If Countable Noun is used after All, All of, Some, Some of, most, most of, lots of, A lot of, plenty of, enough, one-third Plural Noun and Verb And if Uncountable Noun is used Singular Verb is used.
In the above examples: 'water' is an 'uncountable noun' therefore 'singular verb' 'was' is used:: And:: 'boys' & 'answers' are countable nouns therefore their plural form with plural verb 'were' is used.
Rule8:
After More than one + singular noun + singular verb is used.
- More than one boy was killed there (correct) [usage of singular noun ‘boy’ and singular verb ‘was’]
Also, After More + plural Noun + than one + plural verb is used
- More boys than one were killed there. (correct) [usage of plural noun ‘boys’ and plural verb ‘were’]
Rule9:
If ‘there’ or ‘if’ is used as an introductory subject, then the verb is decided according to noun.
For singular Noun ⇒ Singular Verb is used.
For Plural Noun ⇒ Plural Verb is used.
- There was a rat in the room. (correct) [usage of singular verb ‘was’ as singular noun ‘rat’ has been used]
- There were rats in the room. (correct)
Rule10:
The verb must be according to the main subject of the sentence, but sometimes we match verb with the nearer subject.
- The constant shouting of slogans do no solve the problems of the country. (incorrect) [the main subject is ‘shouting’ not the ‘slogans’, therefore verb must be according to the main subject which is singular, hence singular verb ‘does’ should be used]
- The constant shouting of slogans does no solve the problems of the country. (correct)
- The idea of introducing genes to correct heritable disorder is revolutionary. (correct)
Note: there are many exceptions to this rule of which most of them we have already discussed above, the rest we would discuss in the next rules
In the above example, the subject just before the relative pronoun (who) is 'I' therefore Verb must be according to 'I'. It is incorrect to say "It is I who is calling you. Similarly in the second example, the verb (were) is according to subject 'problems' which is just before a relative pronoun (which).
Rule12: (discussed in Noun)
► Uncountable Nouns like furniture, luggage, scenery, information, poetry, percentage, knowledge, new etc. are always Singular, hence they take Singular Verb.
Nouns like shoes, scissors, pants, trousers, spectacles are always used in plural sense, hence they take Plural Verb.
► Mob, Committee, Jury, team, crew, audience, army, family, government etc. (collective nouns) ⇒ take singular verb when collection is thought as a whole.
► Numerical + Plural Noun (any definite unit/ distance/ weight/ height) ⇒ Takes singular verb.
- Ten thousand rupees is a good amount.
- Two tons of rice is enough for party.
Rule13: (discussed in Conditional Sentences)
When I wish/ as if/ as though/ if/ It is time/ It is high time etc. are used to express regret, unfulfilled wish and unlikely condition we use Plural Verb after them.
- I wish I were king. (correct)