Singular & Plural

Question 1

Plural nouns are usually formed by adding (?) or (?)(?) to the singular form

Answer 1

s

es

Question 2

Many singular verbs end in (?) or (?)(?)

Answer 2

s or es - the direct opposite of nouns (plural nouns)

Question 3

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.”

Answer 3

Tricky exceptions to the above rule.

When the subject of the verb is an indefinite pronoun

Question 4

Please name the 5 indefinite pronouns that can be either singular or plural, depending on how they are used.
Hint - SANAM PRONOUNS

Answer 4

Some
Any
None
All
Most

Question 5

“Some of the pie was eaten”

Verb=
Subject of the verb=

Answer 5

Verb - was eaten - singular

Subject of the verb - some - singular

Question 6

“Some of the students were late”

V=
SV=

Answer 6

Verb - were - plural

SV - some - plural

Question 7

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.

Answer 7

Of the pie - singular

Of the students - plural

Question 8

A (?) noun is a noun that is singular in form, but refers to a group of people, places, things, or ideas

Answer 8

Collective

Team / group / class / flock / family

Question 9

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.

Answer 9

• 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.

Question 10

Correct or incorrect?

“The team is ready for the game”

V=
Subject of the verb =
Does the verb need to be singular or plural

Answer 10

Correct

Verb = is
Subject of the verb = team - collective noun
Verb needs to be singular

Question 11

Correct or incorrect?

“The team are dressing”

Verb =
SV =
Singular or plural required?

Answer 11

Correct

V= are dressing - plural
SV= team
Verb needs to be Plural

Question 12

True or false

In the majority of cases, collective nouns are singular. It’s the minority of cases that it’s plural

Answer 12

True

Question 13

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”

Answer 13

Verb - is - singular
Subj of verb - one million dollars

Verb - feels
Subject of verb - five minutes

Question 14

Tricky!

The phrase “the number” is singular
The phrase “a number” is plural

Answer 14

The number of children in the family is three - singular

A number of children are waiting for their parents
- plural

Question 15

Four hundred pages (seems/seem) like an awfully long reading assignment for the holiday weekend

Answer 15

Singular verb - Seems Is correct

Question 16

Neither of the injured dancers (is/are) feeling well enough to perform this evening.

Answer 16

Is

Neither is an indefinite pronoun - singular, so a singular verb is required

Question 17

The orchestra (has/have) recently completed a successful tour of several Asian countries.

Hint - orchestra = collective noun

Answer 17

Has - singular verb

Question 18

All of the stone masons working on the cathedral (is/are) residents of Harlem.

Answer 18

Are - plural verb

Question 19

Everyone in the class (was/were) surprised at how easy the final exam was.

Answer 19

Was

Indefinite pronoun ending in one “everyone” (ending in body or one = singular use)

Question 20

Indefinite pronouns can be broken down into three categories.
Please name them:

Answer 20

1. Always singular
2. Always plural
3. Singular or plural

Question 21

Please name 4 indefinite pronouns that are always singular

Answer 21

Each

Either

One

Neither

Question 22

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

Answer 22

B. Singular

Question 23

Please name the 5 plural indefinite pronouns.

Answer 23

Both

Few

Many

Others

Several