Effective Writing. Elizabeth Manning Murphy
There are other problem words, among them sat: often we hear or read:
She sat her parents in the front row or I was sat behind a post at the concert.
Sat is the past tense and past participle of sit – take care! This is not really a transitive verb. We should not say:
She sat the child in the high chair or He sat the heavy book on the table.
Alternatives could be:
She took her parents to seats in the front row.
I was seated behind a post at the concert.
She put the child in the high chair.
He placed the heavy book on the table.
Keep the parts of verb phrases together as far as possible. It is difficult to read a passage in which the verbs are consistently split. It is thus better to write:
The officer was glancing at the clock surreptitiously and rather anxiously every few minutes.
than to write:
The officer was surreptitiously and rather anxiously glancing at the clock every few minutes.
Verbs must agree with their subjects in person (first, second, third) and number (singular or plural).
I am a manager. (am is first person singular, to agree with I, which is the same)
My pony jumps hurdles. (jumps is third person singular, to agree with my pony, which is the same; most third person singular verbs end in s, whereas third person plural verbs do not – for example: Horses jump hurdles.)
A box of books was delivered today. (was is third person singular to agree with a box, which is the same and is the real subject of the sentence)
The news is bad today. (is is singular to agree with news, which is a singular noun despite its final s)
Toast and marmalade is my favourite breakfast. (is is singular, to agree with the singular compound toast and marmalade)
You have given Tommy two books now. (have given is second person singular or plural to agree with you)
Activity 4c
1 Underline the verbs and say whether they are action or linking verbs:
Frank Jones is the Managing Director of the company.
He directs the work of hundreds of people.
I have read your report, and I think it is excellent.
She is leaving next week and her position has been advertised already.
2 Underline the verbs and say whether they are transitive or intransitive:
The supervisor has read your report and thanks you for your promptness.
The old lady smiled as her daughter opened the car door for her.
When the student was praised for her presentation, she blushed profusely.
He melted the butter in the pan while I almost melted in the hot sun.
3 Underline the verbs and say whether they are active or passive:
The director has approved your application but mine has been rejected.
Dogs must be kept on a lead when they are walked on public land.
Keep your dog on a lead when you walk it on public land.
4 Underline the verbs and say what tense each one is:
The baritone sang an aria from the opera in which he will perform next week.
Her writing improves all the time because she uses a dictionary for spelling problems.
This report was written by James who is now head of the section.
5 Fill in the blanks with the correct past participles of the verbs in brackets:
Channel 2 has (broadcast) the news at 7 pm for years.
Shane Gould had (swim) for Australia before she retired.
I have (lay) the book on the table for you.
If I have (lie) to you, it was only to protect you from the truth.
She has (lie) in bed for long enough; tell her to get up.
We will set off on our picnic as soon as the sun has (rise) .
I think you should have (rid) yourself of that mangy animal long ago.
Have you (ride) your horse lately?
6 Correct any errors of agreement between the verb and its subject:
Neither of the trees will shed their leaves until the autumn.
The company moved into their new office last week.
Bacon and eggs are an appealing breakfast for many people.
Keyboarders should proofread everything they write.
Each of the tomatoes in the crates on the shelves have black spots.
Solutions 4c
1 is (linking); directs (action); have read (action), think (action), is (linking); is leaving (action), has been advertised (action).
2 has read (transitive), thanks (transitive); smiled (intransitive), opened (transitive); was praised (transitive), blushed (intransitive); melted (1) (transitive), melted (2) (intransitive).
3 has approved (active), has been rejected (passive); must be kept (passive), are walked (passive); keep (active), walk (active).
4 sang (past), will perform (future); improves (present), uses (present); was written (past), is (present).
5 broadcast, swum, laid, lied, lain, risen, rid, ridden
6 their → its; their → its; are → is; correct; have → has
4.4 Adjective
Adjectives modify nouns – that is, they give more information about the noun. They are usually placed immediately before the noun, but can be in another part of the sentence:
This is a red rose. (red modifies the noun rose – together they say something about the subject this)
This rose is red. (rose is now the subject of the sentence, but the adjective red still modifies it)
Adjectives have three degrees of comparison – positive (when nothing is being compared), comparative (when two things are being compared) and superlative (when three or more things are being compared). The usual comparative and superlative endings are -er and -est respectively, but many long adjectives take the words more and most respectively in front of the positive form:
Maria is a quick typist. (positive – no comparison involved)
Anna is quicker than Maria, but Jack is the quickest of all. (quicker is comparative – Anna and Maria are the two being compared; quickest is superlative – Jack is being compared with both Anna and Maria)
‘Peace’ is a beautiful rose. (positive)
I think ‘Peace’ is more beautiful than ‘Princess Grace’. (comparative)
‘Woburn Abbey’ is the most beautiful rose in the garden. (superlative)
Some adjectives are irregular in their comparative and superlative formations. Here are a few:
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| good | better | best |
| far | further | furthest |
| ill | worse | worst |
| much | more | most |
| little | less | least |
Some adjectives