Subject-Verb Agreement: Collective Nouns, Quantity and Time, Singular Nouns with Plural Forms

Subject-Verb Agreement: Collective Nouns, Quantity and Time, Singular Nouns with Plural Forms

​Collective Nouns

​Use a singular verb with a collective noun subject that is thought of as a unit. Use a plural verb with a collective noun subject that is thought of as a group of separate individuals.

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Common Collective Nouns: audience, congregation, flock, jury, family. class, herd, team, group, swarm, committee.

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It is made of many members, but it is one UNIT.

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​Ex. The class is excelling with the teacher's help.

​Quantity and Time

​A subject that expresses an amount, measurement, weight, or time is usually singular and takes a singular verb.

​Quantity Examples

​Twenty-six miles is the distance of a marathon.

​Fifteen million dollars was the price of the Louisiana Purchase.

Three-fourths of the class is going on the museum trip.

​​Time Examples

​Five minutes was too long to wait for him.

​Two weeks is considered a standard vacation.

Quantity and Time Continued

​Use a singular verb when an amount tells how much. Use plural verb when an amount tells how many.

How Much

​Half of the meeting was devoted to questions

​Fifty percent of the meeting was devoted to speeches

​How Many

​Half of the students were not present.

​Twenty percent of the students were ill that day.

​Quantity and Time Continued

​The Number of vs A Number of

​These two expressions present different problems in agreement. Use a singular verb with the number of and use a plural verb with a number of.

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​Ex. The number of Olympic gold medals won by Chinese athletes is increasing.

​A number of climbers have reached the summit.

​Singular Nouns with Plural Forms

​Use a singular verb with subjects that are plural in form, but singular in meaning.

​Ex. Mumps, Physics, Molasses, Economics

Multiple Choice

One hundred kilometers per hour (is, are) approximately equal to sixty miles per hour.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

The congregation (is, are) gathering for a parade.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Our bobsled team (is, are) determined to win.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

The number of Third World countries in the United Nations (has, have) greatly increased.

• has

• have

Multiple Choice

The orchestra (is, are) playing the school song.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Our football team (has, have) come from behind.

• has

• have

Multiple Choice

Only two-thirds of the orchestra (is, are) here.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

The first couple on the dance floor (was, were) Nadine and Gerry.

• was

• were