Must Know - SC - S-V Agreement

Question 1

Singular or Plural?

each of [noun]

Answer 1

Singular

ex. Each of us prefers a different style of cooking.

Question 2

To find the subject of a clause we . . . ?

Answer 2

find the noun that is doing or being what the main verb in the clause expresses

ex. The sailboats in the harbor on the south side of the island were rocked by waves.

Question 3

Singular or Plural?

a regular verb that ends in -s

Answer 3

Singular

For regular verbs, we place an -s at the end of a singular verb, and we drop the -s at the end of a plural verb.

ex. She swims in the sea. (singular)

Question 4

When a prepositional phrase, appositive, or relative clause appears between a subject and its verb, we can use what strategy to determine subject-verb agreement?

Answer 4

Cross off the prepositional phrase, appositive, or relative clause that appears between the subject and its verb.

ex. The dispute about whether to get rid of the old books has the family in an uproar.

Question 5

[noun] and [noun]

Answer 5

singular: the two nouns name a single entity
* ex. Rice and beans is a popular dish.

plural: the two nouns name two separate things
* ex. The boy and girl walk hand in hand to school.

Question 6

True or False?

Additive phrases make singular subjects plural.

Answer 6

False

Additive phrases do NOT make singular subjects plural.

ex. The mayor, along with members of the city council, is out to lunch.

Question 7

Which one would be a plural subject?

• Sue, along with Bob
• Sue and Bob
• Sue, in addition to Bob
• Sue, as well as Bob

Answer 7

Sue and Bob
Only and creates a plural subject when connecting singular nouns.

*ex. Sue and Bob are going to the movies. *

Question 8

5 common ways additive phrases begin

Answer 8

• as well as
• in addition to
• along with
• together with
• accompanied by

Question 9

[noun] or [noun]

singular subject when . . . ?
plural subject when . . . ?

Answer 9

singular: when the noun closer to the verb is singular (or both nouns are singular)
* ex. The chairs or the couch has to be moved.

plural: when the noun closer to the verb is plural
* ex. The couch or the chairs have to be moved.

Question 10

Where is the subject in an inverted sentence?

Answer 10

after the main verb

ex. Through those trees lives a creepy old man.

Question 11

[collective noun] of [noun]

singular subject when . . . ?
plural subject when . . . ?

Answer 11

singular: when the group acts as a single unit
* ex. That flock of geese flying overhead was the largest that I've seen.

plural: when the members of the group act individually
* ex. A group of dogs were chasing each other in the park.

Question 12

singular or plural?

each

Answer 12

singular

ex. Each snowflake is unique.

Question 13

singular or plural?

every

Answer 13

singular

ex. Every day is a gift.

Question 14

singular or plural?

every one of [noun]

Answer 14

singular

ex. Every one of them has something to contribute.

Question 15

singular or plural?

many a/an [noun]

Answer 15

singular

ex. Many an email has gone unanswered.

Question 16

The verb in a relative clause must agree in number with which element in a sentence?

Answer 16

the noun that the relative clause modifies

ex. The earrings that are on the nightstand are beautiful.

Question 17

singular or plural?

anybody

Answer 17

singular

ex. Anybody here is welcome to join the party.

Question 18

singular or plural?

everybody

Answer 18

singular

ex. Everybody is very pleased with the outcome.

Question 19

singular or plural?

anything

Answer 19

singular

ex. Anything is possible if you don’t give up.

Question 20

singular or plural?

everyone

Answer 20

singular

ex. After the concert, everyone was ready to go home.

Question 21

singular or plural?

everything

Answer 21

singular

ex. Lately, everything seems to be going well.

Question 22

singular or plural?

somebody

Answer 22

singular

ex. I’m sure somebody knows what happened.

Question 23

singular or plural?

nobody

Answer 23

singular

ex. Unfortunately, nobody has the code to open the safe.

Question 24

singular or plural?

something

Answer 24

singular

ex. Something spooky is going on in that old house on the hill.

