This document discusses subject-verb agreement with various types of confusing subjects including hard-to-find subjects, subjects of linking verbs, collective nouns, plural-looking nouns, indefinite pronouns, titles, and amounts/measurements. It provides examples of sentences with both correct and incorrect subject-verb agreement to illustrate the rules for each type of confusing subject.

1. Agreement Between the Verb
and Confusing Subjects

2. Hard to find subjects
Subjects of linking verbs
Collective nouns
Plural-looking nouns
Indefinite pronouns
Titles
Amounts and Measurements

3. Hard-to-Find Subjects
A subject
that comes
after its
verb must
still agree
with it in
number.
 Beyond those building (is,
are) a skating rink.
 There (was, were) the
missing set of car keys.
 Which of the report (has,
have) she read?
 Down that fearsome desert
( is, are) a kind person.
 There ( is, are ) always
great and kind people
around us.

4. Subjects
of linking
verbs
A linking
verb must
agree with
its subject,
regardless of
the number
of its
predicate
nominative.
 Orange blossoms (
is, are ) one sign of
spring.
 One sign of spring
(is, are) orange
blossoms.
 Rare books ( is, are
) her passion.
 Her passion ( is, are
) rare books.
 His concern ( is, are
) the results of her
tests.

5. Collective Nouns
A collective noun
takes a singular
verb when the
group it names
acts as a single
unit.
A collective noun
takes a plural
verb when the
group it names
act as individuals
with different
points of view.
 The family ( is, are ) very
happy with the new house.
 The jury ( has, have )
reached a decision.
 The family ( is, are ) unable
to decide on a vacation
spot.
 The jury ( has, have ) been
unable to reach a decision.
 The family that ( pray,
prays ) together ( stay,
stays ) together.

6. Plural Looking Nouns
Nouns that are plural
in form but singular in
meaning agree with
singular verbs.
Acoustics confetti
Civics measles
Economics news
Ethics
mathematics
Physics
politics
Social studies
 Physics is a
challenging subject.
 The news was not
very interesting
yesterday.
 Economics interests
many students.

7. Nouns plural in form and in meaning
Eyeglasses
Scissors
Tongs
Shears
Pliers
Pants,
Tweezers
 My lost eyeglasses
were behind the sofa.
 The boy’s school
pants have just been
washed.
 Scissors are all I
need to make this
work of art.

8. Indefinite Pronouns
Singular
indefinite
pronouns take
singular verbs.
Plural indefinite
pronouns take
plural verbs.
 Each of the answers (is,
are) correct.
 Everyone in the bond (
is, are ) going on the
trip.
 Both of the children (
was, were ) exhausted.
 Several of these cuts
(require, requires)

9. Special
Pronouns
Pronouns all,
any, more,
most, none,
and some take
a singular verb
if the
antecedent is
singular and a
plural verb if it
is plural.
 Some of the fruits ( is, are
) ripe.
 Some of the puzzle pieces
( is, are ) missing.
 Most of the oil (has, have )
been contaminated.
 None of the pie ( taste,
tastes ) good.
 All of the plans ( do, does )
affect the country.

10. Titles
A title is singular
and must have a
singular verb.
 Ship of Fool is a novel
by Katherine Anne
Porter.
 The Merry Wives of
Windsor is a
Shakespearean play.
 1000 Chemistry Quiz
is a good read.
 Literacy Disorders
fascinates many
teachers.

11. Amounts and Measurements
A noun
expressing an
amount or
measurement
is usually
singular and
requires a
singular verb.
 Twelve dollars ( is, are
) the price of the ticket.
 Three cups of flour ( is,
are) required.
 Two thirds of the
produce
( has, have ) spoiled.
 Ten days (seem,seems)
extremely long to
survive in the desert.