These boys .......... very good appearance.
✅ Plural subject (these boys) take plural verb (have)'
He might .............there on time, but I can’t be sure.
✅ Modal auxiliary verbs such as can/ could/shall/should/will/would/ may/might /must/ ought to/need to/dare to/used to, etc. are always followed by plural verbs even if the subject is singular '
The ship, along with its crew, ............ saved.
✅ Two or more subjects joined by ‘as well as’, ‘with’, ‘together with’, ‘along with’, accompanied by’, ‘including’, ‘in addition’, ‘no less than’, etc. take verb according to the former subject'
Shingles .......... a painful rash due to the varicella-zoster virus.
✅ Some nouns ending in –s are plural in form, but singular in meaning like: measles, shambles, rabies, AIDS, mumps, tuberculosis, syphilis, paralysis, crisis, diabetes, shingles, rickets [Diseases and Injuries]'
Mumps ........... painful swelling of the salivary glands.
✅ Some nouns ending in –s are plural in form, but singular in meaning like: measles, shambles, rabies, AIDS, mumps, tuberculosis, syphilis, paralysis, crisis, diabetes, shingles, rickets [Diseases and Injuries] '
Checkers/draughts ............ strategic moves to capture pieces.
✅ Use singular verb (V5: gets, demands/has/is/was) for GAMES and SPORTS like: rounders, table tennis, checkers/ draughts, noughts and crosses, musical bumps, fives, billiards, bowls, darts, dominoes, etc.'
Cattle ....... peacefully in the meadow.
✅ Some nouns like staff, cattle, livestock, people, vermin, poultry, sheep, deer, salmon, fish, police, outskirts, stairs, arms, swine, gentry and clergymen take plural verb [V1: go/eat/look/eat/are (were/have)]'
Stairs ............ access to different levels.
✅ Some nouns like staff, cattle, livestock, people, vermin, poultry, sheep, deer, salmon, fish, police, outskirts, stairs, arms, swine, gentry and clergymen take plural verb [V1: go/eat/look/eat/are (were/have)]'
Each and every dog ............ its day.
✅ EXPLANATION '
Either he or they ............ many problems.
✅ Two or more nouns/pronouns corrected by ‘either.....or.....’ and ‘neither......nor......’ take verb according to the latter subject'
A galaxy of stars ....... in the clear night sky.
✅ Phrases beginning with a chain of / a bunch of / a bouquet of / a batch of / a galaxy of / a series of / a packet of +plural nouns generally take singular verb'
Twelve hours .......... to a day.
✅ Subjects that are about specific quantity or amount, distance, measurement and arithmetic sums often have a singular verb (is/was/has/equals/means)'
Binoculars ............ you see things at a distance.
✅ Scissors, shorts, pants, jeans, trousers, binoculars, tongs, and pliers take plural verbs (are/were/have). However, when referred to as "a pair of," they take a singular verb (is/was/has).'
A pair of jeans ............ my go-to choice.
✅ Scissors, shorts, pants, jeans, trousers, binoculars, tongs, and pliers take plural verbs (are/were/have). However, when referred to as "a pair of," they take a singular verb (is/was/has). '
Every teacher, parent and student ......... conscious about quality education.
✅ Two or more nouns qualified by each or every, joined by ‘and’ require singular verb'
A number of boys ........ absent today.
✅ A number + plural noun + plural verb'
The pair of shoes ........... missing.
✅ Pair + singular noun + singular verb '
Fire and water ......... not agree.
✅ Two or more nouns or pronouns joined by ‘and’ often require a plural verb. '
Rickets ......... a condition caused by vitamin D deficiency, leading to weak bones.
✅ Some nouns ending in –s are plural in form, but singular in meaning like: measles, shambles, rabies, AIDS, mumps, tuberculosis, syphilis, paralysis, crisis, diabetes, shingles, rickets [Diseases and Injuries]'
Rounders ............ hitting a ball and running between bases.
✅ Use singular verb (V5: gets, demands/has/is/was) for GAMES and SPORTS like: rounders, table tennis, checkers/ draughts, noughts and crosses, musical bumps, fives, billiards, bowls, darts, dominoes, etc.'
Fish ............ the clear waters of the lake.
✅ Some nouns like staff, cattle, livestock, people, vermin, poultry, sheep, deer, salmon, fish, police, outskirts, stairs, arms, swine, gentry and clergymen take plural verb [V1: go/eat/look/eat/are (were/have)]'
A group of girls ........... kidding each other.
✅ Phrases beginning with -a crowd of / a band of/ a group of / a herd of / a flock of / a gang of / a regiment of / a set of / a team of / a pack of / a pride of +plural nouns take both plural and singular verbs.'