by R. S. Karunaratne

Subject - verb agreement in negative statements

The negative of most verbs is formed by adding ‘doesn’t’ or ‘don’t’ before them. We add ‘doesn’t’ for singular subjects.

Nita doesn’t listen to her parents.
Amara doesn’t have a microwave oven.
Laksiri doesn’t work hard.
Kalyani doesn’t know whether she is coming or going.
Kelum doesn’t drive his car.

We add ‘don’t’ before the verb when the subject is plural or when we use personal pronouns such as ‘I’, ‘you’ and ‘we’.

His parents don’t like me.
I don’t waste time watching cartoon films.
Students don’t know where the Taj Mahal is.

We don’t advertise our courses.

You don’t look like a beggar!

We add ‘didn’t’ before the verb for both singular and plural subjects.

Harris didn’t work as a journalist.

You didn’t write the essay, did you?

He didn’t quarrel with others when the teacher was away.

Mary didn’t give me her photograph.

They didn’t wait for dinner.

We form the negative of ‘be’ verbs by changing them to ‘isn’t’ or ‘aren’t’. For a singular subject we use ‘isn’t’.

Anne isn’t jealous of others.

Joseph isn’t his name.

Namasivayam isn’t a lawyer.

Surangi isn’t the most beautiful girl in the class.

Aruni isn’t interested in journalism.

For plural subjects we use ‘aren’t’ to form the negative.

You aren’t responsible for the damage.

We aren’t ready to leave for India.

We aren’t rich enough to buy a car.

His parents aren’t ready to pay for extra classes.

They aren’t joining our company.

When the subject is ‘I’ we add ‘I am not’ or ‘I’m not’ to form the negative.

I’m not a robber but a policeman!

I’m not satisfied with your explanation.

I’m not willing to be away from you.

I am not ready to accept ‘no’ for an answer.

I’m not lucky to win a prize.

‘Wasn’t’ is the negative form of the ‘be’ verb in the past tense.

I wasn’t invited for the house-warming ceremony.

She wasn’t the only child in her family.

Mallika wasn’t a beauty queen.

The dog wasn’t trained by me.

Nethmi wasn’t old enough to learn driving.

He wasn’t interested in art.

‘Weren’t’ is the negative form of the ‘be’ verb in the past tense.

The robbers weren’t arrested by the police.

The bhikkhus weren’t at the temple.

The newspapers weren’t delivered last Sunday.

The elephants weren’t following me.

When two subjects are joined by ‘neither...nor’ we use a singular verb if both subjects are singular.

Neither Ruberu nor Banda is in the room.

Neither my brother nor my sister wants to learn driving.

Neither Kamala nor Renu wants to participate in the exhibition.

Neither Kolonna nor Ranala is thickly populated.

Neither the dog nor the cat was at home.

When two plural subjects are joined together by neither... or’ we use a plural verb.

Neither the teachers nor the students want to participate in the protest rally.

Neither shops nor schools were open on Poya Day.

Neither dogs nor cats are reptiles.

[Activity]

Indicate whether the following sentences are right or wrong. Check your answers with the key.

1. She don’t have a job.
2. Kamala doesn’t know English.
3. The art exhibition aren’t open today.
4. Lal have joined a new company.
5. Marina isn’t interested in politics.
6. The students wasn’t playing cricket.
7. The Government isn’t unpopular.
8. I are not a doctor.
9. The Indians doesn’t know Sinhala.
10. The highway isn’t ready for use.

Key:

1. Wrong 2. Right 3. Wrong 4. Wrong 5. Right 6. Wrong 7. Right 8. Wrong 9. Wrong 10. Right

Make it a point to learn at least ten new words a day so that you will be able to use the language effectively. Do the following quiz and gauge your vocabulary. Check your answers with the key.

1. Some students are so obtuse that they are not interested in learning anything new.

(a) slow to understand
(b) stubborn
(c) intelligent

2. Most new employees left the company because of one officious manager.

(a) trustworthy
(b) helpful
(c) meddlesome

3. Most novelists use the omniscient view to narrate the story.

(a) popular
(b) knowing all things
(c) regular

4. The Army Commander did not tolerate the pusillanimous performance of his soldiers.

(a) cowardly
(b) brave
(c) striking

5. The professor of law was frequently called to serve as amicus curiae.

(a) prosecution lawyer
(b) defence lawyer
(c) a friend of the court

6. During the riots many people resorted to arson.

(a) helping the needy
(b) setting fire to property
(c) ignoring the rivals

7. The government called upon a senior barrister to defend the accused.

(a) lawyer in England
(b) judge
(c) law lecturer

Key:

1. (a) 2. (c) 3. (b) 4. (a) 5. (c) 6. (b) 7. (a)

Starters :

How to report what you hear

When reporting something we have heard, we use “He said that...” or “He told me that ...”. In grammar we call this reported speech or indirect speech.

