Unit 52. Agreement between subject and verb (2)

 

A. With any of, each of, either of, neither of, or none of and a plural noun we can use a singular or plural verb. However, we prefer a singular verb in careful written E.	• I don't think any of them knows (or know) where the money is hidden. • Neither of the French athletes has (or have) won this year.
With a/the majority of, a number of, a lot of, plenty of, all (of), or some (of) and a plural noun we use a plural verb. But if we say the number of, we use a singular verb.	• A number of refugees have been turned back at the border. • The number of books in the library has risen to over five million.
With any of, none of, the majority of, a lot of, plenty of, all (of), some (of) and an uncountable noun we use a singular verb.	• All the furniture was destroyed in the fire.
With each and every and a singular noun we use a singular verb. (For each of, see above.)	• Every room has its own bathroom. But • The boys have each drawn a picture.
With everyone, everybody, everything (and similar words beginning any-, some- and no-) we use a singular verb.	• Practically everyone thinks that Judith should be given the job.

 B. Some phrases with a plural form are thought of as a single thing and have a singular verb. These include phrases referring to measurements, amounts and quantities:                                                                                                    • About three metres separates the runners in first and second places.

    • The fifty pounds he gave me was soon spent.

When a subject has two or more items joined by and, we usually use a plural verb:

• Jean and David are moving back to Australia.

However, phrases connected by and can also be followed by singular verbs if we think of them as making up a single item:

• Meat pie and peas is Tom's favourite at the moment. (or Meat pie and peas are...)
Other phrases like this include fish and chips, and research and development (or R and D).

C. When a subject is made up of two or more items joined by (either) ...or... or (neither) ...nor... we use a singular verb if the last item is singular (although a plural verb is sometimes used in informal English), and a plural verb if it is plural:

• Either the station or the cinema is a good place to meet. (or ...are... in informal English)

• Neither the President nor his representatives are to attend the meeting.

If the last item is singular and the previous item plural, we can use a singular or plural verb:

• Either the teachers or the principal is (or are) to blame for the accident.

D. After per cent (also percent or %) we use a singular verb:

• An inflation rate of only 2 per cent makes a big difference to exports.

• Around 10 per cent of the forest is destroyed each year.

However, in phrases where we can use of + plural noun we use a plural verb:                                                                               • I would say that about 50 per cent of the houses need major repairs.

  • Of those interviewed, only 20 per cent (= of people interviewed) admit to smoking.

But where we use a singular noun that can be thought of either as a whole unit or a collection of individuals, we can use a singular or plural verb (see also Unit 51B):

• Some 80 per cent of the electorate is expected to vote. (or ...are expected...)

Advanced Grammar in Use by Martin Hewings

Unit 52. Exercises

52.1 Complete the sentences with either is/are or has/have. If both singular and plural forms are possible, write them both. (A)

1 A number of shoppers......................................... complained about the price increases.

2 I can assure you that everything........................................... perfectly safe.

3 Either of the dentists......................................... available. Which one do you want to see?

4 The majority of primary school teachers............................................. women.

5 Each of Susan's colleagues......................................... sent her a personal letter of support.

6 Although some people find cricket boring, each match.................................................. different.

7 We've got two cars, but neither of them............................................... particularly new.

8 All the office staff...................................... agreed to work late tonight to get the job finished.

9 A lot of the pollution......................................... caused by the paper factory on the edge of town.

10 None of the TV programmes......................................... worth watching tonight.

11 Researchers have reported that neither of the so-called 'environmentally friendly' fuels less damaging than petrol or diesel.

12 I hope everyone................................... a good holiday. See you next term.

13 The number of pupils in school with reading difficulties................................................. fallen this year.

14 Some people................................... the strangest hobbies. My brother collects bottles!

15 None of the information....................................... particularly useful to me.

52..2 Write sentences from these notes. Choose is or are as the verb in each case. If you can use either is or are, put both.

C). 1Prime Minister / her deputy / opening the debate.

Either the Prime Minister or her deputy is opening the debate.

2 Tom / his friends / going to clean the car.
Either...

3 the children / their mother / delivering the letters.
Either...

4 the management / the workers / going to have to give way in. the disagreement.
Either...

52. .3 The US computer company Macroworth announced today that it is to move some of its operation to Camford in Britain. Here is an extract from the announcement. Make any necessary corrections to the parts of the verb to be. (Units 51 and 52)

 

The new premises we plan to occupy in Camford are now being built. The outskirts of this city is an ideal site for a company like ours. R and D are an important part of our work, and next year fifty per cent of our budget are to be spent on our Camford centre. Some of our staff in the US are being asked to relocate, and eventually around ten per cent of our US workforce are to move to Britain. However, the majority of our new employees is to be recruited locally, and we think that the local community are going to benefit enormously from this development. A number of business leaders and the local Member of Parliament is being invited to a meeting next week. Unfortunately, neither the Company President nor the Managing Director of Macroworth is available to address that meeting, but I and other senior managers am to attend.

 

Uncountable nouns ending in – S;

Collective nouns

Uncountable nouns ending in –S.

Some nouns end in –s but are uncountable and take a singular verb

Physics is difficult. Maths is a compulsory subject.

Other examples include:

gymnastics athletics aerobics economics mathematics/math physics statistics genetics linguistics

politics tactics  optics classics (Latin & Greek literature) billiards dominoes darts bowls

rickets (рахит) shingles (опоясывающий лишай) mumps (cвинка)           measles (корь) diabetes news draughts (шашки) phonetics

       Mathematics is my favourite subject.

Some uncountable nouns ending in –s also have a plural meaning:

Politics is a dirty business. (=in general) His politics are right wing. (полит. убеждения; specific)

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