Rules between verbs and confusing subjects

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.