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Common mistake Possible agreement error: 'many/several/few' + singular countable noun

Possible Agreement Error: 'Many/Several/Few' + Singular Countable Noun

English grammar can be tricky, and one common mistake that many people make is using phrases like 'many,' 'several,' or 'few' with a singular countable noun. This error occurs when the noun and the corresponding verb do not agree in number. Let's take a closer look at this issue and learn how to avoid it.

The Problem:

When we use words like 'many,' 'several,' or 'few,' it indicates that there is more than one of a particular item or object. In this case, we would expect a plural countable noun to follow the quantifier. For example:

  • Incorrect: She has many pet.
  • Incorrect: I have few friend.

As you can see, the singular form of the noun ('pet' and 'friend') does not match the plural meaning conveyed by the quantifiers ('many' and 'few').

The Solution:

To correct this mistake, simply change the singular noun to its plural form so that it agrees with the quantifiers. Here are the corrected versions:

  • Correct: She has many pets.
  • Correct: I have few friends.

By making this small adjustment, you ensure that the noun and the corresponding verb are in agreement, which is essential for proper grammar.

How Linguix Grammar Checker Can Help:

Using an advanced tool like Linguix Grammar Checker can greatly assist in identifying and correcting such agreement errors. This AI-powered writing assistant not only helps you spot issues like the one discussed in this article but also provides explanations and suggestions to improve your writing. With Linguix, you can enhance your English grammar skills and produce error-free content consistently.

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Possible agreement error: 'many/several/few' + singular countable noun mistake examples

  • Incorrect:
    I have several book.

    Correct:
    I have several books.

  • Correct:
    I have many books.
  • Correct:
    I have much wine.
  • Incorrect:
    ... which is right in many way.

    Correct:
    ... which is right in many ways.

  • Incorrect:
    It also integrates with many third-party application.

    Correct:
    It also integrates with many third-party applications.

  • Incorrect:
    As you will see I have a few question noted on the TA.

    Correct:
    As you will see I have a few questions noted on the TA.

  • Incorrect:
    How many 18-year-old are coming?

    Correct:
    How many 18-year-olds are coming?

  • Incorrect:
    I suspect many other user would also find this helpful.

    Correct:
    I suspect many other users would also find this helpful.

  • Incorrect:
    Many child are unhappy.

    Correct:
    Many children are unhappy.

  • Incorrect:
    Many animal

    Correct:
    Many animals

  • Incorrect:
    There are many fan in the stadium.

    Correct:
    There are many fans in the stadium.

  • Incorrect:
    Perhaps a few extra pair of eyes on the Pipeline Exception Summary and the Bridge Back Pipeline Summary in Unify this month would help.

    Correct:
    Perhaps a few extra pairs of eyes on the Pipeline Exception Summary and the Bridge Back Pipeline Summary in Unify this month would help.

  • Incorrect:
    Many interesting Book are on the table.

    Correct:
    Many interesting Books are on the table.

  • Incorrect:
    On many college entrance, standardized tests and grades, African Americans have historically lagged behind whites, but some studies suggest that the achievement gap has been closing.

    Correct:
    On many college entrances, standardized tests and grades, African Americans have historically lagged behind whites, but some studies suggest that the achievement gap has been closing.

  • Incorrect:
    We think most of these amounts are likely to be recoverable, although a significant (perhaps several year) delay is possible as these claimants work their way through the bankruptcy process.

    Correct:
    We think most of these amounts are likely to be recoverable, although a significant (perhaps several years) delay is possible as these claimants work their way through the bankruptcy process.

  • Incorrect:
    A few month ago, we discussed this situation and as shown below, not much progress has been made.

    Correct:
    A few months ago, we discussed this situation and as shown below, not much progress has been made.

