This document provides rules for determining whether to use a singular or plural verb with compound subjects. It addresses situations involving subjects joined by and, or, either/or, neither/nor. It also covers pronouns, collective nouns, subjects separated from verbs, and subjects involving portions or numbers. Examples are provided to illustrate the rules.

2. Two singular subjects connected
byorornorrequire a singular verb
Example: Myaunt ormyuncleis
arrivingbytraintoday.

3. Two singular subjects connected
byeither/ororneither/norrequire a
singular verb as in Rule 1.
Example :1.NeitherJuannorCarmenisavailable.
2.EitherKianaorCaseyishelpingtodaywithstage
decorations.

4. WhenIis one of the two subjects connected
by either/oror neither/nor,put it secondand follow it
withthe singularverb am.
Example: NeithershenorIamgoingtothe
festival.

5. When a singular subjectis connected
by oror norto a plural subject, put the plural
subject last and use a plural verb.
Example : The serving bowl or
the plates go on that shelf.

6. When asingular and plural subjectare
connected by either/oror neither/nor,put the
plural subjectlast and use aplural verb.
Example : Neither Jenny nor
the others are available

7. As a general rule, use a plural verb with
two or more subjects when they are
connected byand.
Example : Acarandabikearemymeansof
transportation.

8. Sometimesthe subjectis separatedfromthe verb
by words such as alongwith,aswellas,besides,
or not. Ignore these expressionswhen determining
whether to use a singular or plural verb.
Example :Thepolitician,alongwiththe
newsmen,isexpectedshortly.

9. The pronouns each,everyone,everyone,everybody,
anyone,anybody,someone, andsomebody are singular
and require singularverbs. Do not be misled by what
followsof.
Example :Eachofthegirlssingswell.
Everyoneofthecakesisgone.

10. With wordsthat indicateportions—percent,
fraction,part,majority,some,all,none,remainder, and
so forth—look at the noun in yourofphrase (object
of the preposition)to determine whether to use a
singularor pluralverb. If the object of the preposition
is singular,use a singular verb. If the objectof the
prepositionis plural,use a plural verb.

11. 1.)Fiftypercentofthepiehasdisappeared.
2.)Fiftypercentofthepieshavedisappeared
3.)One-thirdofthecityisunemployed.

12. The expression thenumberis followed by a
singular verb while the expression anumberis
followed by a plural verb.
Example : 1)The number of people we
need to hire is thirteen.
2.)Anumberofpeoplehavewrittenin
aboutthissubject.

13. Wheneitherand neitherare subjects, they
always takesingular verbs.
Example : 1.)Neitherofthemisavailable to
speakrightnow.
2.)Eitherofusiscapableofdoingthejob.

14. The words hereand therehave generallybeen labeled as
adverbs even though they indicateplace.In sentences
beginningwith hereor there, the subject follows the
verb.
Example : 1.)Therearefourhurdlestojump.
2.)Thereisahighhurdletojump.

15. Use a singular verb with sums of moneyor
periods of time.
Example : 1.)Tendollarsisahighprice
topay.
2.)Fiveyearsisthemaximum
sentenceforthatoffense.

16. Sometimes the pronounwho,that,
orwhichis the subject of a verb in the middle
of thesentence. The pronouns who,that,
and whichbecome singular or plural
according to the noun directly in frontof
them. So, ifthat noun is singular, use a
singular verb. If it is plural, use aplural verb.

17. 1.)Salma isthescientist whowritesthereports.
2.)Heisoneofthemenwhodothework.

18. Collectivenouns such as teamand staffmay be
either singularor plural depending on their use in
the sentence.
Example : 1.)Thestaffisinameeting.
2.)Thestaffmembersareindisagreement
aboutthefindings.

20. • 1. Almost everybody (has / have) some
difficulty with writing.
• 2.Neither the chipmunk nor the squirrels(is /
are)bothering us.
• 3. Both of us (is / are) voting in the next
election.
• 4. Milo, Phoebe, and I (was / were) offering our
help.
• 5. Neither of you (jump / jumps) to
conclusions.
• 6. Some say the Indians (has / have) been
treated unfairly.

21. • 7. There (was/ were)only two choiceson the
menu.
• 8. Rudy as well as his cat (like/ likes)
milk.
• 9. He (is /are)my boss and friend.
• 10. Sunbathing(is / are)my favorite form of
exercise.
• 11. Neither of us (has / have) to pay the fine.
• 12. The twins and their parents (travel /travels)
together.

22. • 13. Nobody (believe/ believes)your alibi.
• 14. AmericaandRussia (is /are)the most powerful
nations.
• 15. “Safe”and “out” (is/ are)two callsin baseball.
• 16. Neither of them (dance/ dances)to disco
music.
• 17. Each (serve/ serves)a different purpose.
• 18. The hammeras well as the saw (make/ makes)
work easier.

23. • 19. Jacques (was /were) working for his uncle last
year.
• 20. Our team (play /plays) hard every night.
• 21.Several of these books (looks/ look) brand new.
• 22.The president and host (greets/ greet) guests at the
door.
• 23.The parking pass and the ticket (lies/ lie) on the
desk.
• 24.Some of the votes __________to have been
miscounted. (seems/ seem)

24. • 25. Everybody (is/are) unique
• 26.Either my father or my mother(was/were)at
home.Idon’t remember which one.
• 27.Neither Janenor Gill (is/are) good at English.
• 28.Neither Helen nor herbrothers(do/does) the
shopping.
• 29.Each of the parents (is/are) responsible for
child care.
• 30.The manager,along with the
teachers,(was/were)present at the meeting.

25. • 31.Either you or I(am/are) going to buy some
sugar.
• 32.The police(was/were)carrying gunsand
gas.
• 33.There(is/are) a nice swimmingpool
nearby.
• 34.There(was/were) ten students who failed
geography.
• 35.Mom and dad never(quarrel/quarrels).
• 36.Both Larry andJem (is/are) rich.

26. • 37.Hansel and Gretel (is, are) a famous children's
story.
• 38.The staff (was/were) shocked by the news of their
boss.
• 39.There (is/are)little money left.We can’t buy all we
need.
• 40.The number of unemployed citizens (is/are) rising
day by day.
• 41.30percent of our income (go/goes) torent.
• 42.Our army (is/are) one of the largest and most
powerful in theworld.

27. • 43.Economics (is/are)Jogn's major field of study.
• 44.Niether Jim norhis friends (want/wants)to help on
the washing.
• 45.The people (arrive/arrives)early forthe lectures.
• 46.Eithertopic (has/have)the professor's approval.
• 47.The report of your grade (is/are)in the office.
• 48.The first two parts of the experiment (take/takes)the
most time.

28. • 49. (A number of /The number of) the power lines
is down becauseof the wind.
• 50.(Each/Some)of us plan togive a report.(plan)

29. Member
Jittichai pothanom M.6/3No.4
Werasak Mebon M.6/3No.17
Thatchanon Chompan M.6/3No.18
Kittipith Inthong M.6/3 No.22

30. Jittichai Pothanom No.4 M.6/3

31. Werasak MebonNo.17
M.6/3

32. Thatchanon Chompan No.18M.6/3

33. Kittipith InthongNo.22
M.6/3