e
country.

Wrong: The prices of grain fluctuates in response to the
demand.

Right: The prices of grain fluctuate in response to the demand.
[Or] The price of grain fluctuates in response to the demand.

=b. The number of the verb is not affected by the addition to the subject
of words introduced by _with_, _together with_, _no less than_, _as well
as_, and the like.=

Wrong: The mayor of the city, as well as several aldermen, have
investigated the charges.

Right: The mayor of the city, as well as several aldermen, has
investigated the charges.

=c. Singular subjects joined by _or_ or _nor_ take a singular verb.=

Wrong: Either the second or the third of the plans they have
devised are acceptable.

Right: Either the second or the third of the plans they have
devised is acceptable.

=d. A subject consisting of two or more nouns joined by _and_ takes a
plural verb.=

Right: The hunting and fishing are good.

=e. A verb should agree in number with the subject, not with a predicate
noun.=

Wrong: The weak point in the team were the fielders.

Right: The weak point in the team was the fielders.

Wrong: Laziness and dissipation is the cause of his failure.

Right: Laziness and dissipation are the cause of his failure.

=f. In _There is_ and _There are_ sentences the verb should agree in
number with the noun that follows it.=

Wrong: There is very good grounds for such a decision.

Right: There are very good grounds for such a decision.

Wrong: There was present a man, two women, and a child.

Right: There were present a man, two women, and a child.

Exercise:

1. The sound of falling acorns (is, are) one of the delights of
an autumn evening. Eye strain through ill-fit glasses (is, are)
injurious to the general health, but reading without glasses
(is, are) often more harmful still.

2. Neither the baritone nor the tenor (has, have) as good a
voice as the soprano. The guitar or the mandolin (is, are)
always out of tune.

3. The Amazon with its tributaries (affords, afford) access to
sea. The conductor of the freight train, along with the
engineer and fireman of the passenger, (was, were) injured.

4. Ghost stories late at night (is, are) a crime against
children. My reason for knowing that it is six o'clock (is,
are