Learning objectives
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to explain the rules, recognise the target forms in context, avoid common errors and apply the patterns to new sentences.
- Understand the core terms and distinctions.
- Study examples in complete sentences, not as isolated rules.
- Complete all 15 practice items before opening the answer key.
1. Find the real subject
The verb agrees with the grammatical subject, not with a nearby noun inside a prepositional phrase. Singular subjects take singular present-tense forms; plural subjects take plural forms.
2. Indefinite pronouns and quantifiers
Each, every, everyone, someone, anybody and neither are normally singular in formal agreement. Both, few, many and several are plural. With some/most/all/none, agreement depends on the noun or meaning.
3. Joined subjects
Subjects joined by and usually take a plural verb. If the combined expression names one unit or idea, a singular verb may be used. With either…or and neither…nor, school grammar commonly matches the verb to the nearer subject.
4. Amounts, titles and collective nouns
A sum, period, distance or single unit may take a singular verb. Titles of books and films are usually singular. Collective nouns such as team or committee may be singular when treated as a unit; usage can vary by dialect and intended meaning.
5. There is/are and tricky expressions
In existential sentences, the verb often agrees with the following subject in careful usage: There are two reasons. Expressions such as a number of (plural) and the number of (singular) differ.
Guided practice
Try each item first. Then open the answer key and read the explanation for any answer you missed.
- The list of names ___ on the table. (is/are)
- Each of the players ___ a uniform. (has/have)
- Rina and Mina ___ friends. (is/are)
- Neither the boys nor their coach ___ ready. (is/are)
- Neither the coach nor the boys ___ ready. (is/are)
- Ten dollars ___ enough. (is/are)
- A number of candidates ___ arrived. (has/have)
- The number of candidates ___ increasing. (is/are)
- Everyone ___ the answer. (know/knows)
- There ___ two books on the desk. (is/are)
- The news ___ surprising. (is/are)
- The team ___ celebrating its victory. (is/are)
- Most of the water ___ clean. (is/are)
- Most of the apples ___ ripe. (is/are)
- “Great Expectations” ___ a famous novel. (is/are)
Show answer key and explanations
- is — The subject is list, not names.
- has — Each is singular in formal agreement.
- are — Two subjects joined by and normally take a plural verb.
- is — The nearer subject coach is singular.
- are — The nearer subject boys is plural.
- is — A sum of money viewed as one amount is singular.
- have — A number of means several and takes plural agreement.
- is — The number is the singular subject.
- knows — Everyone is singular.
- are — The following subject books is plural.
- is — News is grammatically singular.
- is — The team is treated as one unit here.
- is — Water is uncountable and singular here.
- are — Apples is plural.
- is — A book title is treated as singular.
Revision checklist
- I can explain the main rules in my own words.
- I can recognise the correct form in a complete sentence.
- I can explain why a common incorrect form is wrong.
- I can apply the rule to a new example.
If an answer was wrong, identify the rule behind the mistake and try writing two original examples.
Continue learning
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