Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement is essential for correct English grammar and sentence structure. In this comprehensive exercise guide, we explore important rules regarding how subjects and verbs must agree in number, featuring practical examples to test your knowledge.
What is Subject-Verb Agreement?
Subject-verb agreement means that a subject and its verb must match in person and number. Singular subjects take singular verbs, while plural subjects take plural verbs. To deepen your understanding of these core principles, you can review our detailed guide on Agreement of Subject and Verb.
Important Exercise on Subject-Verb Agreement
Review the following exercise sentences carefully to see how different syntax rules apply:
- Three-fourths of the work (have) been finished.
Ans. Three-fourths of the work has been finished. - Twenty dollars a week (not go) far.
Ans. Twenty dollars a week does not go far. - Neither Rini nor her sisters (be) qualified for her jobs.
Ans: Neither Rini nor her sisters are/were qualified for their jobs. - The brave (deserve) the fair.
Ans: The brave deserve the fair. - Jamal and not his sons (to have) helped me.
Ans: Jamal and not his sons has helped me. - The chairman as well as other the members (be) present in the last meeting.
Ans: The chairman as well as other the members was present in the last meeting. - More than one thing (be) never eaten in luncheon.
Ans: More than one thing is never eaten in luncheon. - Each boy and each girl (have) done well in the examination.
Ans: Each boy and each girl has done well in the examination. - Two and two (make) four.
Ans: Two and two makes four. - Slow and steady (win) the race.
Ans: Slow and steady wins the race. - Time and tide (wait) for none.
Ans: Time and tide wait for none. - The colour of his eyes (be) blue.
Ans: The colour of his eyes is/was blue. - Cattle (be) grazing in the field.
Ans: Cattle are grazing in the field. - All that (glitter) (be) not gold.
Ans: All that glitters is not gold. - The Headmaster and the Secretary (has) decided the matter.
Ans: The Headmaster and the Secretary have decided the matter. - Who (do) not know my name?
Ans: Who does not know my name? - The wages of sin (be) death.
Ans: The wages of sin is death. - "The Arabian Nights" (be) a favourite drama.
Ans: "The Arabian Nights" is a favourite drama. - It is you who (be) to blame.
Ans: It is you who are to blame. - He is one of those who (does not smoke.
Ans: He is one of those who do not smoke. - The mob (have) been dispersed.
Ans: The mob has been dispersed. - The jury (be) giving its verdict today.
Ans: The jury is giving its verdict today. - The family (do) its best to make a living.
Ans: The family does its best to make a living. - Many an ant (be) rushing to the near-by holes.
Ans: Many an ant is/was rushing to the near-by holes. - The number of people (be) working in the field.
Ans: The number of people is/was working in the field. - A number of boys (be) playing in the field.
Ans: A number of boys are/were playing in the field.
Key Takeaways
- Fractional quantities and amounts of money can take singular or plural verbs depending on whether the amount is viewed as a single unit.
- Compound subjects connected by phrases like "as well as" or "and not" follow specific rules regarding the primary subject.
- Collective nouns like "family", "mob", and "jury" take singular or plural verbs depending on unified action versus individual members acting separately.
- For further practice resources, explore our collection of 16 PDF Files on Verbs, Tenses, Right Form of Verbs and Subject-Verb Agreement.
Quick Practice
Test your skills! Write your answers to the following questions in the comments section below:
- Neither the teacher nor the students (be) present today.
- Ten miles (be) a long distance to walk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main rule of subject-verb agreement?
The main rule is that a singular subject must take a singular verb, while a plural subject must take a plural verb to maintain grammatical harmony in sentence structure.
How do collective nouns affect verb choice?
Collective nouns such as family, jury, and mob usually take singular verbs when acting as a single entity, but can take plural verbs when individual members act independently.