The greater part of any language is a matter of usage and is learned by almost unconscious imitation of what we hear and read. A command of language depends, however, not only on an observant ear and an observant memory but also on a clear brain.
There is an element of logic in it and a muddleheaded person, even if all the idioms comes naturally to him/her, will often be faulty in speech and writing.
Concord
Afrikaans-speaking people make mistakes in the Concord of subject and verb in English largely because their own language doesn't accustom them to expecting concord; there are occasions when the ear fails even the English-speaking, and then resort must be had to logic. The simple and logical rule is:
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- When the subject conveys the idea of one, the verb is singular:
- When of more than one, the verb must be plural; e.g.:
"Bread and butter are both cheaper this month."
"Bread and butter is my favourite food."
"The company goes steadily on its way."
"The company are brushing their hair, powdering their noses and pencilling their eyebrows."
"A hundred peaches are ripening on the tree."
"A hundred peaches is too little for jam."
"I hope that none of our players have been hurt." (In this sentence, you are thinking of the several players who might have been).
"There is none braver than he." ( In this sentence you have no particular possibilities in mind. Your subject is 'no-one.)
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Be on your guard when a singular noun intervenes between a plural subject and its verb, or vice versa:
"The house containing twenty beds, eight tables, two stoves and any number of chairs, besides three fine antique cupboards and two old Dutch china cabinets, was sold yesterday."
"One of them is coming this afternoon."
"The courage of the soldier and the courage of the pacifist are different."
"When using a relative pronoun be clear about which word is its antecedent: