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WORD PLAY
By Peter Gauthier
In correct grammar every verb in a clause or sentence must agree in number and person
with its subject. Most nouns (subjects) indicate a plural by an ‘s’ ending. For verbs, the
third person singular usually has the ‘s’ ending. Beyond this, there are a few odd or
special conditions.
Plural-only nouns are considered plural, even when they refer to only one occurrence.
These include words such as pants, trousers, breeches, overalls, slacks, scissors,
tweezers, pincers, glasses (eye wear). Thus: The pants are on the floor and my reading
glasses are on the table.
Some nouns ending in ‘s’ are actually singular. These include: mathematics, economics,
ethics, measles, hiccups, news, series. For example: The news is good is correct as is the
World Series is played in October.
Compound subjects (subjects connected by and, or, nor) have some special cases.
1. When the subject of a sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns
connected by and, use a plural verb. She and her friend are at the fair.
2. When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by or (or nor), use a
singular verb. The book or the pen is in the drawer.
3. When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or pronoun
joined by or (or nor), the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is nearer the
verb. Thus: The boy or his friends run every day. But: His friends or the boy runs every
day.
Do not be misled by a phrase that comes between the subject and the verb. The verb
agrees with the subject, not with a noun or pronoun in the phrase. Consider: The team
captain, as well as his players, is anxious. The woman with all the dogs walks down my
street.
Doesn't is a contraction of does not and should be used only with a singular subject.
Don't is a contraction of do not and should be used only with a plural subject. The
exception to this rule appears in the case of the first person and second person pronouns I
and you. With these pronouns, the contraction don't should be used. Examples: He
doesn't like it. They don't like it.
In sentences beginning with there is or there are, the subject follows the verb. Since there
is not the subject, the verb agrees with what follows. There are many questions. There is
a question.
The words each, each one, either, neither, everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone,
nobody, somebody, someone, and no one are indefinite nouns. Indefinite nouns are
singular and take a singular verb. Each of these hot dogs is juicy. Everybody knows Mr.
Jones.
There are a few “odd” cases.
1. Media comes from the Latin plural of medium. It often behaves as a collective noun
(one referring to a group of people or things, such as staff), and can correctly be used
with a singular or plural verb. The media was informed or the media were informed are
both correct.
2. The main meaning of majority is “the greater number” and it should be used with
plural nouns; e.g. the majority of candidates were incumbents. Note that it is not good
English to use majority with nouns that do not take a plural to mean “the greatest part” as
in she ate the majority of the meal.
3. Collective nouns, such as audience, family, herd, government, team, are nouns which
refer to groups of people or things. They can be treated as singular or plural, with either a
singular or plural verb (the whole family was at the table or the whole family were at the
table).
4. The word data is the plural of Latin datum, and in scientific use it is usually treated as
a plural noun, taking a plural verb (e.g. the data were classified). In everyday use,
however, data is often treated as a singular noun (e.g. the data is correct).
5. Some plural words have come into English from other languages and have developed
singular meanings, e.g., graffiti, furniture. The furniture was delivered on Tuesday.