The 1-S Rule – 4 more situations discussed

In the previous article, we looked at the use of the 1-S Rule in 3 tricky situations (CLICK HERE TO READ IT):

1. 1. 1. BASIC / GENERAL Application:
      2. EVERYONE / EVERYBODY
      3. EACH / EVERY

In this post, we’re going to look at four more:

1. 1. 1. AND
      2. COLLECTIVE NOUNS
      3. ALL / SOME
      4. NONE

So, here goes:

AND

You use AND to bring together two or more elements (people, places, things, ideas, etc). Therefore, this calls for the plural verb.

Some examples are:

1. Chemistry and Physics were the most difficult subjects for me.
2. India and Australia are going to play a series of one-day internationals.

• Epistemology and logic are two parts of philosophy.

1. A mobile phone and a laptop were found in the car.

COLLECTIVE NOUNS

These are words that describe a group of people, animals, &c. Some examples are crowd, committee, class, panel, flock, pride, &c.

We use the singular verb in these cases. Of course, some people use the plural verb as well. So both to following sentences are deemed to be correct:

• • • The team has arrived.
    • The team have arrived.

Some sentences are:

1. 1. 1. No one cares for his histrionics.
      2. Everyone has reached in time. 
      3. The panel is going to decide on the issue.
      4. The board has come to a decision.

Exceptions

Of course, there are exceptions too. If the members are doing their own little things, they become discrete entities and not one single unit. Then we use the plural. For example:

1. The cabinet are disagreed with the policy. (they are now a discrete group – each member or group is coming separately)
2. The panel are debating the topic. (they disagree on the topic)
3. My family is coming tomorrow. (if they are coming from the same place) 
4. My family are coming tomorrow. (if they are coming from different places)

ALL / SOME

Here, the deciding factor is whether the noun is countable or non-countable. So, the correct sentences using these words could be:

1. All the students are voting today. (students is countable – you can count them – 1, 2, 3, &c)
2. All the water has gone down the drain. (you can’t count water – you can’t say 1 water or 2 waters)

NONE

NONE is a special word. This is one word that can take either the singular verb or the plural. So both the following sentences are correct:

1. None of the representatives has submitted the report.
2. None of the representatives have submitted the report.

But, there seems to be some arguments for preferring the singular or plural. For instance:

1. None of the students have come is correct because students is countable.
2. None of the money is missing is correct because money isn’t countable.

But, for all practical purposes, you can use it as a singular or plural as you wish. Nobody will shoot you.

In the next we’re going to look at the following 3 situations (CLICK HERE TO READ IT):

1. FRACTIONS / PERCENTAGES / MAJORITY / MINORITY
2. TOGETHER WITH / ALONG WITH / AS WELL AS
3. EITHER / NEITHER