Quantifiers include words such as all, most, many, more, some, none, few, both, each, and every. Some quantifiers are singular, some are plural, and some may be either. Be sure to choose an appropriate verb whenever the subject includes a quantifier. When you use a quantifier to modify an uncountable (mass) noun, choose a singular verb.
In a given location, more solar energy reach the earth's
surface on a clear, long day than on a day that is clear but much shorter.
In a given location, more solar energy reaches the
earth's surface on a clear, long day than on a day that is clear but much
shorter.
--C. Donald Ahrens, Meteorology Today (modified)
Use a plural verb when you modify a countable noun with one of the following quantifiers: all, most, many, some, few, both.
Some hibernating turtles holds their breath all winter
long.
Some hibernating turtles hold their breath all winter
long.
--"Take It or Leave It," Valley Comic News
Many chemical sensors relies on electrochemical
principles, whereby the relevant chemical species induces a change in electrical
current or voltage at an electrode.
Many chemical sensors rely on electrochemical
principles, whereby the relevant chemical species induces a change in electrical
current or voltage at an electrode.
--Philip Ball, Designing the Molecular World
When you use a quantifier followed by of, choose a verb that agrees in number with the noun that follows the quantifier.
More than half of the whales in the world
is less than 15 feet long.
More than half of the whales in the world
are 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 take singular verbs, whether or not they are followed by of.
Every wild creature need a certain amount of territory
for its survival, and the grown tiger is said to need more than any other land
animal.
Every wild creature needs a certain amount of territory
for its survival, and the grown tiger is said to need more than any other land
animal.
--"Take It or Leave It," Valley Comic News
In contrast to ordinary light, which vibrates in all directions at right
angles to the line of propagation, a light ray that penetrates calcite is broken
into two rays by the internal structure of the crystal, and each of the
two rays that pass through the crystal vibrate in
only one plane. Light so modified that it vibrates in only one plane is said to
be polarized.
In contrast to ordinary light, which vibrates in all directions at right
angles to the line of propagation, a light ray that penetrates calcite is broken
into two rays by the internal structure of the crystal, and each of the
two rays that pass through the crystal vibrates in
only one plane. Light so modified that it vibrates in only one plane is said to
be polarized.
--James Gilluly, Principles of Geology (modified)
Each stage bring environmental destruction as the usual
by-product, in the form of pollution and the destruction of land and
ecologies.
Each stage brings environmental destruction as the usual
by-product, in the form of pollution and the destruction of land and
ecologies.
--Kai Wu, "Prometheus Returns," SciTech Magazine
Each man and woman who applied for the position
were considered carefully.
Each man and woman who applied for the position
was considered carefully.
Special case: When each follows a plural noun or pronoun or a compound subject (two or more nouns or pronouns joined by the coordinate conjunction and), use a plural verb.
They each is applying for the position.
Tom and Jeannine each is applying for the
position.
They each are applying for the position.
Tom and Jeannine each are applying for the
position.