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English grammar

Agreement in awkward cases

C1 · Advanced Nouns and describing Questions 10

The rule

Subject and verb usually agree by form, but in several cases English follows meaning. Collective nouns (team, government, committee, family) take a singular verb when seen as one unit and, in British English, often a plural verb when seen as individuals: The team is top of the league; The committee are divided. police and staff (the employees) are plural. a number of + plural noun takes a plural verb (A number of people have complained), but the number of takes a singular one (The number of complaints has risen). each / either / neither of + plural noun take a singular verb in formal writing, more than one + singular noun a singular verb, and an amount seen as one quantity is singular (Ten miles is a long way). Words that look plural can be singular: news, physics, the Netherlands. With either … or / neither … nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject.

Pattern

team / committee + is (unit) · are (individuals, BrE) · police / staff + are · a number of + plural → are · the number of → is · each / neither of → is (formal) · more than one + singular → is · amount as one quantity → is · news / physics → is

Examples

  1. A number of residents have complained about the noise.

  2. The number of students has fallen for three years.

  3. Neither of the proposals is acceptable in its current form.

  4. Ten kilometres is too far to walk with a child.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: The number of complaints have risen.

    Right: The number of complaints has risen.

    the number of takes a singular verb.

  • Wrong: The police is investigating.

    Right: The police are investigating.

    police always takes a plural verb.

  • Wrong: More than one passenger were injured.

    Right: More than one passenger was injured.

    more than one + singular noun takes a singular verb.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    1. A number of problems have been reported.
    2. A number of problem have been reported.
    3. A number of problems has been reported.
    4. The number of problems have been reported.
    Show answer

    Answer: A A number of problems have been reported.

    a number of + plural → plural verb.

  2. 2Fill in the gap.

    The number of accidents _____ fallen since the new lights.

    1. were
    2. have
    3. are
    4. has
    Show answer

    Answer: D The number of accidents has fallen since the new lights.

    the number of → singular verb.

  3. 3This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    The police has arrested two men.

    1. The police is arrested two men.
    2. The police has arrest two men.
    3. The polices have arrested two men.
    4. The police have arrested two men.
    Show answer

    Answer: D The police have arrested two men.

    police is plural.

  4. 4Choose the correct sentence.

    Which is correct in formal writing?

    Four versions of one sentence.

    1. Neither of the candidates has enough experience.
    2. Neither the candidates has enough experience.
    3. Neither of the candidate has enough experience.
    4. Neither of the candidates have enough experiences.
    Show answer

    Answer: A Neither of the candidates has enough experience.

    Formal: neither of + plural noun + singular verb.

  5. 5Change the sentence.

    Treat the amount as one quantity.

    Twenty euros are too much for a sandwich.

    1. Twenty euros is too many for a sandwich.
    2. Twenty euros is too much for a sandwich.
    3. Twenty euros are too many for a sandwich.
    4. Twenty euro are too much for a sandwich.
    Show answer

    Answer: B Twenty euros is too much for a sandwich.

    A sum of money seen as one amount: singular verb.

  6. 6Choose the correct sentence.

    1. The news is not as bad as we feared.
    2. The newses are not as bad as we feared.
    3. The news are not as bad as we feared.
    4. The new is not as bad as we feared.
    Show answer

    Answer: A The news is not as bad as we feared.

    news is singular.

  7. 7Put the words in the right order.

    More than one flight was cancelled this morning

    Show answer

    Answer: More than one flight was cancelled this morning.

    more than one + singular noun + singular verb.

  8. 8Choose the correct sentence.

    Why is the verb plural?

    The committee are divided on the issue.

    1. The sentence is American English.
    2. The members are seen as individuals.
    3. Committee is a plural word.
    4. It is a spelling mistake.
    Show answer

    Answer: B The members are seen as individuals.

    British English uses a plural verb when a group acts as individuals.

  9. 9Fill in the gap.

    The majority of the budget _____ spent on staff.

    1. is
    2. were
    3. are
    4. have
    Show answer

    Answer: A The majority of the budget is spent on staff.

    the majority of + uncountable noun → singular verb.

  10. 10Fill in the gap.

    You are writing a formal report.

    Each of the three departments _____ submitted a plan.

    1. are
    2. were
    3. have
    4. has
    Show answer

    Answer: D Each of the three departments has submitted a plan.

    each of + plural → singular verb.

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