The janitor A helps the younger children cross the street, (or

an older pupil) caretaker

These questions are answered in this chapter. (Every one of)

The boys are very willing to help. (Each of)

The superb acting A makes this an outstanding movie, (and

the fine directing)

There . . . several ways of making cakes.

a. Here ... the key to the car.

b. Here ... the keys to the car.
Which sentence requires the plural verb are?

a. ... no battery in this flashlight.

b. ... no batteries in this flashlight.
In which sentence would There's be correct?

a. . . . some scraps for your dog.

b. ... a bone for your dog.
In which sentence would Here's be correct?

The problem of subject-verb agreement is the same when a

sentence begins with There was, There were, There has been,
There have been.
b
Underline the correct verb:

There {was, were) sixteen lighted candles on the cake.

There {has, have) been too many accidents lately.

In interrogative sentences, too. the verb (or part of the verb)

usually precedes the subject, and we must look ahead to
see whether a singular or a plural subject is coming.
a. Where . . . your father? How . . . your father?
b. Where . . . your parents? How . . . your parents?
Which sentences require the plural verb are?

Underline the correct verb:

How much (is, are) the ticket

(Has. Have) there been any complaints about the service

The nouns kind, sort, and type are singular and require
singular verbs.
The other kind of cookies is easier to make.
We use the singular verb is because the subject in the above
sentence is (kind, cookies).

The newer type of automatic machines (washes, wash) the

clothes faster.

Because the nouns kind, sort, and type are singular, use the
singular adjectives this and that (not the plural adjectives
these and those) to point them out.
a. This kind of berries is better for shipping.
b. These kind of berries are better for shipping.
Which sentence is correct�a or b?

Underline the correct words:

{This, These) sort (is, are) much harder to grow.

Underline the correct words:

{That, Those) type {seems, seem) sturdier to me.

A noun that means a group or collection of persons or

animals is called a collective noun.
a. member, child, student, chairman, goat
b. team, family, class, audience, flock
Which group of words consists of collective nouns?

A collective noun takes a singular verb when the group acts

together as a single unit; a plural verb when the members
of the group act individually.
a. The class is now in the library.
b. The class are giving their talks on famous inventors.
We think of the class as a single unit in sentence (a, b).

a. The class is now in the library.

b. The class are giving their talks on famous inventors.
We think of the members of the class as acting individually
in sentence (a, b).

Underline the correct verb in each sentence:

a. The class (is, are) now in the library.
b. The class (is, are) giving their talks on famous inventors.__a is _b are

a. The team (has, have) not yet worn their new uniforms.
b. The team (has, have) won every game this season._have/has

It is sometimes difficult to decide whether a group is acting

as a single unit or as individuals. Whatever you decide, be
sure to keep your pronoun consistent with the verb.
a. The class was {singular) ready for their {plural) test.
b. The class was {singular) ready for its {singular) test.
The pronoun is consistent with the verb in sentence {a, b).

The audience {was, were) rattling their programs._were

(Does the audience as a single unit rattle a single program?)

Weights, measurements, periods of time, and amounts of

money generally take singular verbs because they are
thought of as single quantities rather than separate units.
Fifty feet of hose is enough. Ten dollars seems a fair price.
Although the subjects of these sentences are plural in form,
they take {singular, plural) verbs.

a. Five minutes is enough time for my announcement.

b. Four yards of material are enough for a dress.
In which sentence is the verb correct?

One dollar seems too much to pay for this cake.

a
If you changed One dollar to Three dollars, would you need
to change the verb seems? (Yes, No) No

There (is, are) about twenty-four electric light bulbs in the

average car of today.

{Here's, Here are) the list of contributors.

License statistics show that there {is, are) more fishers than
hunters in the United States.are

How much (are, is) those writing pads? are

There (hasn't, haven't) been any changes in the rules. haven't

{Those, That) type of scissors (are, is) made for cutting hair. That/is

(This, These) kind (wears, wear) much longer than the

cheaper ones. this wears

The entire Apache tribe (was, were) against the sale of its
property. was

(Note: A verb and a pronoun used with a collective noun

must be consistent with each other in number.)
The band (was, were) tuning up (its, their) instruments.were/their

Five tons (were, was) too big a load for the truck.was

Two hours {seems, seem) hardly enough time to see all the
sights. seems
b. The writer and the director is pleased with each other.
In which sentence is the singular verb "IS" INCORRECT?

I LOVE to make THE SUBJECT and the VERB AGREE!

A. Mr. Ford and his son are in London.
B. Mr. Ford, with his son, are in London.
Is A or B CORRECT?

A tennis court, as well as a swimming pool, ____ available to guests.

1. is
2.are

The clerk _______ took my order made a mistake in the bill.

1. who
2. which

Pronoun errors occur most often when pronouns are used

in pairs or when a noun and a pronoun are coupled together.

A car mechanic or an engineer (is, are) always on hand.

Several friends save (them, they) for (me, I).

Neither of the coats____fit/fits me.

(He, Him) and (I, me) counted the votes.

You can't blame the Kirks or (them, they) for objecting.

The Smiths or (us, we) will call for you.

The reporter snapped a picture of (her, she) and (I, me).

The Whittens and we were the first to arrive.

The remark made Roxanne and (me, I) angry.

Roger and (her, she) disturbed everyone with their talking.

The only other girl in the class was (her, she).

a. It was Irene who answered the phone.

b. It was she who answered the phone.
c. She was the one who answered the phone.
.