We use a verb in the past tense after “He said that...”, or “He told me that...”.

Direct: He said, “I am hungry.”

Indirect: He said that he was hungry.

Direct: (They said to us) “The college isn’t very good.”

Indirect: They told us that the college wasn’t very good.

Direct: I said, “The school is open.”

Indirect: I said that the school was open.

Direct: (I said to him) “I’ve washed my clothes.”

Indirect: I told him that I had washed my clothes.

Direct: Mary said, “I can’t follow this course.”

Indirect: Mary said that she couldn’t follow that course.

Direct: (My parents said to me) “You will pass the examination.”

Indirect: My parents told me that I would pass the examination.

Direct: (He said) “I don’t mind.”

Indirect: He said that he didn’t mind.

Direct: She said, “I don’t know your name.”

Indirect: She said that she didn’t know my name.

Direct: Anne said, “I love dogs.”

Indirect: Anne said that she loved dogs.

Direct: Padma said, “I often go to the library.”

Indirect: Padma said she often went to the library.

Note: In reported or indirect speech we do not use inverted commas.

The word “that” after “said” can be omitted. In most newspapers it is not used to save space.

He said he was hungry.

Namali said she married a foreigner.

Hasanthi said she failed the examination.

The minister said he would fight against the imperialists.

[Activity]

Put in “say / said” or “tell / told” in the blanks and check your answers with the key.

1. Gayani .............. that she was thirsty.
2. Xaviour ............... me that he was an engineer.
3. I ................ her that I was in a hurry.
4. Janet ............... me that you were busy.
5. Rasika ............. she didn’t like Raju.
6. Did the principal ................ that he would be late.
7. I didn’t ................ him anything about you.
8. The stranger ................. us that he was from the press.
9. The young man ................ he was a trainee journalist.
10. Did she .............. you her name?

1. said 2. told 3. told 4. told 5. said 6. say 7. tell 8. told 9. said 10. tell

Fun with proverbs

Here is a list of common proverbs. However, they are jumbled. For the first part of the proverbs in column ‘A’ find the other part in column ‘B’. Check your answers with the key.

[Column A]

1. If the cap fits...
2. Too many cooks ...
3. When the cat is away ...
4. Charity begins ...
5. Cowards die many times ...
6. No cross, ...
7. Discretion is the ...
8. Give the devil ...
9. Let sleeping dogs ...
10. Barking dogs ...
11. Every dog ...
12. Old dogs bark ...
13. Coming events ...
14. Example is ...
15. Do not keep all your ...
16. Fire is a good servant ...
17. Fortune favours ...
18. Stolen fruit ...
19. Familiarity ...
20. Fools rush in ...

[Column B]

A. at home.
B. before their deaths.
C. better part of valour.
D. where angels fear to tread.
E. eggs in one basket.
F. breeds contempt.
G. has his day.
H. his due.
I. better than precept.
J. the brave.
K. but a bad master.
L. lie.
M. not for nothing.
N. no crown.
O. is sweetest.
P. seldom bite.
Q. cast their shadows before.
R. the mice are at play.
S. spoil the broth.
T. wear it.

Key:

1. T 2. S 3. R 4. A 5. B 6. N 7. C 8. H 9. L 10. P 11. G 12. M 13. Q 14. I 15. E 16. K 17J 18. O 19. F 20. D

Match the synonyms

Synonyms are words having similar meanings. Match the words in column A with the synonyms in column B. Check your answers with the key.

[Column A]

1. Adjust
2. Administer
3. Admirable
4. Admire
. Admission
6. Admit
7. Adore
8. Adorn
9. Adroit
10. Adult
11. Advance
12. Advantage
13. Adventure
14. Adversary
15. Adverse
16. Advice
17. Advisable
18. Advocate
19. Affection
20. Affinity

[Column B]

A. adapt
B. beautify
C. control
D. clever
E. entrance
F. fondness
G. likeness
H. hostile
I. support
J. accept
K. counsel
L. commendable
M. like
N. mature
O. love
P. progress
Q. opponent
R. asset
S. prudent
T. escapade

Key:

1. A 2. C 3. L 4. M 5. E 6. J 7. O 8. B 9. D 10. N 11. P 12. R 13. T 14. Q 15. H 16. K 17. S 18. I 19. F 20. G