mpt · CSS study notes
Part 2 — Advanced MPT Traps with Examples
Rule 16 — Either…or and neither…nor follow the nearer subject
The verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
Correct
Either the teacher or the students are responsible.
The nearer subject is students.
Either the students or the teacher is responsible.
The nearer subject is teacher.
Neither Ali nor his friends have arrived.
The nearer subject is friends.
Incorrect
Neither the teacher nor the students is ready.
Remember
OR/NOR → look next door.
Rule 17 — Not only…but also follows the nearer subject
Correct
Not only the principal but also the teachers are present.
Not only the teachers but also the principal is present.
Incorrect
Not only the teachers but also the principal are present.
Remember
Match the verb with the noun immediately before it.
Rule 18 — Some, all, most and half depend on the noun after “of”
Uncountable noun
Some of the milk is spoiled.
All of the work has been completed.
Plural countable noun
Some of the books are missing.
All of the workers have arrived.
Incorrect
Some of the milk are spoiled.
Remember
Look at the noun after of.
Rule 19 — Fractions and percentages depend on the noun after “of”
Singular or uncountable noun
Half of the cake is gone.
Sixty percent of the land is cultivated.
Plural noun
Half of the apples are rotten.
Sixty percent of the voters are undecided.
Incorrect
Sixty percent of the workers is absent.
Remember
Percentage → noun after of.
Rule 20 — None depends on meaning and the noun after “of”
With an uncountable noun, use a singular verb.
None of the money is missing.
None of the information is useful.
With a plural countable noun, plural agreement is normal in modern English.
None of the students are ready.
Incorrect
None of the information are useful.
Remember
Do not automatically make none singular. Inspect the following noun.
Rule 21 — Collective nouns depend on meaning
A collective noun names a group: team, committee, jury, family, government, class, staff.
When the group acts as one unit, use singular agreement.
The committee has reached its decision.
The team is winning.
When the members act separately, plural agreement is possible, especially in British English.
The committee are divided in their opinions.
The team are arguing among themselves.
Incorrect
The committee are meeting to issue its single decision.
The sentence describes one unit and uses the singular pronoun its.
Remember
One unit = singular. Separate members = plural.
Rule 22 — Uncountable nouns take singular verbs
Common uncountable nouns include:
advice, information, furniture, luggage, equipment, machinery, knowledge, traffic, progress
These nouns normally have no direct plural form.
Do not add -s to make them plural.
The uncountable noun itself normally takes a singular verb.
Basic examples
Correct
The information is correct.
Her advice has helped me.
The furniture was delivered.
The equipment needs repair.
Incorrect
The informations are correct.
Her advices have helped me.
The furnitures were delivered.
The equipments need repair.
How to express a plural meaning
Add a countable unit word before the uncountable noun.
The uncountable noun remains unchanged.
One unit → singular verb
One piece of advice is useful.
An item of furniture was damaged.
More than one unit → plural verb
Two pieces of advice are useful.
Several items of furniture were damaged.
The verb agrees with piece/items, not with the uncountable noun.
🧠
Main formula
one piece/item of + uncountable noun + singular verb
two pieces/items of + uncountable noun + plural verb
The uncountable noun never changes.
Advice
One or an unspecified amount
Some advice is useful.
A piece of advice is useful.
More than one separate suggestion
Two pieces of advice are useful.
Do not write
an advice
two advices
Information
One or an unspecified amount
The information is accurate.
One piece of information is missing.
More than one fact
Three pieces of information are missing.
Several items of information were recorded.
Do not write
an information
many informations
Furniture
Furniture in general
The furniture is expensive.
Separate objects
One item of furniture is damaged.
Five pieces of furniture are damaged.
You can also name the objects directly:
Two chairs and a table are damaged.
Do not write
furnitures
Luggage
Luggage in general
Her luggage is heavy.
Separate units
One piece of luggage is missing.
Three pieces of luggage are missing.
You can also use countable names:
Two suitcases are missing.
Do not write
luggages
Equipment
Equipment in general
The equipment is modern.
Separate units
One piece of equipment is faulty.
Several pieces of equipment are faulty.
You can also name the objects:
Two computers and a printer are faulty.
Do not write
equipments
Machinery
Machinery in general
The machinery is old.
Separate machines or units
One piece of machinery was replaced.
Several pieces of machinery were replaced.
More naturally, name the countable machines:
Three machines were replaced.
Do not write
machineries
Knowledge
Knowledge in general
Knowledge is power.
His knowledge of history is impressive.
Different fields or bodies of knowledge
Several areas of knowledge are included in the syllabus.
Different branches of knowledge are studied.
