Misc. Subject-Verb Agreement Rules

A subject that expresses an amount, a measurement, a weight, or a time is usually considered singular and take a singular verb. (An amount that tells How much? is singular.)

Ex.- Five miles is the distance to the mall.

Ex. One hundred dollars was donated to the symphony.

Question- Three hours (equals, equal) one hundred eighty minutes.

If an amount, a weight, a measurement, or a time is being thought about in its individual parts, the verb must be plural. Notice how the following subjects tell how many.

Ex. Eight dollars were scattered all over the street.

Ex. Two hours have passed quickly.

Question- There (is, are) only two dollars in my wallet.

Use a singular verb with the number of.

Ex. The number of men in the orchestra has increased greatly over the past two years.

Question- The number of catfish in Cheney Reservoir (has, have) almost doubled this year.

Use a plural verb with a number of.

Ex. A number of musicians were noticed after the performance.

Question- A number of climbers (has, have) reached the summit.

Words that look plural but are actually singular.

Question- Civics (is, are) a social science dealing with the rights and duties of citizens.

Titles of books, movies, etc. are singular and take a singular verb.

Question- Strange Stories, Amazing Facts (contains, contain) some astonishing information.

When a subject begins with pair of it is singular.

Ex. A pair of glasses was lost in the store.

Question- My favorite pair of pants (is, are) too small now.

The number of Olympic gold medals won by Chinese athletes (is, are) increasing.

Thirty pounds (is, are) a heavy weight to carry in a knapsack.

Gymnastics (is, are) a sport in which Romanians excel.

The Old Revolutionaries (tells, tell) about some leaders of the American Revolution.