In each of the following sentences, by giving a reason, justify the correctness of the agreement in number of the verb and the noun:

  1. The jury have agreed.
  2. The jury has been sent out to reconsider its verdict.
  3. The committee has presented its report, but they have differed in regard to one matter.
  4. The whole tribe was destroyed.
  5. The tribe were scattered through the different states.
  6. The regiment were almost all sick.
  7. A variety of persons was there.
  8. The society meets each month.
  9. The society is divided in its opinion.
  10. A number were unable to be present.
  11. A great number was present.
  12. The number present was great.
  13. What means were used to gain his vote?
  14. That means of gaining votes is corrupt.
  15. Seventeen pounds was the cat's weight.
  16. Twenty years of his life was spent in prison.
  17. Two hundred pounds was his weight.
  18. The family are all at home.
  19. The family is large.
  20. A pair of gloves has been lost.
  21. A pair of twins were sitting in the doorway.
  22. The army was defeated.

Exercise 40

Construct sentences in which each of the words named below is used correctly as the subject of some one of the verbs, is, was, has, have, are, was, have, go, goes, run, runs, come, comes:

One, none, nobody, everybody, this, that, these, those, former, latter, few, some, many, other, any, all, such, news, pains, measles, gallows, ashes, dregs, goods, pincers, thanks, victuals, vitals, mumps, flock, crowd, fleet, group, choir, class, army, mob, tribe, herd, committee, tons, dollars, bushels, carloads, gallons, days, months.

Exercise 41

Go over each of the above sentences and determine whether it or they should be used in referring to the subject.

63. The following rules govern the agreement of the verb with a compound subject:

1. When a singular noun is modified by two adjectives so as to mean two distinct things, the verb should be in the plural; as, French and German literature are studied.

2. When the verb applies to the different parts of the compound subject, the plural form of the verb should be used; as, John and Harry are still to come.