Grammar Agreement Questions Long
When using infinitives, there are certain rules for agreement that need to be followed. Infinitives are the base form of a verb, usually preceded by the word "to." Here are the rules for agreement when using infinitives:
1. Subject-Verb Agreement: The infinitive should agree with the subject of the sentence in terms of number and person. If the subject is singular, the infinitive should be singular as well. For example:
- She wants to go to the party. (singular subject and singular infinitive)
- He needs to study for the exam. (singular subject and singular infinitive)
2. Pronoun-Verb Agreement: When an infinitive is used after a pronoun, it should agree with the pronoun in terms of person and number. For example:
- They want to eat dinner. (plural pronoun and plural infinitive)
- I need to finish my homework. (singular pronoun and singular infinitive)
3. Adjective-Infinitive Agreement: When an adjective is used before an infinitive, it should agree with the noun it modifies in terms of number and gender. For example:
- It is important to eat healthy food. (singular adjective and singular infinitive)
- They are happy to see their friends. (plural adjective and plural infinitive)
4. Noun-Infinitive Agreement: When a noun is used before an infinitive, it should agree with the noun in terms of number and gender. For example:
- The students want to learn new skills. (plural noun and plural infinitive)
- The child needs to sleep early. (singular noun and singular infinitive)
5. Verb-Infinitive Agreement: When using multiple verbs in a sentence, the infinitive should agree with the main verb in terms of tense and mood. For example:
- She hopes to travel next summer. (main verb "hopes" in present tense, infinitive "to travel" in present tense)
- They wanted to go to the beach yesterday. (main verb "wanted" in past tense, infinitive "to go" in past tense)
It is important to note that in English, infinitives do not change their form based on the subject or tense. They remain in their base form regardless of the subject or tense of the sentence. However, they can be modified by adverbs or other words to indicate time, manner, or purpose.
Overall, these rules for agreement when using infinitives ensure that the verb form remains consistent and coherent with the rest of the sentence, maintaining grammatical accuracy and clarity.