Choose the correct verb. Rule 6.a Singular and Plural A word that refers to one person or thing is singular in number. A word that refers to more than one is plural in number. Rule 6.b Agreement A verb agrees with its subject in number Rule 6.c Intervening Phrase The number of the subject is not changed by a phrase folowing the subject.
1. The cause of heartbeats (has, have) been a subject of continuous inquiry in the scientific and medical community.
2. The heartbeat, as well as other factors, (cause, causes) blood to flow throughout the body.
3. H.Allen and others (has, have) shown that the control of the nervous system is not linked to the beating of the heart.
4. The power of rhythmic contractions (belong, belongs) to the cardiac muscle itself, unassisted by other impulses.
5. All strips of muscle in the heart (is, are) capable of rhythmic action.
6. The power to trigger contractions (differ, differs) from part to part of the heart, however.
7. The greatest centralization of energies, as in many other organs and organisms, (is, are) located at the top.
8. The lesser energies of the heart (is, are) centered toward the bottom.
9. The number of beats of the heart per minute usually (decline, declines) with age, from as much as 140 at birth to 50 in an adult male.
10. The sequence of events in a single heartbeat (is, are) complex and well worth studying.
1. Each of the pictures (was, were) in a silver frame.
2. One of my friends (play, plays) the tuba.
3. All of our belongings (is, are) still unpacked.
4. Some of those rare books (has, have) leather covers.
5. None of the people in the theater audience (was, were) pleased with the film.
6. Every one of these jeans (is, are) too small.
7. A few in my class (was, were) asked to help out.
8. The lack of funds (present, presents) a problem.
9. Everybody living in Lewis Heights (go, goes) to George Washington Carver High School.
10. A band with two trumpet players and thirty-five clarinetists (sound, sounds) terrible.
Rewrite these ten sentences, following the instructions that appear in brackets after each of them. Sometimes the addition will affect agreement. Be sure to make the subject and verb of the new sentence agree. Underline the subject once and the verb twice.
1. This group sings better than any of the others. [Add Two members of before "This group."]
2. A porpoise swims near the surface. [Add like whales and sharks after "porpoise." Put a comma before and after the added phrase.]
3. Apples were shipped from New York State to Chicago. [Add One carload of before "apples."]
4. Several were unfairly treated. [Add of our group after "Several."]
5. Every one of the offices has been equipped with electric typewriters. [Change Every one to all but three.]
6. Each of the other witnesses agrees with my account of the accident. [Change Each to All.]
7. All of the money has been used up. [Change money to tickets.]
8. Her struggle to overcome illness was finally successful. [Add and financial reverses after "illness."]
9. The sky looks promising. [Add as well as the wind and the water after "sky." Set off the addition with commas.
10. Morgan, one of our regular pinch hitters, usually strikes out. [Change one to like the rest.]
Read each of the following sentences aloud. If the verb in a sentence agrees with its subject, write a + after the proper number; if the verb does not agree, write the correct form of the verb on your paper.
Rule 6.d Singulars The following common words are singular: each, either, neither one, no one, every one, anyone, someone, everyone, anybody, somebody, everybody. Rule 6.e Plurals The following common words are plural: several, few, both, many. Rule 6.f The words some, any, none, all, and most may be singular or plural depending on the meaning of the sentence.
1. Each of the students are responsible for one lesson.
2. The goal of their efforts were to raise one million dollars.
3. Neither of the stories were good enough to publoish.
4. Every one of the stations was out of gasoline.
5. Some of the crops have been ruined by frost.
6. The height of the office buildings are unusually great.
7. One of the club members had not yet voted.
8. The Russian ambassador, together with the Polish ad Hungarian ambassadors, has called a press conference.
9. All of the mines has been closed.
10. The principal, as well as the school board and the faculty, was enthusiastic.
11. The desire for property and great riches ruin many lives.
12. Some of the criminal's motives were apparent.
13. The result of so many attempts was disappointing.
14. Each of the sales people have a definite territory to cover.
15. The ocean, as well as the gulf and the bay, provides good fishing.
16. Neither of her paternal grandparents are living.
17. Several of our best new sources have been cut off.
18. Few members of the party approve the committee's appointments.
19. A sophomore, as well as a freshman, is allowed to take public speaking.
20. The vessel, with its entire crew and cargo, were lost.
Rule 6.g Subjects joined by and Subjects joined by and take a plural verb. Rules 6.h & 6.i Subjects joined by or Singular subjects joined by or or nor take a singular verb. When a singular and a plural subject are joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject.
1. One of the oldest foods in the world is cheese.
2. Neither the Greeks nor the Romans were ignorant of its strength giving properties.
3. The extent of its uses have yet to be exhausted.
4. Neither shepherd nor astronaut has failed to appreciate it.
5. Cheeses of every kind has nourished both.
6. The art of making various cheeses are older than recorded history.
7. The appearance and nutritional value of different kinds of cheese varies widely.
8. Each of the many different varieties have a unique history.
9. In fact, every cheese found on our dining tables has a rather involved history.
10. Not one of the familiar cheeses occur naturally without human intervention.
11. Special equipment, as well as careful planning, is necessary to make any kind of cheese.
12. Few of the familiar cookbooks shows how to make even the simplest cheese.
13. Curds of whole milk without the whey is the essence of cheese.
14. The processing of the curds by various methods are the latest development in the manufacture of cheese.
15. Several of the most healthful kinds of cheese have always been inexpensive.
16. Cottage cheese and cream cheese ranks high among these kinds.
17. One of the more striking types is Roquefort cheese.
18. Moldy bread crumbs in the curd brings about the distinctive ripening of Roquefort cheese.
19. The development of small cultures of penicillum fungi give the Roquefort curd its blue, marbled appearance.
20. The cheese called American cheese and known by many other names is cheddar cheese.
21. Differences in the cooking of the curd, or the method of curing, or the packaging, explains the great variety of flavors and textures of cheese.
