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GRAMMAR CLUB
The aim of this section is to give students good support in some grammar points so that they become aware of their correct use. More often than not, students feel insecure about which structures they should use or how to use them and this may lead them to formulate grammatically incorrect sentences. In most cases, such wrong sentences may even result in a breakdown in communication. Therefore, we hope that, by providing learners with useful tips illustrated with catchy sentences, they realize the importance of an adequate use of the system in order to achieve a mastery of the language.
SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT
1. Uncountable nouns
Uncountable nouns, no matter if they are abstract or concrete, do not take a plural form. So, they are always followed by a singular verb. For example:
Science has shown us what works. (news)
Exercise is a great thing. (news)
However, some uncountable nouns can become countable and, in that case; they might take a plural verb. These types of nouns fall into two categories:
1.1) Dual class membership
It refers to nouns which can be countable or uncountable but the meaning of these nouns changes considerably. These nouns are usually connected with food, drink and material. For example:
It is quite clear that “hot tea,” as they call it with unintended irony, is a minority taste. (It refers to a substance)
Other teas are disguised under such flavours as cinnamon.... (It refers to a type of tea)
1.2) Reclassification
This second category also involves a change from uncountable to countable meaning. The countable noun is regarded as “a type of.”
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