Page 5 - Lesson Notes

BUT
Ten dollars (i.e., dollar bills) were scattered on the floor.
Rule 8. With words that indicate portions—e.g., a lot, a majority, some, all—Rule 1 given earlier in
this section is reversed, and we are guided by the noun after of. If the noun after of is singular, use a
singular verb. If it is plural, use a plural verb.
Examples:
A lot of the pie has disappeared.
A lot of the pies have disappeared.
A third of the city is unemployed.
A third of the people are unemployed.
All of the pie is gone.
All of the pies are gone.
Some of the pie is missing.
Some of the pies are missing.
Rule 9. With collective nouns such as group, jury, family, audience, population, the verb might be
singular or plural, depending on the writer's intent.
Examples:
All of my family has arrived OR have arrived.
Most of the jury is here OR are here.
A third of the population was not in favor OR were not in favor of the bill.
Rule 10. The word were replaces was in sentences that express a wish or are contrary to fact:
Example: If Joe were here, you'd be sorry.
Shouldn't Joe be followed by was, not were, given that Joe is singular? But Joe isn't actually here, so
we say were, not was. The sentence demonstrates the subjunctive mood, which is used to express
things that are hypothetical, wishful, imaginary, or factually contradictory. The subjunctive mood
pairs singular subjects with what we usually think of as plural verbs.
Examples:
I wish it were Friday.
She requested that he raise his hand.
Rule11: The singular verb form is usually reserved for units of measurement or time.
Four quarts of oil was required to get the car running.
Rule12: If the subjects are both plural and are connected by the words "or," "nor," "neither/nor,"
"either/or," or "not only/but also," the verb is plural.
Not only dogs but also cats are available at the animal shelter.

Assignments:( To be done in the class work notebook)
A. Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject.
1. Annie and her brothers (is, are) at school.
2. Either my mother or my father (is, are) coming to the meeting.
3. The dog or the cats (is, are) outside.
4. Either my shoes or your coat (is, are) always on the floor.
5. George and Tamara (doesn't, don't) want to see that movie.
6. Benito (doesn't, don't) know the answer.
7. One of my sisters (is, are) going on a trip to France.

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