TASK DEFINITION: In this task you are given a sentence. You must judge whether subject of the main clause is singular or plural. Label the instances as "Singular" or "Plural" based on your judgment.
PROBLEM: The hurting eased the slightest bit.

SOLUTION: Singular

PROBLEM: The slow caresses that were intended to warm and stir his sleeping beauty increased to a frantic diagnostic check.

SOLUTION: Plural

PROBLEM: The book's author retains sole copyright to all intellectual contributions to this book, including but not limited to text and images.

SOLUTION:
Singular