Errors with Singular and Plural Verbs
Errors with Singular and Plural Verbs
In the next series of lessons, we’ll look at some common errors with verbs and objects. The goal of these lessons is not to teach you everything about verbs, but just to identify and avoid the most common errors. Let’s begin with a few simple but common ones involving singular and plural verbs:
Error #12
Don’t say:
• There are a table, a desk, and two chairs in the room.
Say:
• There is a table, a desk, and two chairs in the room.
Why do we way “there is” when we have multiple things? The decision about “there is” or “there are” depends on the first item in the list.
If the first item in the list is singular, then we use “there is.” The first item here is a table - that's singular, so we say, “There is a table, a desk, and two chairs in the room.”
If the first item in the list is plural, then we use “there are.” If I changed the order of this sentence and I put two chairs as the first item, then I would say, “There are two chairs, a table, and a desk in the room.”
Error #13
Don’t write:
• There’re four books on the table.
Write:
• There are four books on the table.
In written English, it’s not correct to write “there’re”; we need to write “there are.” We can shorten “there is” to “there’s,” but we can’t shorten “there are” - we need to write two words.
This confusion comes because when we're speaking, especially when we're speaking fast, we tend to almost say it like “there’re.” It’s very fast and it sounds like “there’re,” but in written English, it’s always two words - “there are.”
Error #14
Don’t say:
• Everybody are happy.
Say:
• Everybody is happy.
The word everybody, even though it refers to a lot of people, is considered singular in English grammar! It’s the same for everyone, as well as anybody, somebody, nobody, anyone, someone, and no one.
• Everyone has problems.
• I don’t know if anybody is in the office right now.
• How do you react if someone gives you a compliment?
• Nobody likes the new English teacher.
A few other words that are grammatically singular, even though they are talking about a group of people, are club, team, family, and army:
• My family is visiting me for the holidays.
• The basketball team has a new coach.
Note: In British English “family” and “team” are often plural.
One exception is the word police - it’s usually plural when talking about the general police force:
• The police are investigating the murder.
• Police have arrested three suspects.
To talk about an individual member of the police, we can say policeman or policewoman – or the gender-neutral term police officer. These would take a singular verb:
• The policeman is standing on the corner.
• A police officer has shot the suspect.
Let’s look at a few more tricky situations with singular vs. plural.
Both of, a few of, many, and several always take the plural form of the verb:
• Both of my brothers are older than me.
• A few of these products have defects.
• Many of the houses in this neighborhood don’t have garages.
• Several of the students aren’t going to pass.
Half of, a third of, 40% of, some, and most or the majority of can take a singular OR plural verb depending on what follows them!
• Half of the students are from another country.
Half of the class is from another country.
• Some of these facts are incorrect.
Some of this information is incorrect.
• 40% of the people don’t support the new law.
40% of the country doesn’t support the new law.
• Most of the items were defective.
Most of the equipment was defective.
I hope I haven’t completely confused you! The best way to remember these rules is to review them again tomorrow, and take the practice quiz today.
Quiz
Mark each sentence correct or incorrect, and fix any mistakes.
1. 5% of our money is given to charity.
2. Everybody gets stressed out sometimes.
3. There's a carton of milk and six eggs in the refrigerator.
4. He asked me if there're any computers in the classroom.
5. I heard that 75% of the group are unsatisfied.
6. There are a boy and two girls on the playground.
7. Most of the furniture are old and damaged.
8. No one want to volunteer for the extra work.
9. Some of the people on the train were sleeping.
10. The army is advancing into enemy territory.
11. Everyone were disappointed by the food in the restaurant.
12. The police was helping control the crowd at the rally.
13. Half of the players on the soccer team are injured.
14. There are eleven players and nine substitutes on the team.
15. I thought both of the front tires was replaced.