Page 162 - English Grammar - IX-X

When the subject uses the word ‘many’, it refers to a number and takes a plural verb. When
the subject uses ‘much’, it refers to an amount and takes a singular verb.

For example:
• Many children are not getting enough protein in their diet.
• Much of the soil in the country has been lost.

Collective nouns like group, herd, are singular when taken as one unit or as a whole, but are
plural when the individuals of the group are referred individually.
For example:
• A herd of lions was spotted.

• The wrestlers were separated after the gruesome fight.
‘None’ as a subject may take singular or plural verb as per the sense.

For example:
• None is willing to come forward for this wonderful cause.
• None of the waiters were there.

If a fraction is followed by singular nouns, we use singular verbs. If fraction is followed by
plural nouns, we use plural verbs.

For example:
• Three-fourths of the money is spent.

• One third of the students are participating in the event.
When a quantifier is used, the verb agrees with the noun that follows it.

For example:
• Some of the cooked rice is on the dining table.
• A few of the potatoes were boiling.

‘Nothing/Nobody but’ and ‘Everything/Everyone but’ introductory take a singular verb.
For example:
• Nothing but pens was found in the purse.

• Everything but pins was missing.
Phrases like plenty of, a lot of, some of are singular when they refer to a quantity, but plural
when they refer to a number.

For example:
• A lot of electricity is produced from hydro-electric dams.
• A lot of people are asking for it.

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