Grammatically Correct: The writer's essential guide to punctuation ...

GRAMMATICALLY CORRECT
writers are more apt to make errors in agreement, either because
they focus only on whatever immediately follows the verb and neglect
to look ahead, or because they get distracted by a noun that precedes
the verb. However, the same rules described above apply here as
well.
Do your brother and his friend need a place to stay tonight?
[compound subject, both parts singular; verb plural]
Walking purposefully up to the housewerethetrainer and his assistants.
[compound subject, one part singular and one plural; verb plural]
There are a desk and ten chairs in the classroom.
[compound subject, one part singular and one plural; verb plural]
There's no desk or chairs to be found anywhere.
[alternative subject with singular element closest to the verb; verb
singular]
Are neither my rights nor my reputation to be considered?
[alternative subject with plural element closest to the verb; verb plural]
There's neither prestige nor profits to be gained.
[alternative subject with singular element closest to the verb; verb
singular]
Into each project~ hours of hard work.
[subject is hours, not project or work; verb plural]
Included in the total are the five spare components.
[subject is components, not total; verb plural]
Among the guests coming tonight~ my cousin's new fiance.
[subject is fiance, not guests; verb singular]
Here are the copies of the letter.
[subject is copies, not letter; verb plural]
If you're ever uncertain about how to deal with an inverted
sentence, try mentally turning it around or dropping any distracting
elements:
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