259. A verb must agree with its subject in number, and since the verb changes its form sometimes to denote number, we must be careful to employ the correct form. We should say, “The rose is red, the roses are red; the wind does blow, the winds do blow; the bird flies, the birds fly.”
260. This agreement of the subject and the verb is a simple matter in English, for in our language verbs have the same form in the singular and the plural, except in four cases:—
(1) The verb be, which changes its form considerably to indicate number, in the present and past tenses. See page 128.
(2) Any verb in the second person conjugated in the solemn style. See page 128.
(3) Any verb in the third person of the present tense, indicative mode; as, he speaks, they speak.
(4) Any verb in the third person of the present perfect indicative; as, he has spoken, they have spoken.
261. As don’t is a contraction of do not, it should be used only with a plural subject, or with the singular pronouns I and you. We say, “I don’t know,” “You don’t know,” “They don’t know,” but “He doesn’t know,” “She doesn’t know,” “It doesn’t come.”
262. A compound subject composed of two or more singular nouns should have a plural verb when the parts are joined by any conjunction but or or nor. We say, “Either John or Byron is her cousin,” and “Both John and Joe are her cousins.”
When two singular subjects refer to one person, the verb, of course, should be singular. We say, “The secretary and treasurer was absent.”
263. When a singular noun is modified by the limiting adjective each, every, either, neither, any, or no, and used as subject of a clause, its verb must be singular; as, “Each flower is a thing of beauty,” “No man lives but loves something.”
In declarative sentences this rule is not likely to be violated, but it is often violated in interrogative sentences, where the verb precedes the subject. We should say, “Has either book been returned?” “Is either of you willing to stay?” “Was neither of the speakers on time?”
264. There is a class of nouns like flock, army, herd, company, which mean a collection of individuals, and so seem to be plural; but since the individuals forming the collection are thought of as one body, these nouns are in reality singular. They are collective nouns.
265. The verb of which a collective noun is subject is a singular verb, and the pronoun that stands for a collective noun is the neuter singular pronoun it. We say, “The company is on its way to the Philippines.”
Note.—When a collective noun is plural in meaning, that is, when the individuals are thought of as acting separately, it takes a plural verb; as, “The faculty are not going to trouble their heads about the kind of shoes we wear.”
Summary.—A verb must agree with its subject in person and in number.
A collective noun is one that names a group of individuals considered as one body.
A collective noun is usually singular and neuter.
Exercise 1.—If you do not already know, find out from the dictionary to what sort of individuals each of these collective nouns is applied.
Exercise 2.—Find all the collective nouns in these sentences. Find evidence as to whether they are singular or plural. If they are plural, tell why. Give the reason for the number of each verb.
1. Forty wolves make a very fair pack indeed.
2. At the edge of the thicket was a straggling colony of low blueberry bushes.
3. Here, in course of days, there accumulated a shining cluster of six large white eggs.
4. At last cousin Eben came with a double sleigh and the team of prancing grays, and then the whole family was off for Christmas dinner at Aunt Mary’s.
5. Has either of the critics ever heard the new organ?
6. No man in his senses takes such a risk.
7. A school of porpoises were ducking and tearing through the water.
8. Through the ancient forest, which was a mixed growth of cedar, water ash, black poplar, and maple, with here and there a group of hemlocks on a knoll, the light drained down confusedly.
9. The opinions of this junto were completely controlled by Nicholas Vedder.
10. Is either of you going up the river in the houseboat?
11. This band of crows numbered about two hundred.
12. Each year the old crow came with his troop, and for about six weeks took up his abode on the hill.
13. Here and there a band of chimney sweeps were staring in stupid wonder at the miracle of a showman’s box.
14. Butler tells of an Indian tribe in the Far North that was all but exterminated by a feud over a dog.
15. On a level spot was a company of odd-looking personages playing at ninepins.
16. Every word on his papers was correctly spelled.
17. The rest of the horses swept dutifully into line, and the herd was off.