The last few weeks, I’ve discussed subject and verb agreement in a number of areas. You can view those from my author page: http://www.bloggingtips.com/author/pattistafford/
Up next in the exciting world of agreements and playing nice, lets discuss collective nouns, what to do about writing amounts, and working with numbers of.
Collective nouns denote a group of people or things; like choir, family, herd, team, majority, etc. And even though it suggests more than one person or thing it can be singular or plural depending on how it’s used in a sentence. And that’s where it gets tricky.
The verb has to be singular if the collective noun is referring to a group or unit. The verb has to be plural if the collective noun is referring to individuals.
Examples:
The class is in session. (The class is referring to the whole group so we have a singular verb.)
The class are taking their tests today. (The class in this sentence is referring to each member as an individual so it uses a plural verb. This sentence appears to read wrong at first, but if you stop to think about it, it’s correct in the form it takes.)
When it comes to writing amounts such as measurements, weights or dollar amounts they usually have a plural form but are usually considered to be a singular unit and should take a singular verb.
Examples:
Ten dollars is the entry fee. (Ten dollars is considered one amount of money)
Six months is needed to complete the assignment. (Six months, in this sentence, is one period of time.)
Ten dollars were tucked in the mattress. (In this sentence, ten dollars is considered to be ten individual dollars and not a single unit)
Six months have passed since the assignment. (In this example, six months is considered six individual months)
If we need to write fractions or percents we need to have the verb agree with the object of the preposition that follows the subject.
Examples:
Three fourths of my salary goes to taxes.
Three fourths of the juniors are going to the dance.
We find another problem when we need to write phrases like “a number of” or “the number of”, and while they are similar in nature, one needs a singular verb and the other needs a plural verb.
“The number of” requires a singular verb and “A number of” requires a plural verb.
Examples:
The number of musicians signing to record labels increases each year.
A number of musicians intend to get a contract deal each year.
I’ve mentioned before that subject and verb agreement contains many rules and can seem overwhelming, but the general rule, of ‘if it sounds correct, it usually is”, will stand in most cases.
Thanks, Patti, your advice was very helpful. I was translating a text into English, and was reluctant to write “The wide variety of health plans … exceed the requirements”, though deep in my mind I knew it should be “exceed” (plural form). In my native language (Portuguese), it has to be “exceeds”, since the core of the subject is “variety”, which, although implying a collection, is a singular noun, as per grammar.
I also visited your site, and found it very interesting, and I intend to revisit if I ever get time to write a book I’ve had in mind for decades. But, as you said, am I ready for rejection? By what I read in your site, I have to be prepared for it.
Thanks again, and greetings from Rio de Janeiro.
Cristina