Quantifiers are used to indicate "how much" of a group. Some verbs agree with the quantifier of the clause, others agree with the closest noun in the clause.
VERB AGREES WITH QUANTIFIER OF CLAUSE
VERB AGREES WITH CLOSEST NOUN OF CLAUSE
One of the kidsknowsthe answer.
Some of the kidsknowthe answer.
Some of the classknows the answer.
Verb Agrees with Quantifier of Phrase
QUANTIFIER
QUANTIFIER PHRASE
SINGULAR VERB FORM
EVERY
Every child
needs love.
EACH
Each child
needs love.
ONE OF
One of my children
needs help.
EACH OF
Each of my children
needs love.
EVERYONE OF
Everyone of children
needs love.
*NONE OF
None of my children
wants help.
THE NUMBER OF
The number of children
is thirty. (refers to the quantity)
Verb Agrees with Closest Noun of Phrase
QUANTIFIER
CLOSEST NOUN IN PHRASE
CORRESPONDING VERB FORMS
ALL OF
All of the class
All of the kids
knows the answer. (singular) know the answer. (plural)
SOME OF
Some of the garden Some of the plants
needs water.(singular) need water. (plural)
HALF OF
Half of the book Half of the books
is about China. (singular) need repairing. (plural)
TEN PERCENT
Ten percent of the cost Ten percent of the fees
is tax.(singular) are tax. (plural)
*NONE OF
None of the children
need help. (plural)
A NUMBER OF
A number of children
are absent. (plural) (means "many")
*"None of" - formal usage agrees with a singular verb; informal usage agrees with a plural verb.
Practice
Choose the answer that best
completes the sentence. * indicates an incorrect answer.
