1.
Clauses and phrase count as singular.
How you got there doesn't concern me.
To treat them as hostages is criminal.
Before lunch is considered the best time for the editorial staff to meet.
Writing country songs is Tony's ambition.
Creating investing opportunities is her top priority.
Reaching for my suitcase and finding it gone was heartbreaking. (The idea of the subject is singular.)
***What I say and what I think are my own affair.
Being too trusting and carrying too much cash always get you in trouble. (the idea is plural.)
***
nominal relative clauses (their number depends on the interpretation of the
number of the wh-element.)
What is needed is rules we can understand.
What we get is six incomprehensible ones.
Rules we can understand is what is needed.
What were supposed to be new proposals were in fact modifications of earlier ones.
What was once a palace is now a pile of rubble.
Whatever book the Times praises sells well.
What ideas he has are his wife's.
Votes are what counts in elections. (that which
counts)
Collective Nouns: treated as singular when the group is being considered as a single undivided body
You need to treat it as plural when the group is being considered as a collection of individuals
a) If the action of the collective noun is performed by the group as a whole, acting as a unit, the verb is singular.
The anti-crime committee makes its report tomorrow.
Stewart, Burgess, Morris & George (a law firm) has announced a new policy.
b) If the members of the group are reported as acting separately, the collective noun subject takes a plural verb.
The committee have returned to their homes.
Since the plural verb in sentences like this may sound awkward, it is often best to make the sentence read: The committee members or members of the committee have returned.
c) If the collective noun names a group of persons among whom there has been a difference of opinion or action, the noun requires a plural verb. This is merely another application of rule b) above, since the members of the group are regarded as acting separately instead of in unison.
The jury have failed to agree on a verdict.
Here again it may be better to say: The members of the jury have failed.
To decide whether to use a singular verb or a plural verb in such sentences, test your subject and decide what idea it conveys. If the subject refers definitely to a number of individuals acting as a single unit, a singular verb is required. If the persons who make up the group named in the subject are acting individually, the plural verb is the correct one to use.
The administration has announced its plans for stimulating the economy.
America has won the cup.
The public has a right to know.
AP style book p. 44.
A thousand bushels is a good yield. (a unit)
A thousand bushels were created. (individual items)
The data is sound. (a unit)
The data have been carefully collected. (individual items)
The jury was unanimous. The jury were split.
The jury were polled on the split verdict.
The mayor's family is present for the ceremony. (acting as one group.)
The mayor's family are arriving throughout the weekend. (several individuals)
The committee is qualified to decide.
The committee are not all qualified to decide.
One
person with two roles or two different people
The student editor and the principal discuss school issues.
(Editor by itself is a singular person, and the same is true for principal.)
The secretary and treasurer is absent. (one person)
The secretary and the treasurer are absent. (two persons.)
The producer and director is preparing the news special.
(The same person is both the producer and director of the program.) (If they are different, it should be the director and the producer.)
Inverted sentences: Look at the real subject.
Here come the editor and her assistant.
There are two meetings to be covered before the final deadline.
Making the most money from the blizzard alert were the supermarkets and the grocery stores.
Beyond those buildings (is, are) a skating rink.
Which of the reports (has, have) she read?
Through the lecture are shown interesting views of
New England.
Among the fundamental rights we cherish is freedom of
speech.
There (was, were) the missing set of car keys.
Confusing Subjects: False
subjects:
Look at the core part of subjects.
Predicate
nouns have no influence on the verb.
Video display terminals are my favorite invention.
My favorite invention is video display terminals.
The series of documentaries is being produced by a
public broadcasting station.
The rate of homicides is climbing.
I'm all ears. (I am listening with all my attention.)
As a measurement unit:
(money, time, distance,
Five thousand dollars is the minimum bid for the foreclosed property.
Two million dollars is more than the city budget can afford to allot to renovate the civic center.
Three minutes is considered a long time.
Five hours is needed to complete the outline. (Five hours is the time needed.)
Eight years of college work has resulted in his earning a Ph.D.
Twenty-six miles, 385 yards is the traditional distance for the marathon.
Attorneys is a word.
"Simple Explanations for Common Writing and Editing Problems" is the title of a book.
The United Auto Workers is standing firm on its contract demands. (the United States)
Ten times five is fifty.
A year and a half has passed. (A period of a year and a half.)
*** One and a half years have passed since we last met.
Seven bright pennies were exposed on the grubby palm, but seven pennies was not enough for a candy bar.
Five boys are enrolled for soccer.
Five boys is not enough even for a scrub game. (Maybe are can be used.)
If
the members or parts of a compound subject are considered one item, one unit or
one substance, use a singular verb.
The sense of a compound subject with the connective and is singular, and the writer may use a singular verb.
The hammer and sickle was flying from the flagpole.
