Agreement: Pronouns that ALWAYS Take a Singular Verb

First it might be helpful to remember that the singular form of all verbs — except “to be” and “to have” — is formed by adding “s” or “es.” For example: dives, runs, answers, crashes, presses and tosses.

When used as a subject or adjective these indefinite pronouns are always singular and, therefore, they take singular verbs.

These pronouns may be used as subjects, and they take a singular verb.

• Everyone has been invited.
• She said that something was all she wanted for her birthday.
• The Democratic leadership suggested two solutions but neither was acceptable to the committee chair.

When they are used as adjectives, the noun they modify always takes a singular verb.

• Neither solution works for the committee chair.
• Each tragedy gives the population given less time to recover from the previous shock.

The number–when used as subject of a sentence (an organized unit)—takes a singular verb.

• The number of tenants without heat is increasing.

Subjects that stand for definable units of money, measurement, time, organization, food and medical problems always take singular verbs.

• Six months is not enough time.
• Five thousand dollars is the minimum bid.
• Ham and eggs is my favorite meal.

Singular subject followed by phrases “such as,” “together with” and “as well as” take a singular verb.

• The tax measure, together with its amendments, has passed.

When all parts of a compound subject are singular and refer to same person or thing.

• The head of the expedition and mayor of the village was the same person.

When the subject is followed by the phrase “the only one of.”

• Jake is the only one of the runners who has finished.

BUT: When the subject is followed by the phrase “one of the” or “one of those,” the verb agrees with the object of the preposition

• Jake is one of those runners who have finished.
  • In this case, Jake is one of many [those] runners. The verb “have” agrees with “those runners” not with Jake.)

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