Verb in singular

Verb in singular or plural

Verb in plural

when the subject is expressed by an uncountable noun belonging to the singularia tantum: air, love, money, hair, gate, news, billiards, bowls, economics, aerobics, series, means, measles, mumps, summons

e.g. The gate is open.

when the subject is expressed by a collective noun (noun of multitude) crew, family, team, crowd, company, tactics, politics which can be regarded from different points of view: as a unity of similar things – singular, or as a number of separate things – plural

e.g. Our family is small.

How are your family? (How is everybody personally?)

when the subject is expressed by an uncountable noun belonging to the pluralia tantum: sweets, contents, stairs, scissors, tongs, shorts, scales, glasses, traffic-lights, wages, clothes, police, cattle

e.g. The stairs are dangerous.

when the subject is expressed by a plural noun denoting measure, weight, time, distance, representing the amount as a whole

e.g. Two francs is a small sum.

Ten years is a long period of time.

when subject is expressed by the group with collective noun

a flock of sheep, a herd of cows, a school of fish, a swarm of bees, a pack of dogs, a pile of papers, a set of tools the verb agrees with the nearest noun

e.g. A bunch of bananas were on the table.

after emphatic / demonstrative “it”

e.g. It was my friends who called.

after “here”, “there” the predicate agrees with the subject that stands first

e.g. There was a book.

There were many books.

if there is a compound subject after “here”, “there” the verb is in plural (it is recommended to transpose such sentences)

e.g. There go the boy and his mother. –

The boy and his mother go there.

when the subject in the plural form is used as a name, title, quotation

e.g. “Times” is very popular nowadays.

but sometimes, when the title is a collection of stories plural form can be used

e.g. The “Canterbury Tales” were written by Geoffrey Chaucer.

when the subject is a pronoun: somebody, anybody, anyone, nobody, no one, each, everybody, everyone

e.g. Each has answered well.

when the subject is the pronoun all

all as “все” – singular: e.g. All is well that ends well.

all as “всі” – plural: e.g. All were eager to come.

interrogative pronouns who, what can be used with verbs in singular and plural, depending on the number of people or things they refer to

e.g. Who has come?

Who have agreed to act?

when the subject is the relative pronoun, the form of the verb depends on the noun or pronoun it refers to

e.g. It is you who are right.

Do you know the girls who live next door?

when the subject is little, much

e.g. Little was said.

when the subject is any, more, some, enough, most, none the form of the verb depends on the following noun. When they refer to a quantity or a mass as a whole – singular, if to a number – plural.

e.g. Most of the pie was eaten.

Most of the hot-dogs were eaten

when the subject is several, few, many, most, others, both

e.g. I like books. Several are always with me.

Both are mine.

words half, part referring to mass or section are used with the verb in singular

e.g. Part of the roof was destroyed.

When they refer to a number of individuals or things – plural

e.g. Part of the guests have arrived.

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Verb in singular

Verb in singular or plural

Verb in plural

when homogeneous subjects are connected by the conjunction or predicate is in singular

when two homogeneous subjects are connected by the conjunction: not only … but also, either … or, neither … nor the predicate agrees with the nearest subject

e.g. Not only my parents but also my friend knows about it.

when homogeneous subjects are connected by the conjunctions: as well as, rather than, as much as, more than, with, together with, along with, accompanied by, including, in addition to the predicate agrees with the first one

e.g. My friend as well as me likes music.

A man with a horse enters the yard.

when homogeneous subjects are connected by the conjunction and , and refer to one person or thing

e.g. A black and white kitten was playing on the rug. (one kitten)

Bread and butter is tasty.(together)

Bacon and eggs is a traditional English breakfast. (one dish)

when homogeneous subjects are connected by the conjunction and forming a compound subject, and two articles are used in front of them

e.g. Tom and Mary are my friends.

A black and a white kitten were playing on the rug. (two kittens)

The bread and the butter are on the table.

when homogeneous subjects are expressed by infinitive or infinitive phrase

e.g. To live, to learn, to love is not easy.

To know everything is to know nothing.

when subject is expressed by a prepositional phrase

e.g. After the lesson is the time to speak.

when subject is expressed by a clause introduced by a conjunction

e.g. How you got there is beyond my understanding.

when subject is expressed by a numerical expression: addition, subtraction, division (except multiplication)

e.g. Four and four is eight.

when subject is expressed by a numerical expression - multiplication

e.g. Twice two is / are four.

when subject is expressed by the group many a + noun (багато, не один)

e.g. Many a man has done it. (Багато хто робив це)

when subject is expressed by the group:

a number of + noun in plural – verb in plural

e.g. A number of people were talking. (group)

the number of + noun in plural – verb in singular

e.g. The number of pages isn’t big. (quantity)

when there is a not phrase in the sentence the predicate agrees with the first word

e.g. I, not you, am late.

when subject is expressed by substantivized adjectives denoting the group of people: the blind, the deaf, the old, the poor

e.g. The wounded were sleeping.

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