Bacon and eggs is a favorite American breakfast.
A trip to Bermuda and a thousand dollars was the first prize in the beauty contest.
Bread and butter makes a tasty snack.
The satisfaction and enjoyment of the work was ample reward for the effort.
Vinegar and oil is a popular salad dressing.
Liver and onions is a meal people either love or hate. (They are not served and eaten separately.)
Grits and sausage is a dish I associate with my college roommate.
** Tennis and golf provide good exercise.
Fishing and hunting are excellent sports.
Parenthetical Elements
When
the first part of a compound subject is used affirmatively and the second is
used negatively or with an adverbial, the verb agrees with the one used
affirmatively.
A writer, and sometimes an artist, is invited to address the society.
The ambassador--and perhaps his wife too--is likely to be present.
John, and his parents, was at the zoo yesterday.
(John (and his parents) was at the zoo yesterday.
John--and his parents-- was at the zoo yesterday.
The Roman Empire, and subsequent empires, was eventually destroyed.
The Roman Empire, like subsequent empires, was eventually destroyed.
John as well as his parents was entranced by the monkeys.
The mayor, never his assistants, appears before the television cameras.
His assistants, never the mayor, appear before the television cameras.
I told the editor that Elizabeth, not I, is responsible for persuading the governor to release the information.
I told the editor that I, not Elizabeth, am responsible for persuading the governor to release the information.
Don't
be confused by words that separate the subject from the verb. Some that create
singular-plural confusion include accompanied by, as well as, in addition to,
including, of, for, not to mention, together with, along with, in addition to,
relative pronouns.
The police chief, along with three of his assistants, visits several schools.
The tax resolution, together with its amendments, has been sent to the president for signature.
Dr. Orlando E. Francisco, who have been kind to many people, is retiring at the end of the term.
The foreign aid appropriation, as well as two anti-nuclear bills, was sent to the subcommittee.
The fitness center, along with many theaters, was demolished.
One speaker after another was complaining the lack of adequate sanitation.
Nobody, not even the teachers, was listening.
If
two subjects are joined by the correlative conjunctions or, either/or,
neither/nor, or not only -- but also, the verb agrees with the nearer subject.
The records or the stereo has to go.
The bellboys or the taxi driver was probably involved.
The taxi driver or the bell boys were probably involved.
The bellboy or the taxi driver, who were both right here, was probably involved. (The verb in a relative clause can be plural even when the relative pronoun refers to two or more singular subjects joined by or. This sentence is awkward and need to be rewritten.)
Either the mayors or the governor is expected to give the keynote address.
Neither the mayors nor the governor wants to raise taxes.
Not only children but his mother has arrived.
Not just students but even their teacher is enjoying the film.
Not (only) one but all of us were invited.
PRONOUN
If
compound subjects are preceded by each or every, use a singular verb. But, if
each follows a compound subject, it has no influence on the number of the verb.
Each camera and each lens was inspected by the chief photographer.
The 5 p.m. news program anchor and the 6 p.m. news anchor each have separate reporting staffs.
Every reporter and every editor was given a pay raise.
Each suitcase and briefcase has to be checked.
Every tourist and business traveler has had similar experiences.
Every boy and girl is to bring his or her own lunch.
The reporters and the editors each were given a pay raise.
Each of the wines has its special personality.
Use
a singular verb when the subject is one of the following indefinite pronouns
that are always singular.
(anybody,
each, everyone, neither, nothing, something, anyone, either, everything,
nobody, somebody, such, anything, everybody, much, no one, someone)
Any one of the three applicants you want to hire is all right with me.
Each of us is applying for the job.
Neither of the applicants has a job.
Much has been said about the economy.
Every jar of pickles was spoiled.
Neither choice seems very attractive.
Both,
several, few and many are considered plural.
Both of the problems are hard to solve.
Several are going to the convention.
Many are called but few are chosen.
*Many a man and woman in this community finds himself in need. p. 102 of Grammar for Journalists. Revised Edition.
The verb agrees with the true subject, be sure to remember--not with a noun which comes between the subject and the predicate, such as a noun that is the object of a preposition al phrase which modifies the subject. Watch this construction especially in the case of compound subjects modified by an of phrase.
A committee of five men and three women is to consider the matter. The series of three games was completed quickly. The increasing rate of births in India is viewed with alarm.
However, when the complete subject--including a modifying of phrase--strongly conveys the idea of individuals, a plural verb should be used, even though the simple subject is singular. Study the following sentences:
An average of twenty-five persons apply each month.
An average of twenty-five applications a month is not unusual.
A majority of the town's younger men are moving to the city.
A majority of three votes to one was recorded.
Number,
variety, and majority are preceded by the definite article the --- singular
Number,
variety and majority are preceded by the indefinite article a, they are plural.
