mpt · CSS study notes
Part 1 — Basic Rules with Examples
How to read each rule
Each rule contains:
- a short explanation;
- a correct example;
- the common incorrect form;
- a memory clue.
Rule 1 — Singular subject, singular verb
A singular subject takes a singular verb.
Correct
The student writes neatly.
Sara has a new book.
Incorrect
The student write neatly.
Sara have a new book.
Remember
With he, she, it, or one person/thing, the present-tense verb normally takes s/es.
Rule 2 — Plural subject, plural verb
A plural subject takes a plural verb.
Correct
The students write neatly.
Sara and Ali have new books.
Incorrect
The students writes neatly.
Sara and Ali has new books.
Remember
Plural subjects normally use the base verb: write, play, have, do.
Rule 3 — Ignore the phrase between the subject and verb
A phrase beginning with of, in, on, with, near, among, or a similar word may separate the subject from the verb.
The noun inside that phrase does not control the verb.
Correct
The box of chocolates is on the table.
The subject is box.
Incorrect
The box of chocolates are on the table.
The nearby plural noun chocolates creates the trap.
Another example
The effects of pollution are serious.
The subject is effects, not pollution.
Remember
Cross out the of-phrase.
Rule 4 — Each and every take a singular verb
Each and every refer to one person or thing at a time.
Correct
Each student has a notebook.
Every child needs care.
Incorrect
Each student have a notebook.
Every child need care.
With “of”
Each of the students is ready.
The subject is each, not students.
Remember
Each = one. Every = one by one.
Rule 5 — Everyone, someone, anyone and nobody are singular
The following are grammatically singular:
everyone, everybody, someone, somebody, anyone, anybody, no one, nobody, everything, something, anything, nothing
Correct
Everyone is present.
Somebody has opened the door.
Nothing was damaged.
Incorrect
Everyone are present.
Somebody have opened the door.
Remember
The word may refer to many people, but its grammar is singular.
Rule 6 — Either and neither are singular when used alone
Correct
Either of the plans is acceptable.
Neither of the answers is correct.
Incorrect
Either of the plans are acceptable.
Neither of the answers are correct.
Remember
Ignore the plural noun after of.
Rule 7 — Both, many, few and several are plural
Correct
Both candidates are qualified.
Several students have complained.
Many people want change.
Few applicants meet the condition.
Incorrect
Both candidates is qualified.
Several students has complained.
Remember
These words clearly indicate more than one.
Rule 8 — A number of is plural
A number of means many.
Correct
A number of students are absent.
A number of complaints have been received.
Incorrect
A number of students is absent.
A number of complaints has been received.
Remember
Replace a number of with many.
Rule 9 — The number of is singular
The number means one total figure.
Correct
The number of students is increasing.
The number of complaints has fallen.
Incorrect
The number of students are increasing.
Remember
The subject is the singular word number.
Rule 10 — Subjects joined by “and” are normally plural
Correct
Ali and Ahmed are friends.
Honesty and courage are valuable qualities.
Incorrect
Ali and Ahmed is friends.
Exception: one combined idea
Bread and butter is my usual breakfast.
Here, bread and butter mean one combined meal.
Exception: one person with two descriptions
The poet and philosopher has arrived.
One person is both a poet and a philosopher.
Compare:
The poet and the philosopher have arrived.
The repeated article the shows two people.
Remember
And = plural, unless it forms one person, item, or idea.
Rule 11 — As well as and along with do not make the subject plural
Expressions such as as well as, along with, together with, accompanied by, in addition to add extra information.
The verb agrees with the first subject.
Correct
The teacher, along with the students, is attending.
The students, along with the teacher, are attending.
Incorrect
The teacher, along with the students, are attending.
Remember
Remove the middle phrase.
The teacher is attending.
Rule 12 — There is/are agrees with the noun that follows
There is not the real subject.
Correct
There is a book on the desk.
There are three books on the desk.
Incorrect
There is three books on the desk.
Here is/are
Here is your pen.
Here are your documents.
Remember
Look after the verb to find the real subject.
Rule 13 — One of + plural noun takes a singular verb
The subject is one.
Correct
One of the boys is absent.
One of these books belongs to me.
Incorrect
One of the boys are absent.
One of these books belong to me.
Remember
One of many is still one.
Rule 14 — More than one takes a singular verb
Correct
More than one candidate has applied.
More than one mistake was found.
Incorrect
More than one candidate have applied.
Remember
This is a fixed formal pattern: more than one + singular noun + singular verb.
Rule 15 — Modal verbs do not change
After can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would, use the base verb.
Correct
He can swim.
They can swim.
She will come.
