Grammar Tutorial
Certain subjects can be either singular or plural, depending upon their meaning in a sentence. Here they are:
all
any
more
most
none
part
half (and other fractions)
some
When these words refer to a singular noun, they take a singular verb. In the following examples,the word some refers to cake, which is singular. Half refers to apple, which is also a singular noun.
Some of the cake is gone.
Half of the apple is on the table.
When these words refer to a plural noun, they take a plural verb. In the following examples, some refers to the plural noun people, and half refers to to the plural noun children.
Some of the people have left.
Half of the children arrive late.
Collective Nouns:
A collective noun names a whole group of people or things. It may be either singular or plural. The following list shows examples of collective nouns.
audience
band
class
club
collection
committee
corporation
crowd
faculty
family
group
jury
number
staff
team
A collective noun is singular when it refers to a group as a single unit, and then it takes a singular verb. The collective noun is plural if it refers to the individual members of the group. Then it takes a plural verb.
The staff worked on the project.
The staff updated their computer virus programs.
In the first example, the staff, as a unit, worked together on the project so the verb is singular. In the second sentence, each member of the staff updated his or her computer virus program.
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