Look Good in Print

This text will refresh your memory or introduce you to the common writing rules for Standard American English. It addresses the 22 most common errors found in writing. Applying and using the fundamentals of good writing will ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and achieves your intended purposes.

02C: VERBS

19. Match Indefinite Pronouns and Verbs

Sometimes, we use relative indefinite pronouns - words like each, many, a lot, nobody - in place of nouns. Which verb should you use with these pronouns? Here's an example:

Everyone who wants to bring two guests to the dinner (is/are?) welcome to do so.

The verb should be "is" because "everyone" is always singular. Exhibit 2C.1 lists the indefinite pronouns that are ALWAYS singular.

Anyone	Either*	Everything	Nothing
Anybody	Every	Many a	Someone
Anything	Everyone	Neither*	Somebody
Each	Everybody	Nobody	Something

Exhibit 2C.1: Indefinite Pronouns that Always Take a Singular Verb

In contrast, the following four pronouns in Exhibit 2C.2 are ALWAYS plural:

Both

Few

Several

Many

Exhibit 2C.2: Indefinite Pronouns that Always Take a Plural Verb

Always singular, always plural - these are the easy ones. Remember, however, that the rules above apply to these pronouns when they are working alone. In Exhibit 2C.1 above, the pronouns "either" and "neither" are marked with asterisks because they require further explanation. Consider the following examples:

Either of the cities works well for our new distribution center.

(The verb is singular because "either" stands alone as the subject of the verb.)

Neither of the candidates speaks Mandarin.

(Neither, by itself, is logically singular.)

However, when paired with a conjunction - as in either/or and neither/nor - these indefinite pronouns get trickier. We call these pairs parallel connectives , and we introduced them in Chapter 2A, Fundamental #8. When followed by a verb, these parallel connectives raise this question: How should the verb be conjugated? Take a look:

Either the entrepreneur or his accountants is/are exaggerating the company's earnings.

(Which verb is correct - singular to match "entrepreneur" or plural to match "accountants"?)

The rule is simple: The subject closer to the verb determines whether the verb is singular or plural. If both subjects are singular, so is the verb:

Either the entrepreneur or her CFO is exaggerating.

(The verb is singular because both "entrepreneur" and "CFO" are singular.)

If both subjects are plural, the verb is plural:

Neither the consultants nor the regulators are knowledgeable about the industry.

(The verb is plural because both "consultants" and "regulators" are plural.)

If one subject is singular and the other is plural, place the plural subject nearer to the verb and make the verb plural:

NO: Either the players or the coach is not working hard enough.

(Technically, this is correct, but it sounds odd because of the plural subject, "players".)

YES: Either the coach or the players are not working hard enough.

(That sounds much better, doesn't it?)

The same rule applies to the construction "not only/but also". The subject nearer the verb determines the conjugation, so when you have both a singular and a plural subject, put the plural one closer to the verb:

NO: Not only the invoices but also the bill of shipping is inaccurate.

(This is grammatically correct but stylistically awkward.)

YES: Not only the bill of shipping but also the invoices are inaccurate.

(With "invoices" nearer the verb "are," the sentence is stylistically more pleasing.)

Finally, Exhibit 2C.3 lists the indefinite pronouns that can be either singular OR plural, depending on the noun they refer to. Here's a handy tip: If the quantity is countable, then the indefinite pronoun takes a plural verb; if you can't count it, then use the singular verb.

All

Most

Any

None

Some

Exhibit 2C.3: Indefinite Pronouns that Can be Singular or Plural

COUNTABLE QUANTITIES WITH PLURAL VERBS:

All of the divisions are presenting their reports tomorrow.

(The verb is plural because "divisions" are countable.)

Some managers prefer face-to-face performance reviews.

(Managers are countable.)

None of the coupons were redeemed.

(None in this case means "not any," and coupons are countable.)

NON-COUNTABLE QUANTITIES WITH SINGULAR VERBS:

All of the work is finished.

(This is singular since "work" is not countable: "I did five work and she did seven". Huh?)

Some patience is required to complete this task.

(Patience is not countable.)

None of the oatmeal Is left.

(Oatmeal is a blob. How do you count individual parts of a blob?)