Agreement after expression of quantity (Skill 12)

Previous Skill --> Skill 11: Agreement After Prepositional Phrase

A particular agreement problem occurs when the subject is an expression of quantity such as all, most, or some followed by the preposition of. In this situation, the subject (all, most, or some) can be singular or plural, depending on what follows the preposition of

Most (of the meal) was delicious.
             SINGULAR

Most (of the meals) were delicious.
               PLURAL

Most (of the food) was delicious.
       UNCOUNTABLE

In the first example, the subject most refers to the singular noun meal, so the correct verb is therefore the singular verb was. In the second example, the subject most refers to the plural noun meals, so the correct verb is the plural verb were. In the third example, the subject most refers to the uncountable noun food, so the correct verb is therefore the singular verb was.

These sentences contain examples of the types of problems that are common on the TOEFL test.

All (of the book) were* interesting.

Half (of the students) is* late to class.

In the first example, the plural verb were should be the singular verb was because the subject all refers to the singular noun book. In the second example, the singular verb is should be the plural verb are because the subject half refers to the plural noun students.

The following chart outlines the key information that you should understand about subject/verb agreement after expressions of quantity.

EXERCISE 12: Each of the following sentences has a quantity expression as the subject. Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice. Circle the objects that the verbs agree with. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).



1. Half of the students in the class arrive early. (C)

   Analysis:

• Object is Students (plural) and Verb is arrive (plural Verb), so the sentence is correct

2. Some of the fruit are rotten. (I)

    Analysis:

• Fruit and are (Verb) are not match. It should be ".....fruit is ...

3. All of the next chapter contains very important information. (C)

    Analysis:

• The next chapter (singular noun) and contains (singular verb) are match. (correct)
  

4. Most of the people in the room is paying attention.(I)

    Analysis:

• The people (plural noun) and is (singular verb) are not match. It should be".....of the people ......are ..."

5. Part of the soup is left on the stove. (C)

    Analysis:

• The soup (uncountable noun) and is (singular verb) are match.

6. Some of the movie were just too violent for me.  (I)

    Analysis:

• The movie (singular noun) and were (plural verb) are not match. It should be "....the movie was ...."

7. All of the details in the report needs to be checked. (I)

    Analysis:

• The details (plural noun) are needs are not match. It should be "....the details ........need...."

8. Most of the money is needed to pay the bills. (C)

    Analysis:

• The money (uncountable noun) and is are match.

9. The first half of the class consists of lecture and note taking. (C)

    Analysis:

• The class (singular noun) and consists (singular verb) are match.

10. Some of the questions on-the test was impossible to answer. (I)

     Analysis:

• The questions (plural noun) and was (singular verb) are not match. It should be '....the questions ......were....."

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Agreement after prepositional phrase (Skill 11)

Previous Article: Strategy for written expression


Subject/verb agreement is simple: if the subject of a sentence is singular, then the verb must be singular; if the subject of the sentence is plural, then the verb must be plural. An s on a verb usually indicates that a verb is singular, while an s on a noun usually indicates that the noun is plural. (Do not forget irregular plurals of nouns such as women, children, and people.)

The dog barks at night.

The dogs bark at night.

In the first example, the singular subject dog requires a singular verb, barks. In the second example, the plural subject dogs requires a plural verb, bark.

Sometimes prepositional phrases can come between the subject and the verb on the TOEFL test, and this can cause confusion. If the object of the preposition is singular and the subject is plural, or if the object of the preposition is plural and the subject is singular, there can be a problem in making the subject and verb agree.

In the first example, you might think that rooms is the subject because it comes directly in front of the verb are. However, rooms is not the subject because it is the object of the preposition to. The subject of the sentence is door, so the verb should be is. In the second example, you might think that room is the subject because it comes directly in front of the verb is. You should recognize in this example that room is not the subject because it is the object of the preposition to. Because the subject of the sentence is doors, the verb should be are.

The following chart outlines the key information that you should understand about subject/verb agreement with prepositional phrases.

