Verb Rules 2
(continuation of verb rules)
8. Both, several, many and few take plural verbs.
ex. Few are really listening.
9. Every, each, neither, either, anyone, someone, everyone, everybody, and anybody take singular verbs.
ex. Each is entitled to his own opinion.
10. Not all nouns ending in 's' require plural verbs. Some nouns are plural in form but take singular verbs. (ex. mathematics, measles, politics, physics, billiards, mumps, civics, molasses)
ex. Politics is a dangerous game.
11. Some nouns have no singular form like pants, pliers, tweezers, tongs, scissors, etc. They denote pairs and take plural verbs.
ex. Where are my glasses?
12. Collective nouns take singular verbs when the group acts as a unit, but if they are thought of individually, they take plural verbs.
ex. The faculty is taking care of the new activity.
The faculty are going to take their lunch.
13. For Math computations, singular verbs are used.
ex. Seven and eight is fifteen.
(These are but some verb rules. There are others which I did not mention anymore for they might be too complicated or they are already included in the discussion of the tenses. )
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