We are still on some other forms of subject. The focus today shall be on nominals. By nominals, we mean words or group of words that function in the place of nouns. Examples include the poor, the rich, the helpless, the strong, the weak, the deprived, the less privileged.
For instance, you can say:
1. The poor man ... (it means just one 'particular' man that is poor)
2. The poor ... (without man as above, it means those or people who are poor; i.e. more than one)
The verb that should be used in example (1) is a singular verb: The poor man cries every day.
On the hand in example (2), it is the plural verb that should be used: The poor cry every day.
3. Please note that you can have The poor men, which of course will take the plural verb as in example (2) above.
Other examples similar to example (2) include the rich, the helpless, the strong, the weak, the deprived, the less privileged. Do not forget to use the plural verb with these nominals.
The rich man has a fleet of cars.
The rich have a fleet of cars.
The rich men have a fleet of cars.
Please note that as regards the use of the rich, the helpless, the strong, the weak, the deprived, the less privileged do not be tempted to add 's' in assumption that you want to make it plural. Hence, the poors, the richs, etc will be wrong!
In addition, let's consider two of the nominals above: the deprived, the less privileged. For nominals such as these, always ensure that they end in 'd'. So you should avoid saying: the deprive, the less privilege. Other examples include eagle-eyed, one-legged, ill-mannered.
Practice Exercise
1. We should have a special program for ...... in this country.
A. the disableds
B. disabled
C. the disable
D. the disabled
2. The poor ...... the rich for survival.
A. is needed
B. need
C. needs
D. was needing
3. The hostel mistress is ......
A. eagle-eyes
B. eagle-eying
C. eagle-eyed
D. eagle-eye
4. ..... shelter.
A. The poor does not have
B. The poors do not have
C. The poor do not have
D. Poor do not have
The blogger, Olabanji O. Odurombi, can be contacted on 08037699294 (WhatsApp/SMS/Voice call).
Thank you for reading.
0 Comments