EXERCISE 11: Each of the following sentences has one or more prepositional phrases between the subject and verb. Put parentheses around the prepositional phrases. Underline the subjects once and the verbs twice. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

1. The subject (of the lectures) was quite interesting. (C)

    Analysis:

•  The subject is SUBJECT  and was is VERB. (Correct)
•   "Lectures" is not SUBJECT, it is object after preposition "OF".

2. The supplies (for the camping trip) needs to be packed. (I)

    Analysis:

• SUBJECT is The supplies and VERB is needs.( incorrect).
• Needs should be Need because The supplies is plural
• "the camping trip" is only object after prepositional "FOR".

3. The chairs under the table in the dining room is quite comfortable. (I)

     Analysis:

• SUBJECT is "The chairs" and VERB is  "is". (Incorrect).
• "is" should be "are" because "The chairs" is plural.
• "the dining room" is only object after prepepostion    

4. The players on the winning team in the competition were very talented. (C)

     Analysis:

• SUBJECT is The players and VERB is were. (correct)

5. The food for the guests at the party are on the long tables.

    Analysis:

• SUBJECT is The food and VERB is are. (Incorrect)
• "are" should be "is" because The food is uncountable noun/singular

6. The cost of the clothes was higher than I had expected. (C)

    Analysis:

• SUBJECT is The cost and VERB is was. (Correct)

7. The rugs in the front rooms of the house are going to be washed today.(C)

     Analysis:

• SUBJECT is The rugs and VERB is are. (Correct)

8. The servers in this restaurant always does their job efficiently. (I)

    Analysis:

• SUBJECT is "The servers" and VERB is "does". (incorrect).
• "does" should be "do" because the servers is plural.

9. The lights in the corner of the room need to be kept on all night.(C)

    Analysis:

• SUBJECT is "The lights" and VERB is "need". (Correct)

10. The meeting of the members of the council begins at 3:00 in the afternoon. (C)

    Analysis:

• SUBJECT is "the meeting" and VERB is "begins". (Correct)

Next problem/skill: Problem/skill with Agreement after expression of quantity (some, all, half, most and part).

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Agreement after certain words (Skill 13)

Previous Problem/Skill ---> Skill 12: Agreement after expression of quantity

Certain words in English are always grammatically singular, even though they might have plural meanings.

Everybody in the theater are watching* the film attentively.

Even though we understand from this example that a lot of people are watching the film, Everybody is singular and requires a singular verb. The plural verb are watching should be changed to the singular verb is watching.

The following chart lists the grammatically singular words that have plural meanings.

Exercise 13.

Each of the following sentences contains one of the words that are grammatically singular but they have a plural meaning.

1. Anybody are welcome at the party. (I)

    Analysis:

• Anybody is singular, so the verb is not "are" but "is".

2. No one here is afraid of skysiving. (C)

    Analysis:

• No one is singular and Verb "is" is singular, too. So the sentence is correct.

3.  Everyone in the world needs love and respect. (C)

     Analysis:

• Everyone is singular and Verb " Needs" is singular verb, too. So the sentence is correct.

4. Someone have to clean up the house. (I)

    Analysis:

• Someone is singular, but verb "have to" is plural verb. So it is incorrect.

5. Each plant in the garden appear healthy and strong. (I)

    Analysis:

• Each plant is singular, but verb "appear" is plural verb. So it is incorrect. 
• Appear should be appears.

6. You should understand that anything is possible. (C)

    Analysis:

• Anything is singular and IS is singular verb, too. So It is correct.

7. Everything in the salad are good for you. (I)

   Analysis:

• Everything is singular, but verb "ARE" is plural. So it is incorrect
• It should be "Everything ..........is ....."

8. Nobody in the class have completed the assignment on time. (I)

    Analysis:

• Nobody is singular, but subject "have" is plural. So, it is incorrect.
• It should be 'Nobody........has ......"

9. I am sure that every detail have been considered. (I)

    Analysis:

• Every detail is singular, but verb "have" is plural. So, it is incorrect.
• It should be ".....every detail has been ...."

10. Everybody know the rules, but somebody is not following them. (I)

     Analysis:

• Everybody is singular, but verb "know" is plural. So, it is incorrect.
• It should be "Everybody knows...."

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