  • Incorrect:
    Many car

    Correct:
    Many cars

  • Correct:
    The state legislature gerrymandered the few Birmingham legislative seats.
  • Correct:
    However, many support putting these 2 arguments.
  • Correct:
    A few work as technical writers, others don't.
  • Correct:
    Many cares for her.
  • Correct:
    Not that many cares, but it started as a dare.
  • Correct:
    Many care for her.
  • Correct:
    Not that many care, but it started as a dare.
  • Correct:
    She never seemed to have many cares in the world.
  • Correct:
    Although she seemed to have a life of luxury with very few cares, the reality was different.
  • Correct:
    The Society released a few in 1900 and was...
  • Correct:
    How many cm are needed?
  • Correct:
    Its cars became the first choice of many Nazi, Fascist Italian, and Japanese officials.
  • Correct:
    It is what many search for.
  • Correct:
    LanguageTool finds many style and grammar issues.
  • Correct:
    Many spring- and summer-flowering bulbs grown in gardens in...
  • Correct:
    In exploring Warhol's biography, many turn to this period — the late 1950s and early 1960s —...
  • Correct:
    ...lanthanum and actinium compounds differ by only a few percent.
  • Correct:
    There are many Taxicab and Hackney carriage services on the Island.
  • Correct:
    Are there many taxi and hackney carriage services here?
  • Correct:
    A few go to Brasília.
  • Correct:
    But how many just work?
  • Correct:
    A few low budget "Lost World" pictures were made in the 1970s, such as 1975's The Land That Time Forgot.
  • Correct:
    After many subsequent playback and cooling cycles, the complete transmission back to Earth of all recorded Amalthea flyby data was successful.
  • Correct:
    On the 11-day voyage, the pandemic influenza virus struck and killed many on board.
  • Correct:
    I’ve seen squats pass with it, and I’ve seen many more get red lights.
  • Correct:
    It also seems a needless complexity in what many already find to be a painful daily task.
  • Correct:
    January 1st is the day when many Japanese go to shrines.
  • Correct:
    However, until the Revolution, many considered whiskey to be a coarse alcohol.
  • Correct:
    The Internetes Szinkron Adatbázis (ISzDB) is the largest Hungarian database for film dubs, with information for many live action and animated films.
  • Correct:
    It was powerful in medieval and Renaissance Rome, supplying one Pope (Martin V) and many other Church and political leaders.
  • Correct:
    In his short life, Basquiat produced around 1500 drawings, as well as around 600 paintings and many other sculpture and mixed media works.
  • Correct:
    Dain Rauscher Wessels joined several late stage and crossover fund investors to invest in this round.
  • Correct:
    Our relocation to the new building is fast approaching and there are several important move related items that I would like to stress at this time.
  • Correct:
    The device is just on my coffee table at the moment for testing in the lounge next to a few other plug in devices.
  • Correct:
    I’m not a body man but I have done quite a few automotive body and paint repairs along with a lot of motorcycle repairs and paint.
  • Correct:
    Many 19th century and early 20th century bassists considered these compositions unplayable, but in the 2000s, they are frequently performed.
  • Correct:
    Many Volkswagen XYZs.
  • Correct:
    Adjective. ... sites may have housed up to 600 individuals in a few separate but closely spaced settlement clusters.
  • Correct:
    Many Labour MPs remain adamantly opposed to an election in any circumstances.
  • Correct:
    Though there are several volunteer and semi-professional organizations, ...
  • Correct:
    The expectations of Africans were great, but many think that the second term of President Obama will...
  • Correct:
    ... news immediately triggered online outrage; many think the university has violated student privacy ...
  • Correct:
    Today he has several Twitter and Facebook accounts managed by three Cabin...
  • Correct:
    ... perpetrators of the cold-blooded murders of several Roma in Hungary.
  • Correct:
    Many Tuscarora and Oneida sided with the colonists.
  • Correct:
    There are so many product and brand names.
  • Correct:
    I have left her several phone messages and she has not returned my call.
  • Correct:
    I received your invoice for the last few model / paper reviews.
  • Correct:
    In 1959, the team won its first pennant in 40 years, thanks to the efforts of several eventual Hall of Famers.
  • Correct:
    His seminal books and many American Institute of Electrical Engineers papers "taught a whole generation of engineers how to deal with AC phenomena.
  • Correct:
    Allentown is a several minute walk north to Allen Street.
  • Correct:
    Without your guidance and direction and the many employee based programs you have initiated, I would not be where I am financially today.
  • Correct:
    Thanks to all those people and many more space is limited.
  • Correct:
    Now that many stay at home.
  • Correct:
    I wonder how many go.
  • Correct:
    I understand that many charge the same fee.
  • Correct:
    I have a few follow up questions.
  • Correct:
    Al-Qaeda is believed to be operating a clandestine aviation network including “ several Boeing 727 aircraft”, turboprops and executive jets, according to a Reuters story.
  • Correct:
    Barbara, I spoke, through a few voicemail messages, with Robert Rose earlier today regarding the status of the easement we discussed a few weeks ago.
  • Correct:
    However, this is actually matched by several Leeds - London Class 91-operated East Coast trains if their 2 minute recovery allowance for this section was excluded from the public timetable.