They will come.
Incorrect
He can swims.
She will comes.
Remember
A modal already helps the verb, so the main verb stays in its basic form.
Countable and Uncountable Nouns
Understanding countable and uncountable nouns makes subject–verb agreement much easier.
The noun type tells you:
- whether it can be singular or plural;
- whether to use is/are or has/have;
- whether to use many/much, few/little, or a number/an amount;
- whether a/an can come before it.
1. What is a countable noun?
A countable noun names a person, place, object, or idea that we can count separately.
Examples
one student
two students
one book
five books
one idea
several ideas
A countable noun has both singular and plural forms.
Singular countable noun
A singular countable noun normally needs a determiner such as a, an, the, my, this, one.
Correct
A student is waiting.
This book belongs to me.
My friend has arrived.
Incorrect
Student is waiting.
In ordinary usage, a singular countable noun normally cannot stand alone without a determiner.
Plural countable noun
A plural countable noun can be used with a number or a plural quantity word.
Correct
Three students are waiting.
Many books have been damaged.
Several ideas were discussed.
Incorrect
Three student is waiting.
2. What is an uncountable noun?
An uncountable noun names something normally viewed as a mass, substance, quality, activity, or general idea rather than separate units.
Common examples
water, milk, sugar, rice, money, information, advice, furniture, luggage, equipment, traffic, knowledge, progress, work
We do not normally count these nouns directly.
Correct
The information is useful.
This furniture is expensive.
Her advice has helped me.
Incorrect
The information are useful.
These furnitures are expensive.
Her advices have helped me.
Main agreement rule
An uncountable noun normally takes a singular verb.
Water is essential.
Knowledge is power.
The equipment needs repair.
3. The easiest identification tests
Test A — Can you naturally put a number directly before it?
Countable
one chair
two chairs
one suggestion
four suggestions
Uncountable
We do not normally say:
two furnitures
three advices
four informations
Instead, we count units:
two pieces of furniture
three pieces of advice
four pieces of information
Test B — Can it normally take “a” or “an”?
Countable
a book
an apple
a suggestion
Uncountable
We do not normally say:
an advice
an information
a furniture
Use a unit expression:
a piece of advice
a piece of information
an item of furniture
Test C — Does it normally have a plural form?
Countable
car → cars
question → questions
child → children
Uncountable
information
furniture
equipment
These normally remain unchanged.
🧠
Quick test
If you can say one, two, three directly before the noun, it is usually countable.
If you need a piece of, a glass of, a kilogram of, it is usually uncountable.
4. Quantity words used with countable nouns
Use the following with plural countable nouns:
many, a few, few, several, both, a number of, fewer
Examples
Many students are absent.
A few questions are difficult.
Several books have disappeared.
A number of candidates have applied.
Fewer accidents occur on this road now.
Common mistake
Much students are absent.
Correction
Many students are absent.
5. Quantity words used with uncountable nouns
Use the following with uncountable nouns:
much, a little, little, an amount of, less
Examples
Much information is available.
A little water is left.
Little progress has been made.
A large amount of money was spent.
Less traffic is expected today.
Common mistake
Many information is available.
Correction
Much information is available.
More naturally:
A lot of information is available.
6. Quantity words used with both types
The following can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns:
some, any, a lot of, lots of, plenty of, enough, most, all
The verb depends on the noun.
With an uncountable noun
Some water is available.
Most of the work has been completed.
Plenty of time is left.
With a plural countable noun
Some students are absent.
Most of the workers have arrived.
Plenty of chairs are available.
Remember
Do not match the verb with some, most, all, or plenty.
Match it with the following noun.
7. Many versus much
Many + plural countable noun
Many books are useful.
Many students have applied.
Much + uncountable noun
Much work is unfinished.
Much money has been spent.
Incorrect
Many work is unfinished.
Much students have applied.
Memory
Many things you can count.
Much material you measure.
8. Few versus little
Few / a few + plural countable noun
Few students understand the rule.
A few students are ready.
Little / a little + uncountable noun
Little progress has been made.
A little water is available.
Difference in meaning
A few
Some, and enough to be useful.
A few students helped me.
Few
Almost none; a negative idea.
Few students understood the lecture.
A little
Some, and enough to be useful.
A little time remains.
Little
Almost none; a negative idea.
Little time remains.
9. Fewer versus less
Fewer + plural countable noun
Fewer students are absent today.
Fewer mistakes were found.
Less + uncountable noun
Less water is needed.
Less money was spent.
MPT trap
There are less students this year.
Correction
There are fewer students this year.
Memory
Fewer items; less quantity.
