Subject Verb Agreement Exercises

Exercise 1

1. The colour of the sh and birds __________ (serves, serve) as protection.

2. One of those students __________ (was, were) late again.

3. The teacher, as well as the students, __________ (was, were) praised.

4. Happy smile what a friendly hello __________ (doesn’t, don’t) hurt

anyone.

5. Neither one of our neighbours __________ (has, have) any children.

6. The student, together with his teachers, __________ (was, were) in the
room.

7. The coach and his assistant __________ (teaches, teach) us patiently.

8. The coach or his assistant __________ (teaches, teach) us patiently.

9. Either Jane or Joe __________ (was, were) at the games.

10. Either Jane or her sisters __________ (was, were) at the games.

11. The carpenter, as well as his helper, __________ (do, does) an excellent
job.

12. There __________ (is, our) only one answer on his paper.

13. Every one of the waste basket __________ (was, were) too full.

14. Corn and peas __________ (is, are) our best crops.

15. Two hours __________ (is, are) enough time for a good test.
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16. This type of beverage __________ (tastes, taste) delicious.

17. Mr Jones or his assistant __________ (help, helps) us with problems.

18. The teacher or the students __________ (has, have) begun the project.

19. __________ (Don't, doesn’t) the Smiths live near you?

20. Here __________ (is, are) the supplies for the camping trip.

Exercise 2

1. Neither of these routes __________ (lead, leads) directly to the beach.

2. The corners of the painting __________ (is, are) crooked.

3. Any one of my students __________ (perform, performs) well.

4. __________ (Was, Were) your questions answered politely?

5. One of the cats’ front paws __________ (need, needs) rst-aid.

6. The air and the water __________ (was, were) excellent for a swim.

7. There __________ (is, are) three mistakes on your paper.

8. Here __________ (is, are) my explanation for my decision.

9. My daughters or my husband __________ (do, does) the shopping.

10. Sleet and hail __________ (is, are) forecast for today.

11. A house with many extras __________ (cost, costs) money.

12. One of the football players __________ (has, have) a broken leg.
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13. The stain on my shirt __________ (was, were) coffee.

14. Where __________ (is, are my school books.

15. Her children or her neighbours __________ (is, are) at home now.

16. Sometimes one of the pupils __________ (need, needs) additional help.

17. Each one __________ (work, works) on Monday.

18. Bill and his brothers __________ (attend, attends) vocational classes.

19. Bill, together with his brothers, __________ (attend, attends) college.

20. The doctor, as well as the nurses, __________ (eat, eats) here.

Exercise 3.

1. __________(Is, Are) New York and Chicago the two largest cities in the
United States?

2. Sleet and some snow __________(is, are) predicted for tomorrow.

3. The dogs in the pound and their owners __________(was, were) reunited.

4. New words and new meanings for old words __________(is, are) included.

5. Your ngernail and a piece of glass __________(is, are) two means for
testing hardness in minerals.

6. Both talc and gypsum __________(shows, show) a ngernail scratch.

7. The president with his wife and the vice president __________(has, have)
just left for the summit.
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8. The opossum and the kangaroo __________(is, are) members of the same
family of mammals.

9. Rattlesnakes, copperheads, coral snakes, cottonmouths __________(is, are)

four kinds of poisonous snakes found in the United States.

10. In large cities subways and cabs __________(is, are) two popular means
of transportation.

Exercise 4

Collective Nouns
Some nouns that are singular in form name a group of people or things: class, family, team,
group, ock, for example. These nouns are called collective nouns.
Examples: The jury was dismissed by the judge.
The class has decided to have a science table in the room.
The family is coming for dinner.

1. The group __________(was, were) going on a trip.

2. That ock of geese __________(make, makes) a beautiful pattern in the

sky.

3. The team __________(is, are) celebrating its victory.

4. In July the committee __________(make, makes) a decision about the

location of the August picnic.

5. In the jungle, the herd often __________(stampede, stampedes).

6. Next week the Smith family __________(leave, leaves) for vacation.

7. Every summer the class __________(take, takes) many eld trips.

8. The panel __________(choose, chooses) the topics for television.

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9. __________(Is, Are) the group in charge of refreshments here yet?

10. The company __________(vote, votes) for a new president next month.

Exercise 5

Words Stating Amount

Some words that are plural in form may be singular in meaning if they mean an amount of
something.

Examples: Thirty- ve cents is enough for lunch today. (Although thirty- ve cents is plural in
form, it means a single amount of money. It takes a singular verb, is.)
Two weeks never seems long enough for vacation. (Although two weeks is plural, it is
thought of here as a single unit of time. It takes a singular verb, seems.)

1. Two cups of our __________(seems, seem) too much for that recipe.

2. Three days __________(was, were) all the time needed for the tour.

3. Two hours of homework in one subject __________(is, are) unfair.

4. Three weeks of rehearsal time usually __________(proves, prove) to be

suf ce

5. Fifty cents __________(is, are) more than enough for your allowance.

Exercise 6
Titles, organizations, or countries
A title, organization, or country, even when plural in form, usually takes a singular verb.

Example: “Murders in the Rue Morgue” is an intriguing mystery.

1. "The Seven Sisters" __________(is, are) a story about a New England

family.
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2. Morgan and Company __________(advertises, advertise) beach bags for a
dollar.

3. The Veterans of Foreign Wars __________(is, are) holding its convention

in Chicago this year.

4. The Women __________(was, were) written by Clare Boothe Luce.

5. Wales __________(has, have) a beautiful countryside.

Exercise 7

Plural-looking nouns
A few nouns, though plural in form, take a singular verb.
Examples: Mathematics seems easy this year.
Mumps is certainly an uncomfortable disease.
The news was not good.

1. Economics __________(is, are) taught by Professor Gray.

2. The news on the radio __________(was, were) encouraging.

3. Ethics __________(is, are) a code of values.

4. Politics __________(appeal, appeals) to some people.

5. Civics __________(was, were) my dad's best subject.

6. Measles __________(is, are) very contagious.

7. Social Studies 101 __________(has, have) always been an interesting

course.
8. Aerobics __________(is, are) a fun activity for most youngsters.
9. Gymnastics often __________(require, requires) the use of special
apparatus.

10. Acrobatics __________(involve, involves) skills in agility and balance.