Exercise 14. Point out the subject and the predicate

1. On her going to his house to thank him, he happened to see her through a window. (Dickens) 2. To describe one's character is difficult and not necessarily illuminating. (Murdoch) 3. The three on the sofa rise and chat with Hawkins. (Shaw) 4. Nothing seemed to matter. (London) 5. To be wanted is always good. (Stone) 6. Seeing you there will open up a new world. (Murdoch)!. Thereafter I read everything on the subject. I came to know many Negroes, men and women. (Buck) 8. Elaine, this Jll-advised behaviour of yours is beginning to have results. (Erskine) 9. Presently all, was silent. They must have gone through the service doors into the kitchen quarters. (Du Maurier) 10. The citizens of occupied countries were to be subjugated individually. (Wescoit) 11. It was all wrong this situation. It ought not to be happening at all. (Du Maurier) 12. My way is not theirs, it is no use trying to run away from them. (Lindsay) 13. No one got the better of her, never, never. (Du Maurier) 14. Lewisham stopped dead at the corner, staring in blank astonishment after these two figures. (Wells) 15.... We and all the people have been waiting patient for many an hour. (Jerome K. Jerome) 16, One cannot help admiring the fellow. (Dickens) 17. Then he [Tom] gave a low distinct whistle. It was answered from under the bluff. (Twain) 18. The girl [Aileen] was really beautiful and much above the average intelligence and force. (Dreiser) 19. This religion did give promise of creating a new society. There all men could be equally valuable as human beings. (Buck) 20. We must begin here and now to show. Thus we might prove our difference from those white men. (Buck)

Exercise 15. Explain why the predicate — verb is used in the singular or in the plural.

1. The family

Were

still at table, but they had finished breakfast. (Twain) 2. There

Was

a crowd of soldiers along the fence in the infield. (Hemingway) 3.... the band

Was