Special Cases of Agreement
A.
Words like
pants, pliers, scissors, and tongs are plural and take a plural verb.
When the word pair is used as a
subject, the subject is regarded as singular and takes a singular verb.
Correct: A pair of scissors is all I need. Incorrect: A pair of scissors are all I need.
B.
A plural noun that shows weight,
extent, or quantity is singular, and takes a singular verb.
Correct: Two million pesos is the price of a brand new car.
Incorrect: Two million pesos are the price of a brand new car.
C.
The words half and part are
singular or plural according to the meaning of the sentence. When these words
refer to a mass or a section, they are singular. When they refer to a number of
individuals or thing, they are plural.
Plural: Half of the children have eaten. Singular: Half of the cake is left.
D.
When the word number is preceded by the article a, it takes a plural verb; however, when it is immediately preceded
by the article the, it takes a
singular verb.
Correct: A number of teachers are waiting for you. The number of teachers waiting inside is small.
Incorrect: A number of teachers is waiting for you. A number of teachers waiting inside are small.
E. Usually, the name of a firm is often regarded as singular even when there is a plural form in the tittle.
Correct: Kindles, a company distributing books, has opened many branches in the Philippines.
Incorrect: Kindles, a company distributing books, have opened many
branches in the Philippines.
F. Sometimes
a sentence begins with the word there or
here.
neither of these words could be a subject of a sentence. If you want
to determine the true subject of a given sentence, you can transpose it so that
the true subject will appear at the beginning of the sentence.
* Five nurses are there in the operating room.
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