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Number is the form of a word that indicates whether the word is singular or plural.
8a When a noun or pronoun refers to one person, place, thing, or idea, it is singular in
number. When a noun or pronoun refers to more than one, it is plural in number.
1. Unlike most of the students in his class, he (has, have) a job before school.
2. He (opens, open) the business at a coffee shop.
3. At 5:15, the manager (drops, drop) two huge boxes of pastries at the back door of the
shop.
4. In about an hour, Floyd (has served, have served) at least 20 customers.
5. (Do, Does) you believe that Floyd still finds time for studying?
[1] On our block, we (has, have) a large group of musicians. [2] For example, Ella’s
grandfather (is, are) a professional violin player. [3] He (plays, play) with the Cleveland
McAllister and Chris Lomax. [5] They (is giving, are giving) a concert tonight. [6] With
these adults, we students (is forming, are forming) a community band. [7] I (is putting, am
putting) up posters in the lobbies of the apartment buildings. [8] So far, I (has signed, have
signed) up twelve students and six adults. [9] (Does, Do) anyone know a trombone player?
8c The number of a subject is not changed by a prepositional phrase that modifies the
subject.
1. Children from the kindergarten (is having, are having) a costume party.
2. Many restaurants along the highway (stays, stay) open all night.
3. The gift from your grandparents (is, are) in that big red box.
4. Workers in that factory (gets, get) four weeks off every year for vacation.
5. One of the students in my class (does, do) volunteer work.
6. The fields behind the school (is, are) used for soccer practice.
7. The owners of that house on the corner (is, are) away on vacation.
8. Each worker at the offices of Dane & Gray (gets, get) a free turkey at Thanksgiving.
9. An article about the accomplishments of Serena Williams (appears, appear) in this
morning’s newspaper.
10. The flowers in your grandmother’s garden (looks, look) beautiful.
11. The parents in our neighborhood (is, are) forming a basketball league for their children.
12. Two rare white lions at Philadelphia’s wildlife preserve (attracts, attract) many visitors.
13. My favorite collection of short stories (is, are) by Edgar Allan Poe.
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3. An elephant _____________________________________________________________
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4. People _________________________________________________________________
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A pronoun that does not refer to a definite person, place, thing, or idea is called an indefinite
pronoun.
8d The following indefinite pronouns are singular: anybody, anyone, each, either,
everybody, everyone, neither, nobody, no one, one, somebody, someone.
Pronouns like each and one are often followed by prepositional phrases. Remember that the
verb agrees with the subject of the sentence, not with a word in a prepositional phrase.
EXAMPLES Everyone in the class going on the field trip.
Neither of my brothers has a car.
Does anyone in this group want another sandwich?
8e The following indefinite pronouns are plural: both, few, many, several.
EXAMPLES Both of my brothers collect autographs.
How many of my friends are going to the concert?
A few of the senators agree with the decision.
Several of the invitations have already been sent.
1. Several of the girls on the team (has, have) left their shinguards on the bus.
2. Someone down the hall from us (is, are) calling your name.
3. (Is, Are) either of your parents coming to the play?
4. Both of the candidates (wants, want) to win.
5. No one in the stands (was, were) late for the start of the game.
6. Neither of the plants (needs, need) water right now.
7. (Does, Do) many people have tickets?
8. Somebody in the room next to ours (has, have) broken the mirror in the hall.
9. If anybody from either of those stores (calls, call), please take a message for me.
10. Neither of these dresses (fits, fit) me well.
8f The following indefinite pronouns may be either singular or plural: all, any, most,
none, some.
The number of the subject all, any, most, none, or some is determined by examining the object
of the prepositional phrase following or describing the subject. If the subject refers to a
singular object, the subject is singular. If the subject refers to a plural object, the subject is
plural.
EXAMPLES All of the milk is gone. [All refers to the singular object milk.]
All of the children are thirsty. [All refers to the plural object children.]
Is any of the bread stale? [Any refers to the singular object bread.]
Are any of the cookies left? [Any refers to the plural object cookies.]
Most of the wood is rotten. [Most refers to the singular object wood.]
Most of the windows are broken. [Most refers to the plural object windows.]
1. Canton, Ohio, (was, were) named after the estate of one of its early residents, Bezaleel Wells.
2. Many of its earliest residents (was, were) Swiss and German immigrants.
3. Since its early days, Canton (has, have) grown into a major industrial center.
4. It (remains, remain) a city attractive to tourists.
5. Many of them (visits, visit) the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
6. This museum (shows, show) films of historic events in football.
7. Most of the history of the sport (has, have) been recorded on film.
8. Some of the exhibits in the museum (includes, include) items used by great players.
9. For example, one of the exhibits (displays, display) jerseys and helmets that many
famous players wore.
10. Additionally, the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s research library (offers, offer) visitors
information on the history of football.