The plural knowledges is rare and is not the normal choice in MPT English.
Traffic
Traffic in general
The traffic is heavy.
Less traffic is expected today.
Separate vehicles or traffic flows
Many vehicles are blocking the road.
Traffic flows from three roads are being monitored.
Do not write
traffics are heavy
Progress
Progress in general
Good progress has been made.
Little progress was reported.
Separate developments
Several advances have been made.
Three important steps have been completed.
Progress in both projects has been satisfactory.
Do not write
progresses have been made
Quantity expressions do not make the uncountable noun plural
The following expressions can show a large quantity, but the verb remains singular because the subject is still uncountable:
Much information is available.
A lot of furniture is required.
Plenty of equipment is available.
Some machinery is being repaired.
Considerable progress has been made.
MPT trap
A lot of equipment are available. ❌
A lot of equipment is available. ✅
A lot of does not automatically require a plural verb. The noun after it decides the agreement.
Quick conversion guide
Advice
advice → pieces of advice
Information
information → pieces/items of information
Furniture
furniture → pieces/items of furniture
Luggage
luggage → pieces of luggage, bags, suitcases
Equipment
equipment → pieces/items of equipment
Machinery
machinery → pieces of machinery, machines
Knowledge
knowledge → areas/branches/bodies of knowledge
Traffic
traffic → vehicles, traffic flows, streams of traffic
Progress
progress → advances, developments, steps
MPT-style examples
Question 1
Two pieces of advice ___ enough.
A. is
B. are
C. has
D. was
Answer: B — are
The plural subject is pieces.
Question 2
A large amount of information ___ available.
A. are
B. have
C. is
D. were
Answer: C — is
Information remains uncountable and singular.
Question 3
Several items of furniture ___ damaged.
A. was
B. is
C. has
D. were
Answer: D — were
The plural subject is items.
Question 4
Much progress ___ been made.
A. have
B. are
C. has
D. were
Answer: C — has
Progress is uncountable and singular.
Remember
Do not make the uncountable noun itself plural.
Count its pieces, items, units, bags, machines, areas, vehicles, advances, or steps instead.
Rule 23 — Some nouns ending in “s” are singular
Correct
The news is encouraging.
Mathematics is difficult.
Physics is interesting.
Measles is contagious.
Incorrect
The news are encouraging.
Mathematics are difficult.
Remember
The final s is part of the name; it does not make the subject plural.
Rule 24 — Police, cattle and people take plural verbs
Correct
The police are investigating.
The cattle are grazing.
The people have spoken.
Incorrect
The police is investigating.
Remember
For one person, say:
A police officer is investigating.
Rule 25 — Scissors and trousers are plural
Pair nouns include scissors, trousers, spectacles, binoculars, pliers.
Correct
These scissors are blunt.
My trousers are new.
Incorrect
This scissors is blunt.
With “a pair of”
This pair of scissors is blunt.
A pair of trousers was purchased.
Remember
The two-part object is plural; a pair is singular.
Rule 26 — Time, money and distance can be one total
When an amount is treated as one unit, use a singular verb.
Correct
Ten kilometres is a long distance.
Five years is a long time.
Ten thousand rupees is enough.
Incorrect
Ten kilometres are a long distance.
When separate units are emphasized
Ten years have passed since we met.
Remember
One total = singular. Separate units = plural.
Rule 27 — Book, film and organization titles are singular
A title represents one work or organization.
Correct
The Arabian Nights is famous.
Great Expectations is a novel.
The United Nations has issued a statement.
Incorrect
Great Expectations are a novel.
Remember
Ignore the plural appearance; ask whether the title names one thing.
Rule 28 — Gerunds and infinitives used as subjects are singular
Correct
Swimming is good exercise.
Reading books improves vocabulary.
To forgive is noble.
Incorrect
Reading books improve vocabulary.
Two different activities
Reading and writing are essential skills.
One combined activity
Drinking and driving is dangerous.
Remember
One activity or idea takes a singular verb.
Rule 29 — A clause used as a subject is singular
Correct
What he says is true.
That she passed was surprising.
Incorrect
What he says are true.
Remember
The entire clause acts as one idea.
Rule 30 — The + adjective may represent a plural class
Correct
The rich are not always happy.
The poor need support.
The elderly deserve respect.
Incorrect
The poor needs support.
Remember
The poor means poor people.
Rule 31 — Relative pronouns agree with their antecedent
Example: “one of”
He is one of the students who work hard.
Who refers to plural students.
Example: “the only one”
He is the only one of the students who works hard.
Who refers to singular the only one.
Another example
The books that are on the table belong to me.
