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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Singular noun and plural verb??

In instances like: "Sylvia will hear us" or "Sylvia did not hear us"
Sylvia is a singular noun (one person) but hear is a plural verb.

I thought when there is a singular noun, a singular verb should follows
E.g: "Sylvia will hears us" and "Sylvia did not hears us" respectively

Which is correct and why is this so?

Thanks for the help! =)
  

Top answer

Hi, In instances like: "Sylvia will hear us" or "Sylvia did not hear us", 'hear' is the infinitive form of the verb. The infinitive is used with auxiliary verbs (eg did, will). eg The man cooked dinner eg The man did not cook dinner.

— Clive

  • Hi, In instances like: "Sylvia will hear us" or "Sylvia did not hear us", 'hear' is the infinitive form of the verb.
  • The infinitive is used with auxiliary verbs (eg did, will).
  • eg The man cooked dinner eg The man did not cook dinner.
  • Clive
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3 Answers
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Hi,

In instances like: "Sylvia will hear us" or "Sylvia did not hear us",
'hear' is the infinitive form of the verb.
The infinitive is used with auxiliary verbs (eg did, will).
eg The man cooked din
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Clive The infinitive is used with auxiliary verbs (eg did, will).
I'd just add this rider:

The infinitive form of the verb is used with modal auxiliaries and dummy do, but not with the non-modal auxiliaries have and be.

The man has cooked dinner. ~ The man has not cooked dinn
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Hi,

I'll make it simple. I hope it helps.
If we use one of these in a sentence.

"do, does, did, will, would, can, could, shall, should, may, might and their negatives (not)" + Verb base form.

e.g
Sylvia will hear us.
Sylvia did not hear us.
Sylvia can hear us.

Thanks!

MC
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