3. COMPOUND SUBJECTS: Or/NOR
@ Singular subjects – Singular Verbs
A car or a bus is the only means to travel.
@ Plural Subjects – Plural Verbs
Either the fathers or the mothers go to the meeting.
@ Subjects with different number – Verb
agrees with subject nearest to it
Neither those cats nor that dog was taken.
6. Either the purse or the watch (is/are) bought as a gift.
Neither these magazines nor those newspapers
(has/have) the article I was looking for.
Neither Eileen nor her sisters (ask/asks) their parents
for money.
BACK TO THE RULES
7. COMPOUND SUBJECTS: AND
@ Plural verbs
A camera and a laptop were stolen.
@ Exemptions…
If (1) Subjects add up to one unit
Chips and dip is my favorite food.
(2) Subjects are preceded by each or every
Each man and woman leaves the building.
10. The bottles and the soda can (was/were)
given to the garbage collector.
The wheel and axle (is/are) a type of simple
machine.
BACK TO THE RULES
11. SUBJECTS THAT COME AFTER THE VERB
@ Verb agrees with the number of the subject
In the second floor are the two libraries.
There is the laptop computer.
Here is the new notebook.
12. Located at the third floor of this majestic
building are our library.
13.
14. There (is/are) new students coming next year.
One of the reasons for his expulsion (is/are)
his insubordination.
BACK TO THE RULES
15. COLLECTIVE NOUNS
@ Single unit – singular verb
The herd is taken care of by the shepherd.
@Different individuals – plural verb
The committee have yet to prepare their
statements.
16. My choir were selected for the
competition this afternoon.
17.
18. The school of fish (is/are) caught by the
fishermen.
The faculty (is/are) each sent to different
parts of the country to teach.
BACK TO THE RULES
19. PLURAL-LOOKING NOUNS
@ (1) Branches of knowledge; (2) Single unit
or idea; (3) Indicating characteristics –
Singular verb
Economics is difficult to study.
The series is very entertaining.
The acoustics enhances the sound.
@ Words like: scissors, pants, trousers, pliers,
shorts – plural verb
His pants are trendy.
22. Statistics (is/are) the course of Myrza.
Her trousers (is/are) very stylish.
BACK TO THE RULES
23. INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
@ Singular indefinite pronouns – singular
verbs
Each of them is sick.
@ Plural indefinite pronouns – plural verbs
Many of the pigs are slaughtered.
@ All, Any, More, Most, None, and Some –
verbs take number of the antecedent
All of the money is saved.
All of the papers are crumpled.
26. Much of the students (fail/fails) the exam.
None of the cookies (is/are) handed to the
little boy.
BACK TO THE RULES
27. AMOUNTS OR MEASUREMENTS
@ Singular verb
One-half of the pie is cut.
A kilo of the cereals is bought.
@ Referring to individual things – plural verb
Half of the chickens lay eggs.
One-twelfth of the students bring stroller
bags.