Page 91 - Improve_Your_Written_English [Marion_Field]
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I M PR OV IN G Y OUR S TY LE / 77



        there is more than one finite verb, there are two clauses and
        these should either be separated by a full stop or semi-colon
        or linked by a conjunction. There are three clauses in the
        following piece but they are not linked:


            He crept round the corner she followed him she was
            very suspicious.


        There are several ways in which this could be corrected:

            As he crept round the corner, she followed him; she was
            very suspicious.

            He crept round the corner; she followed him because
            she was very suspicious.

            As he crept round the corner, she followed him because
            she was very suspicious.


        Checking the correct use of verbs
        Always make sure that the nouns and the verbs ‘agree’. If
        the noun is singular, the verb should also be singular.


              Collective nouns are singular and are followed
                     by the singular form of the verb.

            The government is hoping to win the vote of confidence.

            not

            The government are hoping to win the vote of
            confidence.
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