Singular vs. Plural Subjects: Special cases

Other Rules: (note: singular 3rd person verbs have an "-s" or "-es")

1. Most nouns that do not form plurals take singular verbs.
   • That information is helpful.
2. Subjects joined by and usually take a plural verb.
   • Mary and John walk to school.
3. When the subject is joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the closest part.
   • Either the cabinet or the bookcases are too close.
   • Either the bookcases or the cabinet is too close.
4. Collective nouns (nouns that name groups: group, team) take the singular or plural depending on meaning. Generally they are singular when they refer to the group a a whole.
   • The group agrees that action is necessary.
   • The old group have gone their separate ways. (If the group's members act separately, use the plural.)
   • A number of people are in debt.
   • The number of people in debt is small.
5. Who, which and that take verbs that agree with their antecedents (what they refer to).
   • Mayor Smith ought to listen to the people who work for her.
   • Mayor smith ought to listen to her assistant who works for her.
6. News and other singular nouns that end in -s take singular verbs.
   • News travels fast.
7. The verb agrees with the subject even when the normal order is inverted.
   • There are differences between them. (With there and it, the subject comes after the verb.)
   • Are a right and a privilege the same thing? (plural subject "right and privilege")
8. Use singular verbs with titles and with words being described or defined.
   • Latina Women is a good book.

From: The Little, Brown Compact Handbook, by Jane E. Aaron, 3rd ed., pp.123-128.

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