After these blanks have been filled with the verbs above, as indicated by the numbers, the sentences may be repeated aloud till the correct form is familiar.
Let the pupils see that in (2), Lesson 36, were identified is asserted of two things, and that in (3) was anticipated is asserted of one of two things, but not of both. Let them give other examples of connected subjects with verbs singular in form, and with verbs plural in form. The meaning of singular and plural may be explained, and the pupils may form some such rule as the following:—
With two or more subjects connected by and the verb agrees in the plural.
With two or more singular subjects connected by or or nor the verb agrees in the singular.
The pupils may examine such sentences as—
1. Each word and gesture was suited to the thought; 2. Every bud, leaf, and blade of grass rejoices after the warm rain; 3. No dew, no rain, no cloud comes to the relief of the parched earth;—
and note that each, every, and no show that the things named in the different subjects are taken separately, and that the verbs are therefore singular.
Such sentences as—
"In the death of Franklin, a philosopher and statesman was lost to the
world"—
may be given to show that subjects connected by and may name the same thing, and so take a verb in the singular.