7. ______________ John's uncle live in the suburbs? (do)
8. ______________ most of the students live in the dormitories? (do)
9. An orange and black bird _____________________ sitting in that tree, (be)
10. An orange bird and a black bird ________________ sitting in that tree, (be)
11. The insurance rates on our car __________high because we live in a city.(be)
12. _____________ January and February the coldest months of the year? (be)
13. Almost two-thirds of the land in the southwestern areas of the country _______ unsuitable for farming, (be)
14. The economic and cultural center of the United States _____New York City, (be)
15. Two hours of skiing ______________________ plenty of exercise. (provide)
16. In many respects, this magazine article on wild animals in North America ___________________ the very real danger of extinction that many species face, (oversimplify)
17. A car with poor brakes and no brake lights ____________ dangerous, (be)
18. A number of people from the company _______ to attend the conference. (plan)
19. Most of the news on the front pages of both daily newspapers_________ the progress of the peace conference, (concern)
20. The northernmost town in the forty-eight contiguous states _____ Angle Inlet, Minnesota, (be)
21. The number of human skeletons found at the archaeological site_____ seven, (be)
22. Almost all the information in those texts on the Aztec Indians and their civilization _____________ to be well researched, (appear)
23. Every day there _____ more than a dozen traffic accidents in the city, (be)
24 No news _____________ good news, (be)
25. Every member of this class ________________ English very well, (speak)
EXERCISE 31. Complete the following sentences with your own words. Use only present tenses.
Examples: One of my . . . teachers knows Chinese.
Some of my . . . friends are coming to visit me.
1. All of the rooms in ....
2. In my country, there ....
3. A lot of . ...
4. The people in my country ....
5. The number of students ....
6. A number of students ....
7. Each of ....
8. The United States ....
9. The English language ....
10. The English ....
11. English ....
12. One of my ....
13. Most of the food ....
14. Most of my classmates ....
15. Linguistics ....
16. Linguists ....
PERSONAL PRONOUNS:
AGREEMENT WITH NOUNS
| (a) A student walked into the room. She was looking for the teacher, (b) A student walked into the room. He was looking for the teacher. (c) Some students walked into the room. They were looking for the teacher. | A singular pronoun is used to refer to a singular noun, as in (a) and (b). A plural pronoun is used to refer to a plural noun, as in (c). |
| (d) A student should always do his assignments. (e) A student should always do his/her assignments. A student should always do his or her assignments. | With a "generic noun"* (e.g, in (d): a student = anyone who is a student) a singular masculine pronoun has been used traditionally, but many English speakers now use both masculine and feminine pronouns, as in (e). |
*A generic noun does not refer to any person or thing in particular; rather, it represents a whole group.
PERSONAL PRONOUNS:
AGREEMENT WITH INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
| The following are indefinite pronouns: everyone someone anyone no one everybody somebody anybody nobody everything something anything nothing | |
| (f) Somebody left his book on the desk. (g)Everyone has his or her own ideas. (h) INFORMAL: Somebody left their book on the desk. Everyone has their own ideas. | A singular personal pronoun is used in formal English to refer to an indefinite pronoun, as in (f) and (g). In everyday informal English, a plural personal pronoun is often used to refer to an indefinite pronoun, as in (h). |
EXERCISE 32. Complete the sentences with pronouns. In some of the blanks there is more than one possibility. Choose the appropriate singular or plural verb in parentheses where necessary.
1. When a student wants to study, she/he; he or she; he should try to find a quiet place.*
*Notice in 1 through 4: The problem of masculine/feminine pronouns can be avoided if a plural instead of singular generic noun is used.
2. A citizen has two primary responsibilities ______________ should vote in every election, and _____________ should willingly serve on a jury.
3. Each student in Biology 101 has to spend three hours per week in the laboratory, where _____________ (does, do) various experiments by following the directions in _____________ lab manual.
4. A pharmacist fills prescriptions, but _____________ (is, are) not allowed to prescribe medicine. By law, only a doctor can prescribe medicine.
5. Anyone can learn how to dance if __________________ (wants, want) to.
6. Hmmm. Someone forgot _____________ umbrella. I wonder whose it is.
7. Everyone who came to the picnic brought ________________ own food.
8. A: Is that your notebook?
B: No. It belongs to one of the other students.
A: Look on the inside cover. Did ______ write ________ name there?
9. A dog makes a good pet if _________________ (is, are) properly trained.
10. Tom's cat is named Maybelle Alice ______________ is very independent. _____________ obeys Tom only if _____________ feels like it.*
*If the sex of a particular animal is known, usually she or he is used instead of it
PERSONAL PRONOUNS: