Perplexed by Plurals

1
Perplexed by Plurals
2
Perplexed by PluralsSubject-Verb Agreement

• Here is The Blue Book of Grammar and
  Punctuations list of 14 rules regarding
  subject-verb agreement that is followed by a link
  to interactive quizzes. Much of the following
  discussion is adapted from this site.
• http//www.grammarbook.com/grammar/subjectVerbAgre
  e.asp

3
Perplexed by PluralsSubject-Verb Agreement

• Some more random self-paced quizzes on subject-
  verb agreement can be found at the following link
  to Newsroom101. Just hit OK twice when it asks
  for a password.
• http//www.newsroom101.com/subjectverb_all.htm
• And at Exercise Central for Associated Press
  Styles self-paced quizzes on subject-verb
  agreement. Link Here

4
Perplexed by PluralsPronoun-Antecedent Agreement

• And related to this subject, here is Exercise
  Central for Associated Press Styles self-paced
  quizzes on pronoun-antecedent agreement. Link
  here

5
Plural or Singular by Context Rather than
relying on a rule, you need to think

• The team (take, takes) to the field today.
• The team (takes) to the field today.
• The team took (its, their) positions on the
  football field.
• The team took (their) positions on the football
  field.
• This is a case of a collective noun where, by
  context, you have to determine if the sense of
  the sentence is singular or plural.
• With the second example, the sense is plural
  because it would be odd to think of a singular
  team taking multiple positions.

6
Again, By Context

• The jury (was, were) seated.
• The jury (was) seated.
• The jury (was, were) split on the verdict.
• The jury (were) split on the verdict.
• Page 79-80 of Working With Words, an excellent
  professional text for journalists, notes
• Use a singular verb when the collective noun is
  being used in the sense of a single group
  operating in agreement.
• Use a plural verb if the noun is used to name a
  group operating as individuals or in
  disagreement. For example
• The jury was seated. (Acting as a Unit)
• The jury were split on the verdict. (Acting as a
  group of individuals).

7
Perplexed by Plurals

• I would say, however, these kinds of
  constructions sometimes sound so odd to the ear,
  the better device is to punt and just rewrite a
  bit.
• For example, change
• The jury were split on the verdict.
• To
• The jury members were split on the verdict.

8
Perplexed by Plurals Breaking the Rules

• The Gators (is, are) beating South Carolina.
• The Gators (are) beating South Carolina.
• The Jazz (is, are) a pretty good team.
• The Jazz (are) a pretty good team.
• Even though it breaks all the rules, AP says team
  names are regarded as plural.
• Live with it.

9
Perplexed by PluralsEither/Or Neither/Nor

• Neither John nor Susan is/are available.
• Neither John nor Susan is available.
• Either Kiana or Casey helps/help today with stage
  decorations.
• Either Kiana or Casey helps today with stage
  decorations.
• Neither she nor I am/are going to the festival.
• Neither she nor I am going to the festival.

10
Perplexed by PluralsEither/Or Neither/Nor

• Two singular subjects connected by either/or or
  neither/nor require a singular verb as
• Neither John nor Susan is available.
• Either Kiana or Casey helps today with stage
  decorations.
• When one of your two subjects is I, put it second
  and follow it with the singular verb am.
• Neither she nor I am going to the festival.

11
Either/Or Neither/Nor

• The book or the magazines is/are on the shelf.
• The book or the magazines are on the shelf.
• Neither the book nor the magazines is/are on the
  table.
• Neither the book nor the magazines are on the
  table.
• Neither Jenny nor the others is/are available.
• Neither Jenny nor the others are available.

12
Perplexed by PluralsEither/Or Neither/Nor

• One rule states that
• When a singular subject is connected by or or nor
  to a plural subject, put the plural subject last
  and use a plural verb.
• The book or the magazines are on the shelf.
• Neither the book nor the magazines are on the
  table.
• When a singular and plural subject are connected
  by either/or or neither/nor put the plural
  subject last and use a plural verb.
• Neither Jenny nor the others are available.

13
Perplexed by PluralsEither/Or Neither/Nor

• However, when for any reason you do not want to
  put the plural last, follow this rule
• When a singular and plural subject are connected
  by either/or or neither/nor, the verb agrees with
  the subject closes to it.
• Neither they nor Jenny is available.
• Neither the workers nor their boss wants to
  negotiate.
• Neither the magazines nor the book is on the
  table.

14
Perplexed by PluralsEither and Neither

• Neither of them is/are available to speak right
  now.
• Neither of them is available to speak right now.
• Either of us is/are capable of doing the job.
• Either of us is capable of doing the job.

15
Either and Neither

• When either and neither are subjects, they always
  take singular verbs.
• Neither of them is available to speak right now.
• Either of us is capable of doing the job.

16
Perplexed by Plurals Each etc.

• Every one of the cakes is/are gone.
• Every one of the cakes is gone.
• Each of the girls sings/sing well.
• Each of the girls sings well.

17
Perplexed by PluralsEach etc.

• The pronouns each, everyone, everybody, anyone,
  anybody, someone, and somebody are singular and
  require singular verbs. Do not be misled by what
  follows of.
• Each of the girls sings well.
• Every one of the cakes is gone.
• NOTE Everyone is one word when it means
  everybody. Every one is two words when the
  meaning is each one.

18
Perplexed by Plurals Portions

• Fifty percent of the pie has/have disappeared.
• Fifty percent of the pies have disappeared.
• One-third of the city is/are unemployed.
• One-third of the people is unemployed.
• All of the pie is/are gone.
• All of the pie is gone.
• All of the pies is/are gone.
• All of the pies are gone.
• Some of the pies is/are missing.
• Some of the pies are missing.

19
Perplexed by Plurals Portions

• With words that indicate portionspercent,
  fraction, part, majority, some, all, none,
  remainder, etc.you must look at the noun in your
  of phrase (object of the preposition) to
  determine whether to use a singular or plural
  verb.
• If the object of the preposition is singular, use
  a singular verb.
• If the object of the preposition is plural, use a
  plural verb.

20
Perplexed by Plurals Portions

• Fifty percent of the pie has disappeared.
• Pie is the object of the preposition of.
• Fifty percent of the pies have disappeared.
• Pies is the object of the preposition.
• One-third of the city is unemployed.
• One-third of the people are unemployed.
• All of the pie is gone.
• All of the pies are gone.
• Some of the pie is missing.
• Some of the pies are missing.

21
Perplexed by PluralsHere There

• Here and there are not subjects of any sentence.
• Why?
• Because they are not nouns.
• If a sentence begins with here or there, the
  subject follows the verb.
• For example
• There are four students in the room.
• There is one student in the room.
• There was a time when I was sad.
• There were many times when I was happy.

22
Perplexed by PluralsMoney Time

• With sum of money or periods of time, use a a
  singular verb
• For example
• Ten thousand dollars is a lot of money for bail.
• Four years is long time to spend in any school.

23
Perplexed by PluralsWho, That, Which

• When the pronoun who, that, or which is the
  subject of the verb in the middle of the
  sentence, they are singular or plural according
  to the noun directly in front of them.
• If the noun is singular, use a singular verb.
• If the noun is plural, use a plural verb.

24
Perplexed by PluralsWho, That, Which

• For example
• Harold is the professor who get/gets the most
  complaints.
• Harold is the professor who gets the most
  complaints.
• The word in front of who is professor, which is
  singular. Therefore, use the singular verb gets.
• Harold and Cher are the professors who get/gets
  the most complaints.
• Harold and Cher are the professors who get the
  most complaints.
• The word in front of who is professors, which is
  plural. Therefore, use the plural verb get.