WORDS THAT ARE ALWAYS A SINGULAR SUBJECT:
First it might be helpful to remember that the singular form
of all verbs except to be and to have is formed by adding "s" or "es." For example: dives, runs, answers
and crashes, presses and tosses.
- When used as a subject or adjective these indefinite pronouns
are always singular and, therefore, they take singular verbs.
| another |
anybody |
anyone |
anything |
each |
each one |
| either |
every |
everybody |
everything |
much |
|
| neither |
nobody |
no one |
nothing |
one |
other |
| somebody |
something |
someone |
|
|
|
These pronouns may be used as subjects, and they take a singular
verb.
- Everyone has been invited.
- She said that something was all she wanted for her birthday.
- The Democratic leadership suggested two solutions but neither
was acceptable to the committee chair.
When they are used as adjectives, the noun they modify always
takes a singular verb
- Neither solution works for the committee chair.
- Each tragedy gives the population given less time to recover from the previous
shock.
- The number--when used as subject of a sentence (an organized
unit)takes a singular verb.
- The number of tenants without heat is increasing.
- Subjects that stand for definable units of money, measurement,
time, organization, food and medical problems always take singular
verbs.
- Six months is not enough time.
- Five thousand dollars is the minimum bid.
- Ham and eggs is my favorite meal.
- Singular subject followed by phrases such as together with and as well as take singular verb.
- The tax measure, together with its amendments, has passed.
- When all parts of a compound subject are singular and refer to
same person or thing.
- The head of the expedition and mayor of the village was the same person.
- When the subject is followed by the phrase "the only one of."
- Jake is the only one of the runners who has finished.
- BUT: Jake is one of those runners who have finished.
(In this case, Jake is one of many [those] runners. The verb
"have" agrees with "those runners" not with Jake.)
To begin studying plural subjects, please go to the next page.