10. Number versus amount
Number + plural countable noun
A large number of students are present.
The number of students is increasing.
Amount + uncountable noun
A large amount of money was spent.
The amount of water is insufficient.
Incorrect
A large amount of students are present.
Correction
A large number of students are present.
11. How to count an uncountable noun
Use a countable unit or container.
Advice
a piece of advice
two pieces of advice
Information
an item of information
three pieces of information
Furniture
an item of furniture
four pieces of furniture
Equipment
a piece of equipment
several pieces of equipment
Luggage
a piece of luggage
two bags
Water
a glass of water
two litres of water
Bread
a loaf of bread
two slices of bread
The verb agrees with the unit.
Singular unit
A piece of advice is useful.
Plural units
Two pieces of advice are useful.
12. Common uncountable nouns in MPT English
Advice
His advice is practical.
Not:
His advices are practical.
Information
The information is correct.
Not:
The informations are correct.
Furniture
The furniture was delivered.
Not:
The furnitures were delivered.
Equipment
The equipment needs repair.
Not:
The equipments need repair.
Luggage / baggage
Her luggage is heavy.
Not:
Her luggages are heavy.
News
The news is encouraging.
Although it ends in s, it is singular.
Work
The work is difficult.
But works can mean factories or artistic/literary creations:
The steelworks are outside the city.
The works of Shakespeare are famous.
Progress
Considerable progress has been made.
Not:
Many progresses have been made.
Traffic
The traffic is heavy.
Not:
The traffics are heavy.
Knowledge
Knowledge is power.
Not:
Knowledges are useful.
Poetry
Poetry is difficult to translate.
But poems are countable:
These poems are beautiful.
13. Nouns that can be countable or uncountable
Some nouns change meaning according to how they are used.
Paper
Uncountable: material
Paper is made from wood.
Countable: document or newspaper
The papers are on the desk.
Glass
Uncountable: material
Glass is fragile.
Countable: drinking container
Two glasses are on the table.
Chicken
Uncountable: food
Chicken is served for dinner.
Countable: animal
The chickens are in the yard.
Hair
Uncountable: hair in general
Her hair is long.
Countable: individual strands
Two grey hairs were visible.
Experience
Uncountable: knowledge gained through life or work
Experience is important.
Countable: separate events
His travel experiences were interesting.
Time
Uncountable: general time
Time is valuable.
Countable: occasions
I have visited Lahore three times.
Light
Uncountable: illumination
Light travels quickly.
Countable: lamps
The lights are on.
Room
Uncountable: available space
There is enough room.
Countable: part of a building
Three rooms are empty.
💡
The same word can change category when its meaning changes.
Always understand the sentence before choosing the verb.
14. Subject–verb agreement with “of”
When some, all, most, half, none, plenty, percentage, or a fraction comes before of, inspect the noun after of.
Uncountable noun
Some of the milk is spoiled.
Half of the work is complete.
Most of the information is correct.
Plural countable noun
Some of the books are missing.
Half of the workers are absent.
Most of the candidates have arrived.
15. Solved MPT-style examples
Example 1
Much information ___ available online.
A. are
B. is
C. have
D. were
Answer: B — is
Information is uncountable and takes a singular verb.
Example 2
Many students ___ applied for the scholarship.
A. has
B. is
C. have
D. was
Answer: C — have
Students is a plural countable noun.
Example 3
The furniture in these rooms ___ expensive.
A. are
B. is
C. have
D. were
Answer: B — is
Furniture is uncountable. The plural noun rooms is inside a phrase and does not control the verb.
Example 4
A large number of complaints ___ received.
A. was
B. has
C. were
D. is
Answer: C — were
A large number of takes a plural countable noun and plural verb.
Example 5
A large amount of money ___ spent.
A. were
B. have
C. was
D. are
Answer: C — was
Money is uncountable.
Example 6
Two pieces of equipment ___ missing.
A. is
B. are
C. has
D. was
Answer: B — are
The subject is the plural countable unit pieces.
Example 7
Less traffic ___ expected during the holiday.
A. are
B. have
C. is
D. were
Answer: C — is
Traffic is uncountable.
Example 8
Fewer accidents ___ reported this month.
A. was
B. has
C. is
D. were
Answer: D — were
Accidents is a plural countable noun.
16. Quick revision box
⚡
Countable
Can be counted directly.
book/books, student/students
Use many, few, a number of, fewer.
Plural noun → plural verb.
Uncountable
Viewed as a mass or general idea.
information, advice, furniture, equipment
Use much, little, an amount of, less.
Normally takes a singular verb.
Both
Use some, most, all, plenty of with either type.
The following noun decides the verb.