1. Usage and Agreement
Subjects and Verbs

2. Number
Singular subjects should have singular verbs, plural should have plural verbs
Cindy is my favorite aunt.
Her children are about my age.

3. Tricky subjects Indefinite pronouns
Some are always singular, some are always plural
Some, however, can be either- it then depends on the context of the sentence

4. Always singular indefinite pronouns
Each everyone nobody
Either everybody nothing
Neither everything anyone
One no one anybody
Another much anything
Someone somebody something
No one except the nice students leaves early.

5. Always plural Several Few Both many
A few in the crowd are troublesome.

6. Either Some All Any More Most none
Most of the Nobel Prizes for literature have been awarded to men.
Most refers to prizes (plural) so verb is plural
Most of the money for the prizes comes from a fund established by Alfred Nobel.
Most refers to money (singular) so verb is singular

7. Compound Subjects Two subjects joined by and are plural
My mom and sisters are in Las Vegas.
Two subjects joined by or/nor are singular
Verb should agree to subject closest
My sisters or my mom is in Las Vegas.
My mom or my sisters are in Las Vegas.

8. Collective Nouns
The kind of noun that represents a group. (family, team, crowd, jury)
Depend on rest of sentence
If all members create one action = singular
If members do different actions = plural
The family consists of 34 members (one unit- singular)
The family have gone separate ways (different actions- plural)

9. Words stating amounts
Singular when the amount is thought of as a whole
Ninety percent of the student body is here.
Fifty cents was the price.
Plural when the amount indicates a collection of individual parts
Three quarters were in my pocket
Ninety percent of the students are present today.

10. “Every” and “Many a” Always singular
Every mother, father, and grandparent is looking at their graduate with pride.
Many a hopeful performer has gone to search for fame.