Subject-verb agreement

The verb changes depending on whether the subject is singular (one) or plural (more than one). Getting it right is called subject-verb agreement. The postcards give examples:

• "Amma and Appa are fast asleep." Two subjects joined by and → plural verb.
• "It's hot, dry, and there is sand everywhere."
• "There are so many hills here." When a sentence starts with there, the real subject comes after the verb, so look ahead (hills → are).

Now the rules that trick people:

1. Words in between don't count. Find the real subject:

• "The formation of paragraphs is important." (formation, not paragraphs)
• "The information on travel expenses is useful."
• "The news about the rains makes people think again."

2. Each, either, every, much, neither → singular. "Each of the children was given a gift." "Every man and woman has the right to vote."

3. Words ending in -s but meaning one thing → singular. "Mathematics is interesting." Also news, physics, economics.

4. Glasses, scissors, pants, tongs are plural, but with a pair of they become singular, because pair is now the subject. "This pair of scissors is sharp." "A pair of binoculars is useful for spotting wildlife."

**5. With or / nor, the verb matches the subject nearer to it.**

• "Neither the students nor the teacher wants to cancel the trip."
• "Either the manager or the employees are responsible."

Swap them round, and the verb changes too!