11. People in other countries (thinks, think) football is a sport played only in the United States.
12. A football game (has, have) four quarters of 15 minutes each.
13. One team (has, have) the football.
14. A player on that team (takes, take) the ball and (runs, run) down the field.
15. Members of the other team (tries, try) to tackle him.
16. When the ball goes over the goal line, the player (scores, score) a touchdown.
17. A touchdown (counts, count) for six points.
18. The fall and winter seasons (is, are) the best time for football games.
19. Many of the fans at the game (wears, wear) warm jackets and hats.
20. They (enjoys, enjoy) the action and excitement of the game.
[1] Luigi’s father owns a pizza restaurant down the street from our house. [2] Most of
Luigi’s older brothers and sisters works in the restaurant. [3] Sometimes Luigi help in the
kitchen after soccer practice and on Saturdays. [4] All of the onions have to be peeled and
chopped. [5] He also have to wash all the mushrooms and peppers. [6] Then all of the
tomatoes has to be cooked and drained well. [7] At the end of the day, none of the leftover
dough are saved. [8] Each morning, Luigi’s dad makes fresh dough. [9] On Saturdays, Luigi
sometimes mixes the dough or spread it in the pan. [10] Both of these jobs is really fun, as
well as messy.
8i When a singular subject and a plural subject are joined by or or nor, the verb
agrees with the subject nearer the verb.
EXAMPLES Neither the coach nor the co-captains have arrived yet. [The verb agrees with
the subject nearer to it, co-captains.]
Neither the co-captains nor the coach has arrived yet. [The verb agrees with
the subject nearer to it, coach.]
_____ 3. The lead singer and dancer in the movie (is, are) a new talent in Hollywood.
_____ 4. Chalk and water (is, are) the main ingredients in whitewash paint.
_____ 8. The capital of Texas and the home of the University of Texas (is, are) my
hometown, Austin, Texas.
_____ 9. The costume designer and the set designer for our production (has, have) been
Dante Conigliaro.
_____ 10. His chores and his homework (takes, take) a lot of time each day.
A collective noun takes a singular verb when the noun refers to the group as a unit. A collective
noun takes a plural verb when the noun refers to the individual parts or members of a group.
EXAMPLES My family is going to Cleveland for vacation. [The family as a unit is going on
vacation together. The verb is singular.]
My family always tell each other about the day’s events. [The different members
of the family tell about the day’s events. The verb is plural.]
2. a. ______________________________________________________________________
b. ______________________________________________________________________
3. a. ______________________________________________________________________
b. ______________________________________________________________________
4. a. ______________________________________________________________________
b. ______________________________________________________________________
5. a. ______________________________________________________________________
b. ______________________________________________________________________
8l The contractions don’t and doesn’t must agree with their subjects.
Use don’t with plural subjects and with the pronouns I and you.
EXAMPLES The boys don’t have practice today. [plural subject]
Don’t you like rye bread? [the pronoun you]
B. Writing a Letter
Your grandparents are giving you a bike for your birthday. They want you to give them some
information about which kind of bike they should buy. They also want to know the reasons for
your choice. Write five sentences telling your grandparents your choice and your reasons for it.
Be sure to use subject-verb agreement.
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The antecedent of a personal pronoun can be an indefinite pronoun, such as both, each, neither,
or one. An indefinite pronoun does not refer to a definite person, place, thing, or idea. To
determine the gender of a personal pronoun that refers to an indefinite pronoun, look in the
phrase that follows the antecedent.
EXAMPLES One of the women has left her briefcase in the conference room.
Neither of the men has bought his ticket yet.
(1) A singular pronoun is used to refer to anyone, anybody, each, either, everybody,
everyone, neither, nobody, one, no one, someone, or somebody.
EXAMPLES Each of the dogs has its own bed.
Someone on the girls’ track team has forgotten her cleats.
NOTE Today it is acceptable for writers or speakers use the pronoun they in a gender-neutral
way to describe a known person who does not use gender-specific pronouns such as he
or she. In addition, the singular they is used in informal speech to describe an
unknown person and is also accepted in formal writing.
EXAMPLES Tyler is a sophomore in high school. They like running track. (known
person)
Someone left school early. They did not feel well.
1. Someone on the boys’ basketball team has left __________ jersey on the bus.
2. All of the students have learned __________ lines for the play.
3. Polly or Beth will lead off the debate with __________ own opinion.
4. Nina has completed her homework, and Marcelo has completed __________.
5. The elephants raised __________ trunks and called to each other.
6. All of the people at the family reunion brought __________ cameras.
7. Either of the girls will sign __________ name on your nomination papers.
8. Neither the father nor the son had worn __________ watch.
9. Aunt Beatrice and Uncle Lorenzo sent __________ best wishes to the bride and groom.
10. Mrs. Leon put __________ baby in the car seat.
EX. What are the names of two famous men who lost their lives during the battle at the Alamo?
Answer: David Crockett and James Bowie
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