
I think we can all agree that subjects and verbs need to agree with one another. A singular subject takes a singular verb.
- Nancy is the school librarian.
Plural subjects take plural verbs:
- Nancy and Ned are friends.
But we don’t always write with such simple subjects. What is the correct verb form in these sentences?
- A pack of wolves was/were howling in the distance.
- A bundle of ballots was/were found in the official’s car.
- A flock of geese is/are migrating overhead.
Each subject includes both a singular and a plural noun: pack—singular/wolves—plural; bundle—singular/ballots—plural; flock—singular/geese—plural. So do you use a singular or plural verb?
I could get into a lot of technical terms here like notional vs. formal agreement and predeterminer. But I prefer Merriam-Webster’s “plain sense” solution: “When you have a collecting noun phrase (a bunch of) before a plural noun (the boys), the sense will normally be plural and so should the verb.” Continue Reading…