The number of errors in last month's edition of the magazine is more than he will tolerate.
A number of protesters are expected outside.
The variety of courses was designed to attract as many students as possible.
A variety of courses area available to experience journalists.
The majority of the vote has been cast in favor of the incumbent.
A majority of the delegates are expected to arrive throughout the weekend.
A verb must agree in number with its subject, not with any predicate nominative used in the sentence.
The strongest unit in the Panther team was the tackles.
Long study and constant practice are the secret of Maria Calla's success as a singer.
The bellows of the bull were the only sound that reached his ears.
** To avoid awkwardness in such sentences it is sometimes better to change the construction of the sentences, thus:
The Panther team is strongest at the tackle positions.
Part of singular is singular. Part of plural is
plural.
Such
nouns as abundance, half, part, plenty, rest and variety takes a singular verb
or a plural verb according to the number of the noun in the of phrase that modifies the noun. The same rule
applies to fractions used as subjects.
Plenty
of applies are on the market now.
Two-thirds
of the business district was destroyed.
Half
of the members are absent today.
Most of the work is completed.
Most of the delegates are seeking re-election.
Half of the equipment is outdated.
Half of the computers are new.
Two-thirds of the wheat crop has spoiled.
Two-thirds of the students plan to attend college.
Some of the people do not vote.
Some of the jelly has fermented.
All of the boys are coming home for Christmas.
All of the hay has been cut.
All are here. (all people)
All is lost. (everything).
Some are coming. (Some people).
Some is left. (something).
NONE: The pronoun none causes a great deal of trouble. Some authorities say that it means no one or not one and must take a singular verb. Others regard it as either singular or plural according to the meaning of the sentence. A majority of editors prefer the use of a singular verb with none, but there is a strong trend toward the use of a plural verb with it. The safest rule may be: Use a singular verb if none means no one or not one; in all other uses of none, you either may follow your newspaper's stylebook or determine the correct number by context, that is, according to the meaning to be conveyed.
???None of the company's clients was lost.
???None but the best were accepted.
???None of the cars was (or were) wrecked.
(Grammar for Journalists)
None
of (singular) is singular.
None of (plural) can be singular when it means no single one.
None
None of the corn was edible.
None of the money has been spent on repairs.
None of the consultants agree on the same approach.
None of the taxes have been paid.
Number
The word number, when modified by the, takes a singular verb; when modified by a, it takes a plural verb.
The number of students who failed was small.
Half of the members are absent today.
The nouns kind and sort should be modified by the singular adjectives this and that. The plural forms these kinds, those kinds are correct, of course. The verb is singular after kind or sort.
This kind of sheets is selling well.
It is considered correct sometimes to use a singular noun after these kinds.
These kinds of apple are delicious.
Never
say,
This kind of a ...Ó The article a or an is not needed.
Nouns like breed, brand, class, group, herd, type, species and variety are regarded as singular when they refer to a collection of a single unit, but plural when they refer to the individual members of a collection.
That group of soldiers have the best ratings of individual performance.
The group of soldiers is a top-notch fighting unit.
The herd are moving toward the sheds by tows and threes.
That herd is the healthiest the farm has had in some time.
The plural form kinds of and brands of and so on may have a singular or a plural noun as the object of the preposition, according to the meaning to be conveyed.
Six brands of paper were tested.
Two kinds of oil were found in the area.
Six brands of cans were ordered.
One of, the only one of: If the antecedent is the last word before the relative pronoun, determining the number of a relative pronoun is usually easy. However, when the antecedent does not directly precede the relative pronoun, or when the relative pronoun is preceded by more than one noun or pronoun that could serve as its antecedent, determining number becomes more complicated.
Ralston is one of the advertising directors who try to be patient with inexperienced copywriters.
Ralston is the only one of the advertising directors who tries to be patient with the inexperienced copywriters.
Words
derived from Latin
Media: The news media are resisting attempts to limit their freedom.
Agenda: Even though it was originally plural, it is treated as singular now.
Agenda-- A list, It takes singular verbs and pronouns. The agenda has run its course. The plural is agendas.
Data: Meaning changed.
Although datum represents one and is singular, and data more than one and is plural, data is accepted as a singular in some circles when it is used to represent a lump sum or a quantity.
The data collected in the five-year study is kept in the Acme University library.
Singular vs. plural
His trousers are at the cleaner's.
Pliers have many users.
Fireworks are dangerous for children to use.
The United States is a country of opportunity.
The news is very satisfying.
Measles is a child's disease.
Measles
Economics
Physics was his field, but the physics of the device are sophisticated.
Athletics ( a system of training) has transformed him from a weakling into a star.
Intercollegiate athletics (all intercollegiate sports) have been discontinued at that university.