  • Correct:
    These include poetry by Ovid, the Bible in one of the many vulgate versions it was available in at the time.
  • Correct:
    We move to a many to many model.
  • Correct:
    Beaux and her art friends defended the old order, and many thought (and hoped) the new movement to be a passing fad.
  • Correct:
    Sami sent Layla many text messages.
  • Correct:
    There are very few tariff or non-tariff barriers to trade with...
  • Correct:
    There are a few tariff and non-tariff barriers to deal with.
  • Correct:
    And a few affect both.
  • Correct:
    There were many wounded.
  • Correct:
    Although quite a few affect these rules, we must be careful about the changes we make.
  • Correct:
    I told you that a few affect my rules!
  • Correct:
    And it only takes a few mouse clicks to subscribe.
  • Correct:
    Weka, a free implementation of many machine learning algorithms in Java.
  • Correct:
    In order to enhance economic growth, the government set up several export processing zones to attract foreign investment.
  • Correct:
    It took many torpedo hits to send the battleship Bismarck to Davy Jones's locker.
  • Correct:
    There are still a few Heddle Bead Looms being manufactured today.
  • Correct:
    In case Enron decides to pull the plug, then a few US power majors are waiting in the wings to step in.
  • Correct:
    In addition, several OASIS audit logs actually erased historical data.
  • Correct:
    Although there were many IRA men—both Official and Provisional—present at the protest, it is claimed they were all unarmed, apparently because it was anticipated that the paratroopers would attempt to "draw them out".
  • Correct:
    Many doubt OPEC's ability to maintain its modest level of quota discipline after it and rival exporters agreed to cut almost 2 million bpd from the worlds supplies.
  • Correct:
    During the 2006 season, return specialist Devin Hester set several kick return records.
  • Correct:
    Seattle Passing Game vs San Diego Defense Matt Hasselbeck hasn't carried many FF Teams this season and I doubt it'll start now.
  • Correct:
    You can find many date palm groves in southern Algeria.
  • Correct:
    Many microcomputer BASICs did not support this data type; matrix operations were still possible, but had to be programmed explicitly on array elements.
  • Correct:
    That's why I've given you so many user IDs.
  • Correct:
    See " Military the United States called on the U.S. Government for help after a warning that many face bankruptcy following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
  • Correct:
    Sami created many cartoon characters.
  • Correct:
    While many view planning and flexibility as mutually exclusive terms, planning is very important in maximizing savings while the flexibility aspect ensures readiness to take advantage of an offer when it appears.
  • Correct:
    It has a few dB.
  • Correct:
    The best ones succeed, but many fall by the wayside of the Information superhighway.
  • Correct:
    I still have a few left.
  • Correct:
    I still have many left.
  • Correct:
    There were not many present.
  • Correct:
    The financial crisis has left many unemployed.
  • Correct:
    His center fielder let very few get by.
  • Correct:
    So how many more need to be replaced and do I need both the bottom and top mattresses?
  • Correct:
    They lock them in before too many exit the zoo.
  • Correct:
    Many look quite a bit like American campaign logos.
  • Correct:
    The first few are:
  • Correct:
    A dozen major probes are afoot, many overlap, and more loom.
  • Correct:
    In sum, though many claim that the Legislature will bring justice.
  • Correct:
    Accordingly, there will be a several month lag before the utilities receive any cash.
  • Correct:
    In the social changes around the civil rights era, between 1965 and 1982 many Choctaw Native Americans renewed their commitments to the value of their ancient heritage.
  • Correct:
    One study of a captive female Asian elephant suggested the animal was capable of learning and distinguishing between several visual and some acoustic discrimination pairs.
  • Correct:
    Reuters said Lucent would offer buyouts to "several thousand" managers.
  • Correct:
    His likeness also appears on many postage stamps and has been memorialized in many town, city, and county names, including the capital of Nebraska.
  • Correct:
    But like many familiar with the terms, he hopes that some deals can be renegotiated.
  • Correct:
    Many remain curiosities — only a few have remained in use: He knows he ought to do that soon.
  • Correct:
    He found himself at a disadvantage at Hamilton College with many due to his intellectual attitude.
  • Correct:
    Many remain curiosities — only a few have remained in use:
  • Correct:
    In 1862, he was one of the few War of Independence veterans that helped in...
  • Correct:
    Earlier, at the AGM he said a few other US power producing majors have shown interest in stepping into Enron's shoes in case the main promoter decides to get out of the project.
  • Correct:
    As there were many items discussed, but only a very few requiring insertion into the BETA and FA, I hope that I covered them all.
  • Correct:
    A few buzz at the highest levels in certain fixtures.
  • Correct:
    GDP growth, which many regard as inflated by statistical quirks anyway, has declined from 6.6% in the fiscal year ending March 2000 to an estimated 6% in fiscal 2001.
  • Correct:
    The term Duhkha also appears in many other middle and later post-Buddhist Upanishads.
  • Correct:
    I think Bob has made a few flush mount recessed mounts, but that would probably be a custom request for him.
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