Subject – Verb Agreement

Here are some key rules to keep in mind for subject-verb agreement:

1- Singular subjects take singular verbs: When the subject of a sentence is singular, the verb that follows it should also be in the singular form. For example: “She writes a letter.”

2- Plural subjects take plural verbs: When the subject of a sentence is plural, the verb that follows it should also be in the plural form. For example: “They write letters.”

3- Singular indefinite pronouns take singular verbs: Indefinite pronouns like “anyone,” “someone,” “everyone,” and “nobody” are singular and should be followed by singular verbs. For example: “Nobody knows the answer.”

4- Some words appear plural but are treated as singular: Words like “mathematics,” “news,” and “economics” may seem plural, but they are treated as singular nouns and should be paired with singular verbs. For example: “Mathematics is my favorite subject.”

5- Collective nouns can take singular or plural verbs: Collective nouns, which refer to a group of individuals, can take either a singular or a plural verb depending on the context. If the group is seen as a single entity, a singular verb is used. If the individuals within the group are emphasized, a plural verb is used. For example: “The team is winning” (singular), “The team are arguing” (plural).

6- When compound subjects are connected by “and,” use a plural verb: When two or more subjects are connected by “and,” the verb that follows should be in the plural form. For example: “Tom and Jerry are best friends.”

7- When compound subjects are connected by “or,” “either…or,” or “neither…nor,” match the verb to the closest subject: If the subjects connected by these conjunctions are singular, use a singular verb. If the subjects are plural, use a plural verb. For example: “Either John or his brothers are responsible.”

Exercise-1
Choose the word that correctly completes each sentence below.

Answers :

Exercise-2
Choose the correct form from the parentheses.

Exercise-3.
Choose the correct form from the parentheses.

Answers :

Exercise-4
Find the correct form of the given verb in the following sentences.

Answers :

1- One of the students in my class comes from Bangladesh.
2- The people who have invited me to the opening of the exhibition want me to write an article about it afterward.
3- Almost everyone in my class has a part-time job.
4- Writing essays requires a lot of skill.
5- Neither his wife nor his children know that he has lost his job.
6- Every book that is assigned for this course costs more than $20.
7- The president and his wife have agreed to attend the ceremony.
8- My sister always tries her hardest.
9- Today’s news is surprising.
10- The bunch of flowers that she wants to buy is very expensive.

Exercise-5
Underline the form from that correctly completes each sentence.

Subject – Verb Agreement

1- Ethics is the study of moral duties, principles, and values.
2- The first bridge to be built with electric lights was the Brooklyn Bridge.
3- There are two types of calculus, differential and integral.
4- George Gershwin, together with his brother Ira, was the creator of the first musical comedy to win the Pulitzer Prize.
5- In a chess game, the player with the white pieces always moves first.
6- The Earth and Pluto are the only two planets in the solar system believed to have a single moon.
7- A number of special conditions are necessary for the formation of a geyser.
8- Each of the Ice Ages was more than a million years long.
9- The battery, along with the alternator and starter, makes up the electrical system of a car.
10- Teeth are covered with a hard substance called enamel.
11- The more-or-less rhythmic succession of economic booms and busts is referred to as the business cycle.
12- The number of chromosomes in a cell varies from species to species.
13- All trees, except for the tree fern, are seed-bearing plants.
14- Fifteen hundred dollars a year was the per-capita income in the United States in 1950.
15- Everyone who goes into the woods should recognize common poisonous plants such as poison ivy and poison oak.

Exercise-6.
Underline the subject of the missing verb and fill in the blanks with “is” or “are”.

Answer :

1- Neither the doctor nor the nurses are here.
2- The number of nurses in the city is very large.
3- All of the nurses are very good.
4- All of the medicine is gone.
5- Some of the water is used for irrigation.
6- Most of the money is counterfeit.
7- Not only the money but also the jewels are locked up in the safe.
8- Neither the jewels nor the money is mine.
9- All of the cookies are gone.
10- Half of the furniture is in the truck.
11- Neither of the reporters is allowed to interview the players.
12- Everyone is required to write a composition.
13- Every man, woman, and child is given a free ticket.
14- Everything in the house is destroyed by the fire.

Exercise-7
Underline the subject of each sentence and fill in the blanks with “is” or “are”.

Answers :

1- The crew is asleep in their bunks down in the hold of the ship.
2- Several unusual species of birds are found in this area.
3- When a young deer is motionless, its coloring will hide it well.
4- The committee is ready to make its recommendations public.
5- Both apparatus are available for your use.
6- The family is fighting among themselves constantly.
7- The fish in the aquarium are waiting for their daily feeding.
8- Each of those species of birds is common in Texas.
9- All sheep are dipped in the spring to kill the parasites.
10- The press is requested to show their credentials to the guard.

Exercise-8
Underline the subject and fill in the blanks with “is” or “are”.

Answers:

1- Alumni of the university are invited to the graduation ceremony.
2- English is heard all over the world.
3- The Portuguese are fortunate to have such a beautiful coastline.
4- Many Vietnamese are living in the United States.
5- The criteria for promotion are clearly stated.
6- The appendices are usually found at the back of a book.
7- Supernatural phenomena are of great interest to many people.
8- Few are strong enough to finish the race.
9- There is a pair of sunglasses lying on the floor.
10- Both my good trousers and my old jeans are at the laundry.
11- Many of you are going to score above 500 on the TOEFL.
12- There are several books on the top shelf of the bookcase.

Exercise-9
Underline the subject and fill in the blanks with “is” or “are”.

Answers :

1- Nylon, like orlon, is synthetic.
2- Either his children or his wife is arriving today.
3- Both the chair and the sofa are on sale.
4- Every dog and cat must be vaccinated against rabies.
5- There are several universities in the city.
6- It is the bicyclists who endanger the joggers.
7- The New York Times is read by many people.
8- Everyone in the class is working hard.
9- All of the creeks are polluted.
10- All of the water is contaminated.
11- The committee is having its meeting.
12- The committee is separated from their families for long periods of time.
13- Two hundred dollars is a lot of money to lose.
14- Mathematics is a pure science.
15- A number of doctors are employed by the hospital.
16- The number of female doctors is growing.
17- The English are well known for their love of tea.
18- The hypothesis is supported by the data.
19- The young deer are staying near their mothers.
20- Those species of fish are found in Texas lakes.

Exercise-10
Choose the correct form of the verb, singular or plural.

Answers :

1- The trousers you bought for me don’t fit me.
2- Physics was my best subject at school.
3- Fortunately, the news wasn’t as bad as we had expected.
4- The police want to interview Fred about a robbery.
5- Three days isn’t long enough for a good holiday.
6- Where does your family live?
7- England has lost all their football matches this season.
8- Can I borrow your scissors? Mine aren’t sharp enough.
9- I’m going to take a taxi. Six miles is too far for me to walk.

Words that can cause confusion with Subject Verb Agreement