Chapter 3

A. Agreement of the Verb with Its Subject

• • Basic Rule: A verb must strictly agree with its subject in number and person. A singular subject requires a singular verb, while a plural subject requires a plural verb.
• • Subjects Joined by 'And': Normally require a plural verb.
  Exceptions: If the two subjects refer to the exact same person/thing, or if they represent a single unified idea (like "rice and curry"), a singular verb is used.
• • Usage of 'Each' and 'Every': When two singular nouns joined by 'and' are preceded by 'each' or 'every', the verb must be singular.
• • Connecting with 'Or' / 'Nor': Singular subjects connected by 'or', 'nor', 'either...or', or 'neither...nor' take a singular verb.
  Exception: If the subjects differ in number or person, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
• • Modifying Phrases: A singular subject followed by phrases like 'as well as', 'together with', 'in addition to', 'including', or 'with' remains singular and takes a singular verb.
• • Indefinite Pronouns: Words such as 'anybody', 'anyone', 'each', 'everybody', 'neither', 'nobody', and 'many a' generally require a singular verb.
• • Relative Pronouns: When the subject is a relative pronoun, the verb agrees with the pronoun's antecedent.
• • Collective Nouns: Take a singular verb when the group is considered as a single unit, but a plural verb when the members are considered individually.
• • Plural Forms with Singular Meanings: Nouns that indicate a specific unit/sum (like time, money, distance) or subjects that end in 's' but are singular in meaning (like physics, news, mathematics) take a singular verb.
• • Errors of Proximity: Writers must ensure the verb agrees with its true subject, avoiding the common mistake of making it agree with a noun placed directly next to it in a phrase.

B. Subject Matter and Its Organisation

A good composition relies on three critical elements: generating good ideas, organizing them logically, and expressing them effectively. The following planning techniques are recommended to help ideas flow seamlessly:

• ➤ The 'Wh' Plan: Ask a series of questions—Where, When, Why, How, Who, and What—to stimulate thoughts about a topic and gather diverse points.
• ➤ Knowledge Categories (Web) Plan: Organize scattered ideas visually. Place the main topic in the center and draw branching paths outward to represent major categories and supporting points to structure the essay logically.
• ➤ 'Sight - Sound - Touch' Plan: Highly useful for descriptive essays. Writers should analyze their topic through the lens of human senses—sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste—to extract vivid, descriptive details.

C. Formal Letters

Formal letters address official subjects such as enquiries, complaints, requests, and bookings. They must avoid personal or intimate language and prioritize a business-like tone.

• ✔ Layout Components: Must include the writer’s address and date, recipient’s address, a formal greeting (e.g., 'Dear Sir' or 'Dear Madam'), body paragraphs, a concluding sentence, a formal subscription ('Yours faithfully'), and the sender's full signature.
• ✔ Brevity and Clarity: Letters must be concise and straight to the point. All necessary information should be provided clearly to avoid unnecessary follow-up correspondence.
• ✔ Politeness: The expression should always remain courteous, even when lodging a severe complaint.
• ✔ Initial Reference: The opening sentence should immediately reference any previous communications, if applicable, to establish context quickly.

D. Practice Paper - 3

A comprehensive evaluation section testing writing and comprehension skills:

• ▸ Composition Writing: Prompts require writing a 300-350 word essay. Options include an original narrative story, a descriptive account of a personal challenge, an argumentative piece on teenage competition, a descriptive chance encounter, or a picture-based composition.
• ▸ Letter Writing: Tasks include drafting a formal letter requesting permission to visit a newly excavated historical site, or an informal letter congratulating a grandfather on his retirement.
• ▸ Notice and Email Writing: Drafting a school notice board announcement regarding a Mock Parliament session and sending a corresponding email invitation to a local Member of Parliament.
• ▸ Reading Comprehension: A detailed passage detailing the historical trade of cinnamon. It covers early Arab trade myths, the status symbol of the spice in Roman times, the aggressive monopolies established by the Portuguese and Dutch, and the subsequent exploitation of the Salagama community in Sri Lanka.
• ▸ Grammar Exercises: Includes filling in blanks with the correct verb forms, applying appropriate prepositions, joining sentences without using specific conjunctions (like 'and', 'but', or 'so'), and rewriting sentences accurately according to specific grammatical instructions.