Question 25

# singular or plural? **nothing**

Answer 25

singular ## Footnote *ex. Nothing about the meetings **leaves** the board feeling confident.*

Question 26

# singular or plural? **no one**

Answer 26

singular ## Footnote *ex. No one **knows** for sure whether intelligent life exists on other planets.*

Question 27

# singular or plural? **whatever**

Answer 27

singular ## Footnote *ex. He does whatever **makes** his wife happy.*

Question 28

# singular or plural? **whoever**

Answer 28

singular ## Footnote *ex. Whoever **wins** the election will inherit quite a mess.* **note:** The construction "whoever the [noun]" takes a singular verb if the noun is singular and a plural verb if the noun is plural. * *ex1. Whoever the **winner is**, we'll be happy.* * *ex2. Whoever the **winners are**, we'll be happy.*

Question 29

# singular or plural? **either**

Answer 29

singular ## Footnote *ex. Either party **is** guaranteed to be a good time.*

Question 30

# singular or plural? **either of [noun]**

Answer 30

singular ## Footnote *ex. Either of them **has** the ability to complete the project quickly.*

Question 31

# singular or plural? **neither**

Answer 31

singular ## Footnote *ex. Neither plan **makes** much sense.*

Question 32

# singular or plural? **neither of [noun]**

Answer 32

singular ## Footnote *ex. Neither of the girls **likes** doing chores on the weekends.*

Question 33

# singular or plural? **both**

Answer 33

plural ## Footnote *ex. Both of the candidates **meet** the requirements for the job.*

Question 34

# singular or plural? **few**

Answer 34

plural ## Footnote *ex. Few of my favorite movies **involve** special effects.*

Question 35

# singular or plural? **many**

Answer 35

plural ## Footnote *ex. Many of the animals up for adoption **are** abandoned pets.*

Question 36

# singular or plural? **many of [noun]**

Answer 36

plural ## Footnote *ex. Many of the students **are** interested in careers in the arts.*

Question 37

SANAMM pronouns

Answer 37

SANAMM: * **S**ome * **A** ny * **N**one * **A**ll * **M**ore * **M**ost

Question 37

# singular or plural? **several**

Answer 37

plural ## Footnote *ex. Several of the students **prefer** to read silently.*

Question 38

# ingular or plural? **the number of [noun]**

Answer 38

singular ## Footnote *ex. The number of students who apply for summer internships **has** been increasing.*

Question 39

# singular or plural? **a number of [noun]**

Answer 39

plural ## Footnote *ex. A number of students **have** applied for summer internships.*

Question 40

# singular or plural? **the percentage of [noun]**

Answer 40

singular ## Footnote *ex. The percentage of people who don't vote **is** astounding.*

Question 41

# **[fraction] of [noun]** singular subject when . . . ? plural subject when . . . ?

Answer 41

**singular:** when the noun is singular * *ex. Half of the class **is** going on a field trip.* **plural:** when the noun is plural * *ex. One-third of the students **have** shown an interest in geology.*

Question 42

# **[x percent] of the [noun]** singular subject when . . . ? plural subject when . . . ?

Answer 42

**singular:** when the noun is singular * *ex. Ninety percent of the board **was** present.* **plural:** when the noun is plural * *ex. Fifty percent of the board members **are** in favor of the acquisition.*

Question 43

# plural = ? **alumnus**

Answer 43

alumni

Question 44

# plural = ? **criterion**

Answer 44

criteria

Question 45

# plural = ? **fungus**

Answer 45

fungi

Question 46

# plural = ? **phenomenon**

Answer 46

phenomena

Question 47

# plural = ? **nucleus**

Answer 47

nuclei

Question 48

# plural = ? **syllabus**

Answer 48

syllabi

Question 49

# a noun that ends in -ics singular subject when . . . ? plural subject when . . . ?

Answer 49

**singular:** when the noun names a field of study * *ex. Mathematics **is** my worst subject.* **plural:** when the noun does NOT name a field of study * *ex. His politics **get** in the way of his personal relationships.*

