Agreement of the predicate with the subject

In the English language the predicate agrees with the subject in person and number. It means that a singular noun –subject requires a singular verb-predicate, a plural noun-subject requires a plural verb-predicate.

The book is on the table.

The books are on the table.

I am invited to the party.

They are invited to the party.

In modern English there is often a conflict between the form and the meaning. In such cases the principle of grammatical agreement is not observed. The difficulties are caused by 1) the peculiarities of some pronouns, 2) the peculiarities of some conjunctions and 3) the conflict between the meaning and the form in some nouns or the peculiarity of their meaning. These peculiarities should be taken into account.

1. The predicate is used in the plural when there are two or more homogeneous (однородных) subjects connected by the conjunction and.

The telegram and the letter have been sent off.

Mary and Peter were here.

However, in sentences when two homogeneous nouns refer to one thing or person a singular verb-predicate is used.

Bread and butter is not enough for breakfast.

Bacon and eggs makes a traditional English breakfast.

If the article is repeated, the reference is to two persons or objects and the plural verb-predicate is used.

The bread and the butter are on the table.

With homogeneous subjects connected by both…and the plural verb-predicate is used.

Both the bread and the butter are fresh.

Both the teacher and the student have come.

If two or more homogeneous subjects are expressed by infinitives, the predicate is in the singular.

To live in peace and devote her life to her poor son was her aim.

2. When two subjects are connected by the conjunctions not only…but (also), neither…nor, either…or, or, nor the predicate agrees with the subject next to it.

Neither I nor my sister is to blame.

Neither your sister nor you are to blame.

3. When two subjects are connected by the conjunction as well the predicate agrees with the subject that stands first.

The girl as well as the boys has learnt to drive a car.

4. If the subject is expressed by the pronouns each, everyone, everything, somebody, someone, nobody, no one, nothing, neither the predicate is in the singular.

Everybody was at the meeting

Someone is knocking at the door.

Each has answered well.

Neither of the answers is correct.

However, none has the plural verb-predicate.

None were here.

5. If the subject is expressed by the interrogative pronoun who (what) the predicate is usually in the singular.

Who has done it?

What is standing there?

If the question refers to more than one person, the predicate may be used in the plural.

Who were those girls?

5. If the subject is expressed by the relative pronouns who, which, that, the predicate agrees with its antecedent.

The boy who is standing at the window is my brother.

The boys who are standing at the window are my brothers.

5. If the subject is expressed by the pronoun all in the meaning of «всё», we use the predicate in the singular.

All is clear. Всё ясно.

If all is used in the meaning of «все», the predicate should be plural.

All are present. Все присутствуют.

5. If the subject is expressed by the emphatic it, the predicate is in the singular no matter what follows.

It is only English girls who can be trusted to travel alone.

5. If the subject is expressed by a collective noun denoting a group or collection of similar individuals taken as a whole (mankind, humanity, family, committee etc), the predicate is in the singular. If a collective noun denotes the individuals of the group taken separately, the predicate is in the plural.

My brother’s family is large.

The family were sitting round the table.

A committee was formed to work out a new plan.

The committee are of the same opinion.

5. Subjects expressed by nouns denoting measure, weight, time etc have the singular predicate when the statement is made about the whole amount, not about the units.

Ten years is a long time.

A million francs is a lot of money.

5. Subjects expressed by word-groups a/the number of…, a/the majority of …, a variety of …, the bulk of … can have the singular or the plural predicate.

The number (количество) of pages in this book isn’t large.

It was Sunday and a number (многие) of people were walking about.

The majority (большая часть) of the book is too technical.

The majority (многие) of my friends live in London.

In most cases the form of the predicate depends on the form and the meaning of the second element which from a semantic point of view is the dominant element of the word-group.

There is a lot of truth in that.

There are a lot of things still for you to believe.

A lot of people are coming.

5. Plural nouns or phrases when they are used as names, titles, quotation take the singular predicate.

“Fathers and Sons” is the most popular of Turgenev’s novels.

However, the titles of some works which are collections of stories may have either a singular or a plural verb.

Turgenev’s “Hunter’s Tales” was/were published in 1858.

5. Subjects can be expressed by a clause introduced by a conjunction or an adverb. In this case it always takes the singular predicate.

Whether you found him or not does not concern me

How you got there is beyond my understanding...

5. A numerical expression such as arithmetical addition, subtraction, division takes the singular predicate.

Four and four is eight.

Four minus two is two.

Ten divided by five is two.

However, multiplication admits of two variants.

Twice two is/are four.