The book that is on the table belongs to me.
Remember
Ask: Who or what does who/that refer to?
Rule 32 — Every or each before joined nouns remains singular
Correct
Every boy and girl is required to attend.
Each book and notebook was checked.
Incorrect
Every boy and girl are required to attend.
Remember
Every considers the members one by one.
Rule 33 — Many a takes a singular verb
Correct
Many a student has made this mistake.
Many a soldier was injured.
Incorrect
Many a student have made this mistake.
Remember
Despite its plural meaning, this fixed expression uses a singular noun and verb.
Rule 34 — Arithmetic expressions normally take singular verbs
Correct
Two and two is four.
Five times five is twenty-five.
Six divided by two is three.
Incorrect
Two and two are four.
Remember
The complete expression represents one calculation.
Rule 35 — Many, many a, and a great many
These expressions have similar meanings, but their grammar is different.
Many + plural noun + plural verb
Many means a large number of people or things.
Use a plural noun and a plural verb.
Correct
Many students are absent.
Many candidates have applied.
Many books were damaged.
Incorrect
Many student is absent.
Many candidates has applied.
Pattern
many + plural noun + plural verb
Many a + singular noun + singular verb
Many a also means many, but it follows a singular grammatical pattern.
It is more formal and literary than ordinary many.
Correct
Many a student has made this mistake.
Many a soldier was injured.
Many a candidate has failed because of poor preparation.
Incorrect
Many a students have made this mistake.
Many a student have made this mistake.
Pattern
many a + singular noun + singular verb
Memory trick
The word a demands one singular noun:
many a student has
A great many + plural noun + plural verb
A great many means a very large number.
Use a plural noun and a plural verb.
Correct
A great many students are absent.
A great many people have attended the meeting.
A great many questions were difficult.
Incorrect
A great many student is absent.
Pattern
a great many + plural noun + plural verb
What about “a many”?
The expression a many by itself is archaic, dialectal, or literary.
It is not the normal choice in modern standard English and should usually be avoided in an MPT grammar question.
Unnatural in modern standard English
A many students attended the lecture.
Standard modern English
Many students attended the lecture.
A great many students attended the lecture.
MPT rule
If the options contain many students or a great many students, prefer those standard forms over a many students.
Quick comparison
Many
Many students are ready.
Plural noun and plural verb.
Many a
Many a student is ready.
Singular noun and singular verb.
A great many
A great many students are ready.
Plural noun and plural verb.
🧠
Easy memory
Many students are
Many a student is
A great many students are
A many students → normally avoid in standard modern English.
Mini MPT practice
Question 1
Many students ___ applied for the post.
A. has
B. have
C. is
D. was
Answer: B — have
Many + plural noun takes a plural verb.
Question 2
Many a student ___ this error.
A. make
B. have made
C. makes
D. are making
Answer: C — makes
Many a + singular noun takes a singular verb.
Question 3
A great many candidates ___ present.
A. was
B. is
C. has
D. were
Answer: D — were
A great many + plural noun takes a plural verb.
Question 4
Choose the standard modern expression.
A. A many students were absent.
B. Many a students were absent.
C. Many students were absent.
D. Many student was absent.
Answer: C — Many students were absent.
Option A is not the normal modern standard form.
Rule 36 — Plural-only nouns take plural verbs
Some English nouns are normally used only in the plural.
They take plural verbs such as:
are, were, have, do
They usually do not have an ordinary singular form with the same meaning.
1. People and animal-group nouns
Police
Correct
The police are investigating the case.
The police have arrested the suspect.
Incorrect
The police is investigating the case.
To refer to one person, use:
A police officer is investigating the case.
Do not normally say:
a police
Cattle
Correct
The cattle are grazing.
The cattle have been moved.
Incorrect
The cattle is grazing.
To refer to one animal, use:
A cow is grazing.
One head of cattle is missing.
People
When people means persons, it takes a plural verb.
Correct
The people are demanding justice.
Many people have attended the meeting.
Incorrect
The people is demanding justice.
The singular form is:
A person is waiting.
Special use: peoples
Peoples can mean different nations or ethnic groups.
The peoples of the region have different traditions.
Poultry
When poultry means domestic birds collectively, plural agreement is commonly used.
The poultry are being fed.
For one bird, name it:
A hen is being fed.
2. Clothes and paired objects
Some objects have two connected parts and normally take plural verbs.
Common examples:
scissors, trousers, pants, shorts, jeans, spectacles, glasses, binoculars, pliers, tongs
Scissors
These scissors are sharp.
Not:
This scissors is sharp.
Trousers
My trousers are new.
Not:
My trousers is new.
