General verbal errors Flashcards
Nearly each or nearly every?
Nearly every
(Singular or plural indefinite pronoun): anybody
Singular
(Singular or plural indefinite pronoun): anyone
Singular
(Singular or plural indefinite pronoun): anything
Singular
(Singular or plural indefinite pronoun): each
Singular
(Singular or plural indefinite pronoun): either / neither
Singular (unless there’s an either/neither… or construction). Then you follow the rules concerning either/neither … or
(Singular or plural indefinite pronoun): everybody, everyone
Singular
(Singular or plural indefinite pronoun): everything
Singular
(Singular or plural indefinite pronoun): nobody, no one
Singular
(Singular or plural indefinite pronoun): nothing, one
Singular
(Singular or plural indefinite pronoun): somebody, someone, something
Singular
(Singular or plural indefinite pronoun): whoever
Singular unless whoever precedes a plural noun that is the subject of the sentence. Ex. Whoever the owners are, they are doing a great job
Vs.
Whoever keeps eating other people’s food is really rude
(Singular or plural indefinite pronoun): both, few, many, several
Plural
Subordinate conjunctions
Since Although Whereas Because Unless Once If
Compound subject
Joined by and or, nor
- when they form a plural subject, use plural verb
- when they form a single entity, use singular verb (e.g. bed and breakfast, rice and beans)
Additive phrases
Along with, as well as, in addition to, accompanied by, together with
DO NOT create plural subjects
-a singular subject followed by an additive phrase remains singular, if it is plural, it stays plural
The verb in a clause or sentence containing a compound subject joined by the connections “or”, “nor” “either … or” or “neither … nor”…
Must agree with the subject noun to which it is closest
Collective nouns name groups of people or things ex. Choir, crew, band, troupe, pack, staff, army, regiment, tribe, panel, gang, flock, board
If the members of the group are not acting as a single unit but rather as individuals, a plural verb is required / if the group is acting as a single unit, a singular verb is required. On GMAT, collective nouns are almost always considered singular.
