Most nouns form their plurals by adding -s to the singular. However, there are some nouns that have only a plural form or a singular form. Plural nouns should be followed by a plural verb and singular nouns should be followed by a singular verb.
Fill in the blanks.
1I think they teach ............... mathematics in schools.
Wrong!
Use "too much" because "mathematics" is the name of a subject and is treated as uncountable here.
2Politics ............... a complicated business.
Wrong!
Use "is" because "politics" is treated as a singular field or activity here.
3............... suffering from a disease called BSE.
Wrong!
Use "Many cattle are" because "cattle" is a plural noun and takes a plural verb.
4The police ............... arrested the thief.
Wrong!
Use "have" because "police" normally refers to a group of officers and takes a plural verb.
5Where ............... my glasses?
Wrong!
Use "are" because "glasses" is a plural noun.
6The organization is trying to raise ............... to support its projects.
Wrong!
Use "funds" because it means money collected or available for a purpose.
7A number of people ............... tried to find the treasure.
Wrong!
Use "have" because "a number of people" takes a plural verb.
8A lot of us ............... going to hold a party tomorrow.
Wrong!
Use "are" because "a lot of us" refers to several people and takes a plural verb.
9Half of her students ............... understand a word she says.
Wrong!
Use "don't" because the subject refers to the plural noun "students".
10Ten miles ............... a long way to walk.
Wrong!
Use "is" because "ten miles" is treated as one distance.
11One of my friends ............... going to Mexico.
Wrong!
Use "is" because the main subject in "one of my friends" is "one".
12Nobody ............... him except his best friends.
Wrong!
Use "likes" because "nobody" takes a singular verb.
Answers
- I think they teach too much mathematics in schools.
- Politics is a complicated business.
- Many cattle are suffering from a disease called BSE.
- The police have arrested the thief.
- Where are my glasses?
- The organization is trying to raise funds to support its projects.
- A number of people have tried to find the treasure.
- A lot of us are going to hold a party tomorrow.
- Half of her students don’t understand a word she says.
- Ten miles is a long way to walk.
- One of my friends is going to Mexico.
- Nobody likes him except his best friends.