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Question
Will the following take a plural or a singular verb? Why?
| The United States of America, 500 rupees, a number of people, the Arabian Nights, a couple of friends, half of us, the majority of the members of the committee, a gang of robbers, a herd of cattle |
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Solution
All of these, except the Arabian Nights, a gang of robbers and a herd of cattle, will take a plural verb because the persons or things they are referring to are in plural. If a singular verb is used, it will spoil the sense of the sentence in each case.
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