22. The milk of goats, sheep, reindeer, zebras, and yaks, as well as the milk of cows, are used in cheese making.
23. The milk of sheep are used for Roquefort cheese.
24. Cheese with crackers or cheese with a few slices of good bread make a nourishing meal.
25. Neither milk nor cream, it appears, satisfies the human imagination, to judge by the astonishing phenomenon of cheese.
Circle the correct form.
Rule 6.j Subject follows verb When the subject follows the verb, as in questions and in sentences beginning with here and there, be careful to deter- mine the subject and make sure that the verb agrees with it. Rule 6.k Collective nouns Collective nouns may be either singular or plural depending upon their use in the sentence. Rule 6.l Amounts Expressions stating amount (time, money, meausrement, weight, volume, fractions) are usually singular when the amount is considered as a unit. Rule 6.m Titles The title of a book or name of anorganization or country, even when plural in form, usually takes a singular verb. Rule 6.n Exceptions A few nouns, suche as mumps, measles, civics, economics, mathematics, physics, although plural in form, take a singular verb. Rule 6.o Pred. Noms. When the subject and the p.n. (predicate nominative) are different in number, the verb agrees with the subject, not the predicate nominative. Rule 6.p. Every, many a Every or Many a before a word or series of words is followed by a singular verb. Rule 6.q Don't and Doesn't Don't (pl) and Doesn't (S) must agree with their subjects. Rule 6.r One of Those In formal English, verbs in clauses that follow one of those are always plural. Rule 6.s Number The word number is singular when preceded by the; it is plural when preceded by a.
1. The cost of his research (was, were) paid by the U.N.
2. Neither the President nor the FBI (was, were) willing to release any information.
3. Every one of her daughters (has, have) been successful.
4. The Case of the Missing Butler is one of those books that (is, are) easy to put down.
5. The question of taxes (doesn't, don't) pertain here.
6. Neither our car nor the cars of the others (was, were) able to plow through the drifts.
7. Fifteen minutes (is, are) enough time for this exercise.
8. There (seems, seem) to be many arguments on both sides.
9. Every planet, including the earth, (revolves, revolve) around the sun.
10. The Magnificent Ambersons (is, are) worth reading.
11. Many of Abigail Adams' letters (has, have) been collected and published.
12. The mayor of the city and the governor of the state (has, have) been in conference.
13. It (doesn't, don't) matter to me where you go.
14. Neither his secular music nor his religious compositions (appeals, appeal) to the popular taste.
15. Some of the oranges (doesn't, don't) ripen until April.
16. The fruit on the outdoor stands (looks, look) tempting.
17. Neither the doctor not the nurse (was, were) in the patient's room when the crisis came.
18. College life and high school life (is, are) vastly different.
19. (There's, There are) not many selfish people in the world.
20. Two weeks (is, are) enough for a trip of that length.
21. She is one of those people who (is, are) never late.
22. The acoustics in this room (has, have) always been bad.
23. Each of the cheeses (was, were) sampled by the inspector.
24. Few members of the scientific world (is, are) able to explain Professor Von Faber's new theory.
25. Measles (is, are) not exclusively a children's disease.
If a sentence is correct, write a + after the proper number. If it is incorrect, revise it. Rule 6.t Pronouns A pronoun agrees with its antecedent in number and gender.
1. One out of every twenty students are dropped from the course each term
2. At this point the law of diminishing returns begins to operate.
3. The effect of the comics on young people are not so drastic as some believe.
4. Neither of the proposed bills were accepted in their entirety.
5. Each of the papers read in class were good.
6. Two thirds of the estate was left to the children.
7. Has either of the orders been sent.
8. When an employer is interviewing you, one of the first things they ask about is experience.
9. After a person retires, they usually prefer to live in the city.
10. A certain degree of privacy and security seem desirable.
11. Neither the Department of Agriculture nor the farmers were sure of their position.
12. He was one of those advisers who were with the Big Three at Yalta.
13. Each of these suggestions must be taken only for what they are worth.
14. Every member of the crew was decorated for his part in the rescue.
15. Everyone needs a few spare moments to themselves to do as they wish.
16. This is one of those pens that writes under water.
17. People who enter politics know that they will have to take criticism.
18. The frequency of fatal traffic accidents are rising.
19. In the past, close cooperation among nations have brought many improvements iin the world.
20. Is there any old magazines in the cellar?
21. Assault and battery is a criminal offense.
22. Are you one of the boys who were tardy?
23. Anyone who does not get their parents' permission will not be permitted to make the trip.
24. Only one of his objections were sensible.
25. After the government has chosen somebody for an important position, they should consider carefully before turning it down.
Rewrite the following sentences according to the directions given for each. Be sure to make changes or additions in verb forms, pronouns, etc., if necessary.
1. Some famous sports stars have made television commercials. [Change Some famous sports stars to Many a famous sports star.]
2. Where's my book? [Add and my pen after book ]
3. Both of the candidates have promised to reduce taxes. [Change Both to Neither .]
4. She writes neatly. [Add is one of those students who after She.]
5. Our basketball team has won the championship. [Add Neither our football team nor at the beginning of the sentence.]
6. People need friends to confide in. [Change People to A person.]
7. An application blank is required by the state university. [After blank add together with a recent photograph and an autobiographical essay. Put a comma before together and after essay.]
8. The tigers are growling ferociously. [At the beginning of the sentence, add Either the lion or.]
9. The movie screen is hard to see. [At the beginning of the sentence, add The captions on .]
10. A day in the library is all the time I need to finish my research. [Change A day to Two days.] Return to Grade 9
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