CHUYÊN ĐỀ SUB-VERB AGREEMENT

Some nouns are always used with plural verbs.2 3 Some nouns that end with “-s” are not plural nouns.. Example: Example: People, police, cattle, clergy, folk, the + adj the poor, the rich

He sings very well.

She sings very well

She and he sing very well

She or he sings very well

she She and he

She or he

sing sings

sings

Singular

plural

Singular

Singular plural

Singular Nouns and Plural Nouns:

Singular N Plural N

1 Uncountable Nouns: sugar,

money, water, …

2 a/an/ one + countable noun

3 Abstract nouns: joy, love,

shame, helpfulness……

4 -ing forms: learning,

smoking, parking,…

Countable noun +“s/es”:

1 books , students,

classes, babies…

2 wife  wives

child children

man  men

1

Some nouns are always used with plural verbs.

2

3

Some nouns that end with “-s” are not plural nouns.

Example:

Example:

People, police, cattle, clergy, folk, the + adj (the poor, the rich … … )

News, measles, mathematics, athletics…

Singular Nouns and Plural nouns:

Put the verbs in the correct form:

1.My teacher always (help) us when we ask.

2.He (not/have)….dinner, and my children (not/have) … it yet.

3.Milk (be)……good for your health.

4.The poor always (need)…help.

5.Mathematics (teach)……by Professor Li.

helps

is haven’t had

hasn’t had

is taught

need

1 Subjects that refer to distances(kho¶ng c¸ch),

heights(chiÒu cao), weights(c©n nÆng), or

amounts of money

Example: Ten million dollars is a lot of money.

Three kilometers is not a long way.

2

every each either neither

one another much anybody

someone everybody

Example:

Everyone has arrived for two hours

Singular Verbs:

3 Group of certain animals always take

singular verbs:

Example:

+ Vsing

The flock of birds has arrived the nets

Singular Verbs:

Flock of (birds,

sheep, )

Herd of cattle

Pack of dogs, cats…

School/ shoal

of fish Pride of lions

……

Circle the correct answer:

1.Three kilograms of rice cost/ costs five dollars.

2.I think 20,000 dollars is/ are reasonable for this house.

3.Nobody work/ works harder than him.

4.Each student has/ have answered the first three questions.

5.Three days isn’t/ aren’t long enough for

a good holiday.

Plural Verbs:

1

Example:

S1 and S2 + Vplu

Tom and Mary don’t like rock music.

But:

Bacon and eggs is John’s favourite breakfast Fish and chips is common fare in England.

Plural Verbs:

2

Example:

A few students have got good marks

Many people attend our meeting every months

Both Few

A few

Several Many Others + Ncn+ Vplu

Find 3 wrong sentences and correct them:

1.Some sugar and some salt is enough 2.Both projects have been completed

3.Many people have applied for the job

but few is qualified.

4.Working hard and saving regularly

brings us everything.

5.Only Tom has to stay here, others have

are

are

bring

Plural or Singular Verbs:

1

Example:

Either

Neither

Not only

+ S1+

or nor but also

+ S2 + Vs2

1 Not only students but also my teacher is interested

in our football matches.

2 Not only my teacher but also students are interested

in our football matches.

Plural or Singular Verbs:

2

Example:

S1,

like

as well as with

besides together with along with……

John, as well as Peter is good at Maths

Plural or Singular Verbs:

Any

All

More

Some None Most

Three quarters of

….percent of Half of

3

Example:

Some oil has been spilt

Some workers don’t know about their new director

+ Nplu+ Vplu + Nsing/ucn + Vsing

Plural or Singular Verbs:

4

Example:

A collective noun that refers to a group of

things or people may take a singular or plural verb The choice depends on the context:

Audience (kh¸n gi¶), class (líp), club, government, group, jury (båi thÈm ®oµn), team,…

My class always goes to school on time.(Mçi thµnh viªn trong líp)

 My class is always the top ten (tËp thÓ líp)

Plural or Singular Verbs:

5

Example:

A number of children like going to the zoo

The number of books was bought yesterday

A number of

The number of + Nplu

+Vplu +Vsing

HAVE or HAS

1.Either John or you ……… met Mrs Lee.

2.Alex, as well as two older brothers, ……

a good full-time.

3.All the work …………been done already.

4.The number of students ……… taken part in the volunteer.

5.Not only Mary but also John’s friends

HAVE

HAS HAS

HAS