Weird singular subjects

The overall idea is that if a subject needs to be paired with a singular pronoun it’s singular. This rules applies for anything, that you can’t imagine is singular.

Collective nouns

Collective nouns are singular, even though they reflect something plural they are treated as a single unit.

“the team is very nice”

Indefinite pronouns

Can be both singular and pural because it can reflect a singular unit or many people.

“Everyone is invited” “everyone” is a single unit because people are grouped into one unit.

“Many have left the party”

This is pural because “Many” is not referred as a single unit.

Compound subjects

When two subjects meet in “and” it’s the pural subject that is expressed. Unless something else points out it’s singular.

The cat and dogs are playful

The cat and each of the dogs is playful

Subjects with amounts.

Despite the subject reflecting on something pural. “Any, nobody, neither, Each, every, either, both.

Is singular. They may be based on something pural, but it’s referring to one thing. A good way to remember this is that ANNEEE goes with someone and something.

subjects with collectives

they apply on something pural but “one of, neither of, each of, neither of and either of” are singular, and singles out from the rest of the group.

Mass Nouns

Mass nouns are singular.

• Example: Water is essential for life.

Gerunds

Gerunds (verbs ending in -ing used as nouns) are singular.

• Example: Swimming is good exercise.

Titles, Names, Languages, etc.:

Names of fields of study, languages, books, etc., are singular.

• Example: Mathematics is challenging.

Currency

Is always singular

Objects

Are straight forward.

They will always be pural with an S at the end.

The books are fiction

There’s a book that’s fiction.

Compound subjects exceptions

It will always be pural unless a singular determiner comes along. One of, each, every, any, none.

Pural determinaters

Several, many, all, few, both, several, numerous.