Sometimes a publication or movie, or a work of literature, art, or music has a plural noun or pronoun in the title. This makes it seem like you should use a plural verb, but if you're talking about only one work, use a singular verb.
The New York Timeshas been around since 1851. The Hunger Gamesis my favorite book.
The song Jingle Bellswas written in 1850.
Irisesis a famous painting by Vincent van Gogh.
Don't let words like games and bells confuse you. Each of the sentences above talks about only one publication, book, song, or painting, so use a singular verb.
Practice What You've Learned
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Directions:
Choose the correct verb to complete the sentence.
1.
"The War of the Worlds," by H. G. Wells,was/wereperformed on the radio and scared many people who thought aliens were really invading.
2.
Little Womenis/areone of my favorite books.
3.
The Three Musketeersis/arean exciting adventure book.
4.
The Screwtape Letterswas/werewritten by the same author as The Chronicles of Narnia.
5.
Water Liliesis/area famous series of paintings by Claude Monet.
6.
The Los Angeles Timeswas/werefirst printed in 1881.
7.
The song "Silly Love Songs"was/werereleased in 1976.
8.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finnwas/werewritten by Mark Twain.
9.
Peoplewas/werefirst published in 1974.
10.
"Clocks"is/area famous song by Coldplay that was released in 2002.
