Singular & Plural Flashcards
Plural nouns are usually formed by adding (?) or (?)(?) to the singular form
s
es
Many singular verbs end in (?) or (?)(?)
s or es - the direct opposite of nouns (plural nouns)
The basic principle of using nouns and verbs properly
“A singular subject must have a singular verb; a plural subject must have a plural verb.”
Tricky exceptions to the above rule.
When the subject of the verb is an indefinite pronoun
Please name the 5 indefinite pronouns that can be either singular or plural, depending on how they are used.
Hint - SANAM PRONOUNS
Some Any None All Most
“Some of the pie was eaten”
Verb=
Subject of the verb=
Verb - was eaten - singular
Subject of the verb - some - singular
“Some of the students were late”
V=
SV=
Verb - were - plural
SV - some - plural
Tip!
How to tell if the SANAM pronoun is singular or plural.
Look at the subject of the prepositional phrase that (usually) follows the SANAM.
Of the pie - singular
Of the students - plural
A (?) noun is a noun that is singular in form, but refers to a group of people, places, things, or ideas
Collective
Team / group / class / flock / family
Rule!
When the subject of the verb is a collective noun, use either a singular verb or plural verb depending on how the noun is used.
- When the noun refers to the group as a whole use a singular verb.
- when the noun refers to the group as individuals, use a plural verb.
Correct or incorrect?
“The team is ready for the game”
V=
Subject of the verb =
Does the verb need to be singular or plural
Correct
Verb = is
Subject of the verb = team - collective noun
Verb needs to be singular
Correct or incorrect?
“The team are dressing”
Verb =
SV =
Singular or plural required?
Correct
V= are dressing - plural
SV= team
Verb needs to be Plural
True or false
In the majority of cases, collective nouns are singular. It’s the minority of cases that it’s plural
True
Tricky!
A subject that describes an amount is singular
“One million dollars is a lot of money”
Or
“Five minutes in the dentist’s chair feels like a long time”
Verb - is - singular
Subj of verb - one million dollars
Verb - feels
Subject of verb - five minutes
Tricky!
The phrase “the number” is singular
The phrase “a number” is plural
The number of children in the family is three - singular
A number of children are waiting for their parents
- plural
Four hundred pages (seems/seem) like an awfully long reading assignment for the holiday weekend
Singular verb - Seems Is correct
Neither of the injured dancers (is/are) feeling well enough to perform this evening.
Is
Neither is an indefinite pronoun - singular, so a singular verb is required
The orchestra (has/have) recently completed a successful tour of several Asian countries.
Hint - orchestra = collective noun
Has - singular verb
All of the stone masons working on the cathedral (is/are) residents of Harlem.
Are - plural verb
Everyone in the class (was/were) surprised at how easy the final exam was.
Was
Indefinite pronoun ending in one “everyone” (ending in body or one = singular use)
Indefinite pronouns can be broken down into three categories.
Please name them:
- Always singular
- Always plural
- Singular or plural
Please name 4 indefinite pronouns that are always singular
Each
Either
One
Neither
All indefinite pronouns ending in “body” or “one” I.e everybody, someone, no one, somebody, nobody, anyone, and used as the subject of the verb -
are always:
A. Plural
B. Singular
C. Can be both
B. Singular
Please name the 5 plural indefinite pronouns.
Both
Few
Many
Others
Several
