By Nouns, Singular verbs

Abil,Yes, you are correct in "formal" usage. This may help clear any doubts: http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/english/2005/02/neither_or_eith.htmlLaura asks:How about using "neither" versus "either"? I transcribe for doctors, and this is one rule I just can't get...

Police is never singular. In the US, we tend to use the singular verb for these collective nouns: company, team, staff, jury. Only when we want to talk about them as individuals do we use the plural. I've noticed that other places are more likely to use the plural verb for government or...

This question hit me just now! Is “are” the correct verb ? To me “5%” is used as a collective noun which is treated as a singular subject. It should have a singular verb agreement, shouldn’t it? Only 5% of our students are placed after completion of their training! Compare: A 10% service fee...

In the use of 'neither ...nor', the verb has to follow the preceding noun closest to the verb, so 'Neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries have...', as 'have' must agree with the noun 'Subsidiaries', but when you have 'any of the Subsidiaries', the subject...

Hi Fruit is a collective noun taking a singular verb: Fruit is good for you. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. The tree bears fruit (not fruits). The plural fruits is used in talking about different types of fruit: oranges, apples and other fruits. The plural form fruits is rarely used and...

Hi, Please tell me which ones are right ones to use. 1. ... using realia such as this -- I have difficculty using the singular form ''this" after words like 'realia' and 'equipment' that seem to denote multiple items. Is it OK to use the singular form?...

Hi LiJ,Perhaps you caught that error in my recent post. It was illogical for me to write "more than (one options)."Since I made that error, it is better for me to borrow this text from The American Heritage Book of English Usage to share with you: "Here’s a riddle: How can you have...

Does anybody want -- once you conjugate the verb "to do" as you have in "Does" the other verb takes the bare infinitive form. That means it's the "to X" version without the "to." However, the word "Flicers" is a singular noun, so it takes the singular verb form, means. Does anybody want to to...

The sentences are correct, but your supervisor is out to lunch. Obviously, third-person singular nouns like "the agency" take third-person singular verbs, which DO end in S, for normal, declarative sentences. The agency reviews... However, in these sentences, you're using a different voice: It's...

Yes it means the same thing. Many a is a slightly dated or literary way of saying it.There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip.After many a summer dies the swan.and from the Columbia Guide:many a is a locution that is followed by a singular noun, which in turn takes a...