subject and verb agreement?

[bosun]

which one is right?

1. each student and each teacher (was/were ) happy about the results. ??
2. every student and every teacher (was/were) happy about the results.??
3. Some of the staff who (is/are) working at the university (is/are) going to take part in the strike.

[river]

Each traditionally takes a singular verb. Some takes a plural verb.

[bosun]

could you be more specific? I am not sure what you are trying to say. you mean
each student and each teacher should be singular?

[Humble]

Hi, Bosun,
1,2 -was
3 -were
Could you be more specific, Bosun? River explained it. What else is unclear?
Cheers

[slackiz]

Originally Posted by Humble

Hi, Bosun,
1,2 -was
3 -were
Could you be more specific, Bosun? River explained it. What else is unclear?
Cheers

What's still unclear for me (and perhaps for Bosun as well) is that:
1. "each student and each teacher" -- does the and make the subject plural?
2. "every student and every teacher" -- same as the first
3. Some of the staff -- isn't staff uncountable and thus should be singular?

Thanks.

[Humble]

Hi slackiz,
I think in this case (1,2) they are not viewed as a group, but as separate individuals. As to 3, some of the staff = some of the people = several people, thats why it takes plural.
Such collective nouns take singular or plural according to the context.

The family comes from the Phillipines.
The family are having tea now.
This team is the best in the 2nd division.
The team are exhausted.

Hope it helps.

[mykwyner]

In English, most indefinite pronouns (each, either, another, anyone, neither, anything, everything, something, and somebody) are always singular, no matter how many there are. Other indefinite pronouns (both, many, few, several, and others) are always plural. Still others (some, all, any, more, most, and none) can be used with either a singular or plural verb depending on the noun it refers to.

Each car is ready.

Each Toyota, [each] Honda, [each] Ford, and [each] Audi is ready.

Every car is ready.

Most cars are ready.

Some of the people are late.

Some of the oil is missing.