Language
Agreement with harder subjects
Make the verb agree when the subject is a quantity, a fraction, an inverted phrase or a subject buried in an added phrase.
By now the easy agreement is behind you. What is left is a small set of subjects that look plural and are not, look singular and are not, or have been moved so far from their verb that you lose sight of them. Each one has a rule, and the rules are worth knowing by name, because an exam paper reaches for the same handful every year.
A number of, the number of
"A number of" means several, so the verb is plural: a number of letters have arrived. "The number of" names one figure, so the verb is singular: the number of letters has grown. One word apart, and opposite answers.
A fraction takes its meaning from what follows
Two-thirds of the milk is — milk is one uncountable mass. Two-thirds of the seats are — seats are many. The fraction itself decides nothing; the noun after "of" decides everything. Half, most, some and all behave the same way.
Along with is not and
Only "and" adds a second subject. Along with, together with, as well as, in addition to and accompanied by all add extra information instead, so the verb still agrees with the first subject alone: the manager, along with the clerks, is waiting.
When the subject comes last
In sentences that open with a place — beyond the gate, among the papers, on the shelf — the subject has been moved behind the verb. Turn the sentence round in your head before you choose: three tall pines are beyond the gate.
Worked example
Choose the verb: "The bundle of old newspapers ____ (was / were) sold to the scrap dealer."
Cross out the phrase beginning with "of": of old newspapers.
A phrase beginning with "of" usually just describes the subject — unless the subject is a fraction, half, most, some, all, both or none, where the noun inside the of-phrase is exactly what decides (the callout below).
Try it together
Let us work through three subjects that trip people up.
Each answer is a single verb word. Decide what the real subject is before you write anything.
1.Write "has" or "have": A number of parcels ____ gone missing.
Have a go
Write "is" or "are": The captain, together with the whole side, ____ waiting at the gate.
Ready to practice?
Eight questions on what you have just read. Nothing is timed, and you can play as many times as you like.