Watch for the following situations and you'll eliminate most of these errors from your writing.

X and Y. If two nouns are joined by and, the verb is always plural, regardless of whether X or Y are plural themselves.

Wrong: This book and that pencil goes in the book bag.

Right: This book and that pencil go in the book bag.

Right: These books and those pencils go in the book bag.

X or Y. Unlike the situation above, it does matter whether X or Y are singular or plural. Actually, just Y matters. If Y is singular, use a singular verb. If Y is plural, use a plural verb.

Wrong: Flowers or grass grow well in that spot.

Right: Flowers or grass grows well in that spot.

Wrong: Grass or flowers grows well in that spot.

Right: Grass or flowers grow well in that spot.

Prepositional Phrases Don't Make a Singular Noun into a Plural One. When deciding whether to use a singular or plural verb, find your subject and ignore any prepositional phrases around it. Phrases like along with and in addition to do not make a singular subject into a plural one.

Wrong: The student, along with her parents, have signed up for the trip.

Right: The student, along with her parents, has signed up for the trip.

-one, -thing, -body, and Each. Words like anyone, something, everybody, and each use singular verbs.

Wrong: Are everyone OK?

Right: Is everyone OK?

Wrong: Each of the students go outside for recess.

Right: Each of the students goes outside for recess.

There is/There are. Look for the subject of the sentence. If it's singular, use there is. If it's plural, use there are. In this example, commercials is the subject.

Wrong: There is more commercials on TV now.

Right: There are more commercials on TV now.

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