English Grammar Demystified - A Self Teaching Guide

3. It (seems/seem) unfi nished with no plaster in most of the rooms and no
   main staircase.


4. People (grows/grew) tired of seeing Mrs. Adams’s laundry hung in the East
   Room.


5. The White House grounds (smell/smells) foul.


6. The grounds (was/were) littered with workers’ shanties, stagnant water, and
   outhouses.


7. Today, the White House fl owers (is/are) perfect.


8. The rooms (remain/remains) colorful and neat.


9. Visitors (seem/seems) delighted with their tour.
   10. Our group (were/was) silent as the President approached.

As you work with linking verbs, you’ll note that the past tense is easier to achieve
than the present. In the present tense, the verb endings change. For example:

Present Time, Singular, and Plural

Iseem taller than Jan.

Yo u seem taller, also.

Jethro (He) seems tired after all that yard work.

Betsy (She) seems to have less back pain.

Their cat (It) seems unable to sleep alone.

Who seems the smartest in the group?

Marcel and I (We) seem rested after our vacation.

You and David (You) seem exhausted from your schedule.

Aidan and Elias (They) seem able to go without sleep.

Past Time, Singular, and Plural

Iseemed taller than Jan.

Yo u seemed taller, also.

CHAPTER 2 Introduction to the Parts of Speech^33