The Strange Properties of 'Every'

 

The pitcher and shortstop know the rules. Notice how, in this simple example of a compound subject, the verb is plural: know. But fascinatingly, there's a way to add more pitchers and shortstops to this sentence yet make the verb singular.

Every pitcher and shortstop knows the rules.

That's the strange power of the determiner "every." Here's a look at how it works.

 

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