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No rule of grammar is more familiar to the schoolboy than that which relates to the agreement of the verb with its subject, or nominative, and none that is more frequently violated. It would be a mistake, however, to assume that the schoolboy is the only transgressor. Ladies and gentlemen of culture and refinement, writers and speakers of experience and renown, have alike been caught in the quicksands of verb constructions.
"This painting is one of the finest masterpieces that ever was given to the world." A transposition of the sentence will show that the verb should be were, and not was. "Of the finest masterpieces that ever were given to the world, this painting is one."
"His essay on 'Capital and Labor' is one of the best that has ever been written on the subject." The verb should be have.
"The steamer, with all her passengers and crew, were lost." The subject is steamer, and the verb should be was.
Interrogative sentences
"What signifies his good resolutions, when he does not possess strength of purpose sufficient to put them into practice?" Resolutions is the subject, and the verb should be signify.
"Of what profit is his prayers, while his practices are the abomination of the neighborhood?" Prayers being plural, the verb should be are.
"What avails good sentiments with a bad life?" Use avail.
Subject after the Verb
"In virtue and piety consist the happiness of man." Happiness, the subject, being singular, the verb should be consists, to agree with its nominative.
"To these recommendations were appended a copy of the minority report." A transposition of the sentence will show that the verb should be was, and not were. "A copy of the minority report was appended to these recommendations."
Whenever the sentence is introduced by a phrase consisting in part of a noun in the plural, or several nouns in the singular or plural, and, especially, where the subject follows the verb; care must be taken to keep the nominative well in mind, so that the verb may be in strict accord with it.
Compound Subjects
When a verb has two or more nominatives it must be plural. These nominatives may or may not be connected by and or other connecting particle. The nominatives may consist of nouns or pronouns, either singular or plural, or they may be phrases.
"Washington and Lincoln were chosen instruments of government."
"Judges and senates have been bought for gold,
Esteem and love were never to be sold."-- Pope.
"Art, empire, earth itself, to change are doomed."-- Beattie.
"You and he resemble each other."
"To read and to sing are desirable accomplishments."
"To be wise in our own eyes, to be wise in the opinion of the world, and to be wise in the sight of our Creator, are three things so very different as rarely to coincide."-- Blair.
Singular in Meaning
Nominatives are sometimes plural in form but singular in meaning. Such nominatives require a verb in the singular.
"The philosopher and poet was banished from his country." Was is correct, because philosopher and poet are the same person.
"Ambition, and not the safety of the state, was concerned." Was is correct, because ambition is the subject. The words, "and not the safety of the state," simply emphasize the subject, but do not give it a plural meaning.
"Truth, and truth only, is worth seeking for its own sake." Another case of emphasis.
Each, Every, No, Not
When two or more nominatives are qualified by one of the foregoing words the verb must be singular.
"Every limb and feature appears with its respective grace."-- Steele.
"Not a bird, not a beast, not a tree, not a shrub were to be seen." Use was instead of were.
Poetical Construction
When the verb separates its nominatives, it agrees with that which precedes it.
"Forth in the pleasing spring, Thy beauty walks, thy tenderness, and love."-- Thomson.
Or, Nor, As well as, But, Save
When two or more nominatives in the singular are separated by such words as the preceding, the verb must be singular.
"Veracity, as well as justice, is to be our rule of life."-- Butler.
"Not a weed nor a blade of grass were to be seen." Change were to was.
"Nothing but wailings were heard." Transpose. "Nothing was heard but wailings." The verb should be was.
"Either one or the other of them are in the wrong." The verb should be is.
If, however, one or more of the nominatives are plural, the verb must be plural.
"It is not his wealth, or gifts, or culture that gives him this distinction." Gifts being plural, the verb should be give.
Some authorities say that the verb should agree in number with the subject which is placed next before it, and be understood (or silent) to the rest; as, "Neither he nor his brothers were there," "Neither his brothers nor he was there," "Neither you nor I am concerned."
Prof. Genung, author of Outlines of Rhetoric, says: "When a clash of concord arises, either choose subjects that have the same number, or choose a verb that has the same form for both numbers." He gives this sentence to show the change of verb: "Fame or the emoluments of valor were (was) never to be his." "Fame or the emoluments of valor could never be his." And this sentence to show the change of one of the subjects: "Neither the halter nor bayonets are (is) sufficient to prevent us from obtaining our rights." "Neither the halter nor the bayonet is sufficient to prevent us from obtaining our rights."
Collective Nouns
Collective nouns, like army, committee, class, peasantry, nobility, are, grammatically, singular, but they are often so modified by their surroundings as to convey a plural idea, and when so modified the verb must be plural. When the collective noun conveys the idea of unity, the verb must be singular.
"The army was disbanded."
"The council were divided."
"A number of men and women were present."
"The people rejoice in their freedom."
"The peasantry go barefoot, and the middle sort make use of wooden shoes."
"The world stands in awe of your majesty."
"All the world are spectators of your conduct."
Weights, Measures, and Values
The names of weights, measures, and values, when considered as wholes, require singular verbs, and when considered as units require verbs in the plural.
"There is twenty shillings in my purse," meaning one pound in value. "There are twenty shillings in my purse," meaning twenty separate coins, each being a shilling. "Sixty-three gallons equals a hogshead." "Ten tons of coal are consumed daily."
Titles of Books
Whether the form be singular or plural, the title is considered a unit, and requires a verb in the singular; as, "'The Merry Wives of Windsor' was written by Shakespeare." "Dr. Holmes's American Annals was published in 1805."
Whereabouts
"The whereabouts of his cousins were not known to him." The plural form of this word is misleading. The verb should be was.
Phenomena, Effluvia
"A strange phenomena," "A disagreeable effluvia" are incorrect forms not infrequently met with. Both words are plural, and require plural verbs and also the omission of the article a.
You was
This very incorrect form is often employed by those who know better, and who use it, seemingly, out of courtesy to the uneducated people with whom they are brought in contact. If it be a courtesy, it is one that is "more honored in the breach than in the observance."
Those who use the expression ignorantly are not likely to read this book, or any other of a similar character, and need scarcely be told that was should be were.
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