2015-08-21
1922
1. The subject and the predicate must always agree in number, e.g.
The smallest kitten is in the basket, while the others are on the floor.
2. NUMERICAL EXPRESSIONS usually have a single verb, though the plural form is possible, e.g.
Two and three is five.
Twice two is/are four.
3. FORMAL (DUMMY) SUBJECTS “HERE» and “THERE ” always agree with the first member of the enumeration, e.g.:
Here is Tom and Jack.
Here are the Johnsons and Mary.
There is a giraffe and 3 zebras in our Zoo.
There are 3 zebras and a giraffe in our Zoo.
4. Most INDEFINITE, NEGATIVE AND UNIVERSAL PRONOUNS take a singular verb,
 SOMEBODY, SOMEONE, SOMETHING
EVERYBODY, EVERYONE, EVERYTHING NOBODY, NO ONE, NOTHING EITHER, NEITHER, EACH, NONE |
Somebody is asking for you.
Everybody is here.
Nobody has come yet.
Neither of the students has made a mistake.
Each of them is present.
None of these trades requires a college education. (though plural verb is also
possible in Modern English - None of these trades require …)
5. COMPOUND SUBJECTS connected by the conjunction “AND” have a plural verb,
Sun and air are necessary for life.
Both the bread and the butter are fresh.
When the parts of the subject connected by the conjunction “and” form a single unit or when they refer to the same person or thing, they take a singular verb, e.g.
Bread and jamwas usually served for the five o’clock tea.
Sue’s friend and adviserwas surprised by her decision.
6. In the sentences with COMPOUND SUBJECTS connected by the conjunctions
“EITHER … OR”
“NEITHER … NOR”,
“NOR”,
“NOT ONLY … BUT ALSO”
agree with the subject which is nearer to it, e.g.
Not only my sisters but also my brother dislikes ice-cream.
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Not only my brother but also my sisters dis like ice cream.
Neither you nor I am right.
Either my parents or my sister is at home.
Either my sister or my parents are at home.
7. COMPOUND SUBJECTS connected by the conjunctions
| “AS WELL AS “AS MUCH AS “TOGETHER WITH “ALONG WITH “IN ADDITION TO | “MORE THAN “INCLUDING “RATHER THAN “ACCOMPANIED BY |
agrees with the first subject, e.g.
My parents as well as my sister are teachers.
My sister as well as my parents is a teacher.
Heavy rain together with high winds damages the crops.
High winds together with heavy rain damage the crops.
8. COLLECTIVE NOUNS may have either singular or plural verbs depending on whether they denote a group of persons or things as a unit as individuals, e.g.
To some people the Royal Family symbolizes Great Britain. (The family is regarded as a unit)
The Royal Family have different feelings about Lady Diana’s death. (The family is regarded as individuals)
The class respects the teacher.
The class have been debating this question for an hour.
9. When UNITS OF MEASUREMENTS are used collectively, they are followed by a singular verb, e.g.
Three-fourths of the pie has been eaten.
When they refer to individual persons or things, they are followed by a plural verb, e.g.
One fourth of the drivershave been tested.
10. The MAIN WORD IN THE SUBJECT GROUP always agrees with the predicate,
A good set of golf clubs costs about $ 8,000.
Three hundred pounds (taken as a unit) is a big sum of money.
A four-weeks’ holiday was more than I had expected.
11. SINGULAR SUBJECTS THAT HAVE PLURAL FORMS take a singular verb, e.g.
No news is good news.
Aerobics is very popular nowadays.
Mathematics is a difficult subject for some students.
Measles is a dangerous disease.
Drafts is a very simple game.
12. “ THE NUMBER ” is always singular and has the meaning of quantity, while
a number is always plural and has the meaning of several, e.g.
The number of dangerous diseases has increased.
A number of students have missed the lecture.
14. QUOTATIONS usually agree with a singular verb, e.g.
‘Say No to Death’ is a tragic novel.