Spectacles / glasses
His spectacles are broken.
My glasses are on the table.
Binoculars
The binoculars are in the bag.
Pliers
The pliers are missing.
3. How to make a paired-object expression singular
Use a pair of.
The subject becomes the singular word pair.
Singular
A pair of scissors is on the table.
This pair of trousers was expensive.
One pair of spectacles has been found.
Plural
Two pairs of scissors are on the table.
Three pairs of trousers were purchased.
Several pairs of spectacles have been donated.
🧠
Agreement follows “pair”
A pair is
Two pairs are
The paired object itself does not change:
one pair of scissors
two pairs of scissors
4. Other common plural-only nouns
Clothes
His clothes are wet.
Not:
His clothes is wet.
For one item:
An item of clothing is wet.
Notice:
- clothes = plural noun;
- clothing = uncountable singular noun.
The clothing is expensive.
Goods
The goods have arrived.
These goods are damaged.
For one object:
One item is damaged.
Belongings
Her belongings are in the room.
My belongings have been packed.
For one object:
One of her belongings is missing.
The subject is one.
Earnings
His earnings have increased.
Her monthly earnings are sufficient.
Savings
His savings are in the bank.
Their savings have been spent.
But:
The amount of his savings is small.
The subject is amount.
Contents
The contents of the box are valuable.
Its contents have been removed.
But:
The content of the lecture is useful.
Content can be singular when it means the subject matter of something.
Surroundings
The surroundings are peaceful.
These surroundings have changed.
Outskirts
The outskirts of the city are developing rapidly.
The northern outskirts were flooded.
Premises
When premises means a building or property, it normally takes a plural verb.
The premises are under surveillance.
These premises have been inspected.
Remains
When remains means what is left or a dead body, it takes a plural verb.
The remains were discovered yesterday.
The remains of the building are unsafe.
But the verb remains is different:
The problem remains unsolved.
Here, remains is a singular verb, not a noun.
Stairs
The stairs are slippery.
For one part:
One step is broken.
Thanks
His thanks were sincere.
Many thanks are due to the team.
Congratulations
Congratulations are in order.
More naturally in ordinary speech:
Congratulations on your success!
5. Nouns that look plural but may be singular in meaning
Do not confuse plural-only nouns with nouns ending in -s that take singular verbs.
Singular despite final “s”
The news is true.
Mathematics is difficult.
Physics is interesting.
Economics is useful.
Plural-only
The police are investigating.
The scissors are sharp.
His clothes are wet.
💡
Do not choose the verb only by looking at the final s.
Learn the noun’s grammatical category.
6. Nouns with the same singular and plural form
Some nouns keep the same written form in singular and plural.
The meaning decides the verb.
Species
Singular
This species is endangered.
Plural
These species are endangered.
Series
Singular
This series is interesting.
Plural
These two series are interesting.
Means
Singular meaning
This means of transport is cheap.
Plural meaning
Several means of transport are available.
Deer
Singular
One deer is near the road.
Plural
Several deer are near the road.
Sheep
Singular
One sheep is missing.
Plural
Ten sheep are missing.
7. MPT-style solved questions
Question 1
The police ___ investigating the complaint.
A. is
B. are
C. has
D. was
Answer: B — are
Police is a plural-only noun.
Question 2
A pair of trousers ___ on the bed.
A. are
B. were
C. is
D. have
Answer: C — is
The subject is singular pair.
Question 3
Two pairs of trousers ___ purchased.
A. was
B. is
C. has
D. were
Answer: D — were
The subject is plural pairs.
Question 4
The contents of the bag ___ missing.
A. is
B. has
C. are
D. was
Answer: C — are
Contents is plural.
Question 5
This species ___ found only in Asia.
A. are
B. have
C. is
D. were
Answer: C — is
This species means one species.
Question 6
These species ___ found only in Asia.
A. is
B. has
C. was
D. are
Answer: D — are
These species means more than one species.
Question 7
His clothes ___ completely wet.
A. is
B. are
C. has
D. was
Answer: B — are
Clothes takes a plural verb.
Question 8
The clothing in this shop ___ expensive.
A. are
B. have
C. is
D. were
Answer: C — is
Clothing is uncountable and takes a singular verb.
8. Quick revision
⚡
Always or normally plural
police, cattle, people
scissors, trousers, spectacles, binoculars, pliers
clothes, goods, belongings, earnings, savings
contents, surroundings, outskirts, premises, remains
Singular unit
a police officer is
a cow is
a person is
a pair of scissors is
an item of clothing is
Same singular and plural form
this species is / these species are
this series is / these series are
this means is / several means are