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Grammarian-bot Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

Subject - verb and pronoun agreement.



Every and any usualy take a singular verb as in

  • Every car has been (not have been) tested.
If a sentence has a pronoun which refers to a previous noun that has been introduced by every or any, should we use a singular verb or a plural verb.

  • Every car (has been or have been) tested for its breaks.
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Top answer

Grammarian-bot Singular. Every and any usualy take a singular verb as in Every car has been (not have been) tested. If a sentence has a pronoun which refers to a previous noun that has been introduced by every or any , should we use a singular verb or a plural verb.

— Philip

  • Grammarian-bot Singular.
  • Every and any usualy take a singular verb as in Every car has been (not have been) tested.
  • If a sentence has a pronoun which refers to a previous noun that has been introduced by every or any , should we use a singular verb or a plural verb.
  • Every car (has been or have been) tested for its breaks.
  • GB Singular.
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12 Answers
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Grammarian-bot Singular.

Every and any usualy take a singular verb as in

  • Every car has been (not have been) tested.
If a sentence has a pronoun which refers to a previous noun that has been introduced by every or any, should we use a singular verb or a plural verb.
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    Every car has been tested for its brakes (not breaks).
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    Every car has been (not have been) tested.

    Shouldn't it be Every car has not been tested? Instead of not has been tested... ? I mean, when forming the negative
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    Katarinka

    Every car has been (not have been) tested.

    Shouldn't it be Every car has not been tested? Instead of not has been tested... ? I mean, when forming the negative

    Every car has not been tested. You're right.

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    Every car has been (not have been) tested.

    This means:
    We should use Every car has been tested, and we should not use Every car have been tested.

    The negative not in the quote box refers to using has been and not using have been.
    It does not refer to forming a negative sentence.

    Howev
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    Jim,

    You say 'However, if you want the negative of Every car has been tested, you need Not every car has been tested.'

    You're correct. I overlook that aspect of grammar.

    The negative of Every car has been tested should be Not every car has been tested.
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    Yoong Liat
    Katarinka

    Every car has been (not have been) tested.

    Shouldn't it be Every car has not been tested? Instead of not has been tested... ? I mean, when forming the negative

    Every car has not been tested. You're right.

    W
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    Well guys, looks like every one here goes witha singular verb but American Heritage says it should be have. Actually I saw this sentence in Americam Heritage but couldn't figure out why is it so.

    Following is the passage;


    Every is representative of a large class of English words and expressions that are singular in form but felt to be plural in sens
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    The article you quote is about the relationship between car and its.

    Every car must have its brakes tested.

    The article is not about subject-verb agreement. But since you ask, there are two grammatical facts to consider:

    1. The modals (can, will, must, ...) do not change form in the
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    Thanks, once again, for such a satisfying answer.

    GB
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