Quantifiers include words such as all, most, many, more, some, none, few, both, each, and every. Some quantifiers are --C. Donald Ahrens, Meteorology Today (modified) Use a plural verb when you modify a countable nounwith one of the following quantifiers: all, most, many, some, few,both. --"Take It or Leave It," Valley Comic News --Philip Ball, Designing the Molecular World When you use a quantifier followed by of, choose a verb that agrees innumber with the noun that follows the quantifier.Unacceptable
In a given location, more solar energy reach the earth'ssurface on a clear, long day than on a day that is clear but much shorter.Acceptable
In a given location, more solar energy reaches theearth's surface on a clear, long day than on a day that is clear but muchshorter.Unacceptable
Some hibernating turtles holds their breath all winterlong.Acceptable
Some hibernating turtles hold their breath all winterlong.Unacceptable
Many chemical sensors relies on electrochemicalprinciples, whereby the relevant chemical species induces a change in electricalcurrent or voltage at an electrode.Acceptable
Many chemical sensors rely on electrochemicalprinciples, whereby the relevant chemical species induces a change in electricalcurrent or voltage at an electrode.Unacceptable
More than half of the whales in the worldis less than 15 feet long.Acceptable
More than half of the whales in the worldare less than 15 feet long.
--"Take It or Leave It," Valley Comic News
Some of the water contain deuterium.Some of the water contains deuterium.The quantifiers one, each and every normally takesingular verbs, whether or not they are followed by of.
Every wild creature need a certain amount of territoryfor its survival, and the grown tiger is said to need more than any other landanimal.Every wild creature needs a certain amount of territoryfor its survival, and the grown tiger is said to need more than any other landanimal.--"Take It or Leave It," Valley Comic News
In contrast to ordinary light, which vibrates in all directions at rightangles to the line of propagation, a light ray that penetrates calcite is brokeninto two rays by the internal structure of the crystal, and each of thetwo rays that pass through the crystal vibrate inonly one plane. Light so modified that it vibrates in only one plane is said tobe polarized.In contrast to ordinary light, which vibrates in all directions at rightangles to the line of propagation, a light ray that penetrates calcite is brokeninto two rays by the internal structure of the crystal, and each of thetwo rays that pass through the crystal vibrates inonly one plane. Light so modified that it vibrates in only one plane is said tobe polarized.--James Gilluly, Principles of Geology (modified)
Each stage bring environmental destruction as the usualby-product, in the form of pollution and the destruction of land andecologies.Each stage brings environmental destruction as the usualby-product, in the form of pollution and the destruction of land andecologies.--Kai Wu, "Prometheus Returns," SciTech Magazine
Each man and woman who applied for the positionwere considered carefully.Each man and woman who applied for the positionwas considered carefully.Special case: When each follows a plural noun or Unacceptable
They each is applying for the position.
Tom and Jeannine each is applying for theposition.
They each are applying for the position.Tom and Jeannine each are applying for theposition.
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