English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
CONCORD
A bunch of keys ~were~ found on the floor (nonstandard).
A bunch of keys *was* found on the floor (standard).
When you use collectives such as “a bunch of keys”, “a bevy of ladies”, “a gang of robbers” etc, the singular verb is used with them.
The country, both in its public and private sectors, ~need~ urgent intervention (nonstandard).
The country, both in its public and private sectors, *needs* intervention.
When an explanatory or qualifying part follows the headword of a subject, you must let the headword determine the verb and not the qualifying part.
Snakes and ladders ~seem~ hard to play (nonstandard).
Snakes and ladders *seems* hard to play (standard).
Names of games, diseases, courses and titles attract singular verbs even when they have plural forms.
…to be continued
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