➤ Rule 1: Do not mistake a word in a prepositional phrase for the subject of
sentence.
Never confuse the subject with a prepositional phrase that follows.
Be sure that the verb agrees with the actual subject of the sentence and not with the object of a preposition.
Example :
The author of the stories uses a pen name.
(Here the subject author is singular, so it agrees with the verb uses. Note that of the stories is a prepositional phrase.)
A letter with many mistakes does not make a good impression.
( The subject letter is singular, with many mistakes is a prepositional phrase. Therefore the verb does agrees with the singular subject letter.)
The books on that shelf are novels.
(The subject books is plural; on that shelf is a prepositional phrase; therefore,
the verb are is plural.)
Beams of coloured light have passed through the prism.
(The subject, beams, is plural; of coloured light is prepesitional Phrase;
therefore, the auxiliary verb have is plural.)
➤ Rule 2: It is the subject that determines the verb, not the modifier.
My friend from Tokyo who has lots of dogs and cats is/are a computer genius.
Example :
The author of the stories uses a pen name.
(Here the subject author is singular, so it agrees with the verb uses. Note that of the stories is a prepositional phrase.)
A letter with many mistakes does not make a good impression.
( The subject letter is singular, with many mistakes is a prepositional phrase. Therefore the verb does agrees with the singular subject letter.)
The books on that shelf are novels.
(The subject books is plural; on that shelf is a prepositional phrase; therefore,
the verb are is plural.)
Beams of coloured light have passed through the prism.
(The subject, beams, is plural; of coloured light is prepesitional Phrase;
therefore, the auxiliary verb have is plural.)
➤ Rule 2: It is the subject that determines the verb, not the modifier.
My friend from Tokyo who has lots of dogs and cats is/are a computer genius.
What is the subject?
My friend from Tokyo.
Is My friend from Tokyo singular or plural? It is singular. Therefore, use is.
There are words between the subject and the verb (in this case it is an adjective
clause), but that doesn't matter.
The rule still stands: It is the subject that determines the verb.
We will present some other common (and confusing) mistakes.
➤ Rule 3: Do not be confused by a predicate nominative that is different in
number from the subject.
Only the subject affects the number of linking verb.
Examples:
Movie tickets were the first prize in the essay contest.
(The plural verb, were, agrees with the plural subject, tickets, not with the
predicate nominative prize.)
One problem of the players was unexpected threats of injury.
(The singular verb, was agrees with the singular subject, problem, not with the
predicate nominative threats.)
Traffic jams in the parking area were one difficulty for the visitors.
( The plural verb, were, agrees with the plural subject, jams, not with the predicate
nominative, difficulty.)
➤ Rule 4: When an interrogative sentence contains an auxiliary verb, the auxiliary usually precedes the subject, and the main verb follows the subject.
Examples:
Movie tickets were the first prize in the essay contest.
(The plural verb, were, agrees with the plural subject, tickets, not with the
predicate nominative prize.)
One problem of the players was unexpected threats of injury.
(The singular verb, was agrees with the singular subject, problem, not with the
predicate nominative threats.)
Traffic jams in the parking area were one difficulty for the visitors.
( The plural verb, were, agrees with the plural subject, jams, not with the predicate
nominative, difficulty.)
➤ Rule 4: When an interrogative sentence contains an auxiliary verb, the auxiliary usually precedes the subject, and the main verb follows the subject.
SINGULAR: Does the dolphin recognize hand signals?
PLURAL : Do those dolphins recognise hand signals?
➤ Rule 5: Use a singular verb after each, neither, everyone, everybody, nobody,
and someone.
Nobody is here.
Everybody helps when there is a crisis.
Somebody wants to speak to you.
➤ Rule 6: If you use either/or, look at the subject closest to the verb.
If the subject closest to the verb is singular, use a singular verb; likewise, if the subject is plural, use a plural verb.
Either Miss Brownor Jane writes on the blackboard.
Either the teacher or the students write on the blackboard.
Either Miss Brownor Jane writes on the blackboard.
Either the teacher or the students write on the blackboard.
🔷 Note: more about neither .... nor
This also applies to not only...but also, and neither...nor.
🔷🔷 The subject closest to the verb determines whether the verb is singular or plural.
Not only Julie but also George wants to visit grandma.
Not only Julie but also all of the grandchildren want to visit grandma.
➤ Rule 7: When using as well as, except, in addition to, no less than, and with, the noun before these phrases determines the number.
My problem with you is you don't listen.
The students in addition to the teacher are all receiving special recognition for their excellent research.
➤ Rule 8: Measurements of money, time, and distance usually require a singular verb.
One hundred dollars is a lot of money for a bottle of wine.
Two hours is a long time to wait to see a doctor.
93,000,000 miles is the distance from the sun to the earth.
➤ Rule 9: The following words almost always use the plural form of verbs: all,
both, few, many, several, and some.
Some people in my office are very annoying.
Few mountain climbers have successfully reached the peak of Mt. Everest.
➤ Rule 10: The word none needs special attention. Sometimes it uses a singular
verb, and at other times, it uses a plural verb. When none means no one or not
one, use the singular form of the verb.
None of them is able to do that job.
◼️ When none means or suggests more than one thing or person, use the plural
the verb.
None are helpless because they can always try.
➤ Rule 11: Here and there cannot be subjects. Therefore, if a sentence begins with here and there, look for the subject and write the correct form of the verb.
Not only Julie but also George wants to visit grandma.
Not only Julie but also all of the grandchildren want to visit grandma.
➤ Rule 7: When using as well as, except, in addition to, no less than, and with, the noun before these phrases determines the number.
My problem with you is you don't listen.
The students in addition to the teacher are all receiving special recognition for their excellent research.
➤ Rule 8: Measurements of money, time, and distance usually require a singular verb.
One hundred dollars is a lot of money for a bottle of wine.
Two hours is a long time to wait to see a doctor.
93,000,000 miles is the distance from the sun to the earth.
➤ Rule 9: The following words almost always use the plural form of verbs: all,
both, few, many, several, and some.
Some people in my office are very annoying.
Few mountain climbers have successfully reached the peak of Mt. Everest.
➤ Rule 10: The word none needs special attention. Sometimes it uses a singular
verb, and at other times, it uses a plural verb. When none means no one or not
one, use the singular form of the verb.
None of them is able to do that job.
◼️ When none means or suggests more than one thing or person, use the plural
the verb.
None are helpless because they can always try.
➤ Rule 11: Here and there cannot be subjects. Therefore, if a sentence begins with here and there, look for the subject and write the correct form of the verb.
Here is my jacket. ( jacket is singular)
Here are my shoes. ( shoes are plural)
___________________________
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