Question 50

# singular or plural? **nontraditional subject**

Answer 50

singular ## Footnote * *ex1. Swimming **is** good exercise. (_gerund as subject_)* * *ex2. What I want **is** for you to be healthy. (_noun clause as subject_)* * *ex3. To run outdoors during winter **is** difficult at times. (_infinitive as subject_)*

Question 51

# singular subject or plural subject? To know them . . .

Answer 51

singular subject When an infinitive is a subject, it is always singular. ## Footnote *ex. To know them **is** to love them.*

Question 52

# singular subject or plural subject? Failing two tests . . .

Answer 52

singular subject When a gerund is a subject, it is always singular. ## Footnote *ex. Failing two tests **is** not the end of the world.*

Question 53

# singular subject or plural subject? That you have four cats . . .

Answer 53

singular subject When a noun clause is a subject, it is always singular. ## Footnote *ex. That you have four cats **is** not a problem for me.*

Question 54

# singular or plural? **anyone**

Answer 54

singular ## Footnote *ex. Anyone **has** a shot at winning the contest.*

Question 55

# **either [noun] or [noun]** singular subject when . . . ? plural subject when . . . ?

Answer 55

**singular:** when the noun closer to the verb is singular * *ex. Either the teachers or **the principal** **starts** the meeting.* **plural:** when the noun closer to the verb is plural * *ex. Either the principal or **the teachers** **start** the meeting.*

Question 56

# singular or plural? **someone**

Answer 56

singular ## Footnote *ex. If someone **fixes** up this house, it will be lovely.*

Question 57

# plural = ? **medium**

Answer 57

media **exception:** When "medium" means someone who talks to spirits, the plural is "mediums."

Question 58

# **a percentage of [noun]** singular subject when . . . ? plural subject when . . . ?

Answer 58

**singular:** when the noun is singular * *ex. A large percentage of the food served at these events **comes** from local farms.* **plural:** when the noun is plural * *ex. A small percentage of the participants **were** disqualified.*

Question 59

# **a/the majority of [noun]** singular subject when . . . ? plural subject when . . . ?

Answer 59

**singular:** when the majority itself is the logical "doer" of the action * *ex. A two-thirds majority of the ministers **was** required for the passage of the amendment.* **plural:** when the things within the majority are the logical "doers" of the action * *ex. A majority of the students **are** already applying for jobs.*

Question 60

# **neither [noun] nor [noun]** singular subject when . . . ? plural subject when . . . ?

Answer 60

**singular:** when the noun closer to the verb is singular * *ex. Neither the parents nor **the teacher** **is** happy.* **plural:** when the noun closer to the verb is plural * *ex. Neither the teacher nor **the parents** **are** happy.*

Question 61

# **[SANAMM pronoun] of [noun]** singular subject when . . . ? plural subject when . . . ?

Answer 61

**singular:** when the noun is singular * *ex. All of the class **was** present yesterday.* **plural:** when the noun is plural * *ex. All of the students **want** the teacher to extend the deadline.* **exception:** "None of [plural noun]" can be singular or plural. * *ex. None of these candidates **is** worth supporting. (_correct_)* * *None of these candidates **are** worth supporting. (_also correct_)*

Question 62

# **a/the minority of [noun]** singular subject when . . . ? plural subject when . . . ?

Answer 62

**singular:** when the minority itself is the logical "doer" of the action * *ex. A large enough minority **is** sufficient for blocking passage of a new amendment.* **plural:** when the things within the minority are the logical "doers" of the action * *ex. Only a small minority of people **believe** that Earth is flat.*

Question 63

# **collective noun** singular subject when . . . ? plural subject when . . . ?

Answer 63

**singular:** when the group acts as a single unit * *ex. The crew **is** scheduled to arrive in the afternoon.* **plural:** when the members of the group act individually * *ex. The crew sometimes **argue** with each other about who should do what.*