www.edusaathi.com Subject Verb Agreement Total Time: 60 mins Practise Exercise no. 1 Total no. Of Qs: 97 Directions for Questions 1 to 55: Mark the
correct answer between a and b
1. To take the pay and not to do the work
(is/are) dishonest.
2. The cost of all these articles (has/have)
risen.
3. The jury (is/are) divided in their opinion.
4. That night every one of the boat’s crew
(was/were) down with fever.
5. One or the other of these fellows
(has/have) stolen the watch
6. The strain of all the difficulties and
vexations and anxieties (is/are) more than
he can beer.
7. No news (is/are) good news.
8. The accountant and the cashier (has/have)
absconded.
9. A good man and a useful citizen
(has/have) passed away.
10. The famous juggler and conjure (is/are)
too unwell to perform.
11. The three musketeers (is/are) written by
Dumas.
12. Each of the suspected men (is/are)
suspended.
13. The ebb and flow of the tides (was/were)
explained by Newton.
14. Ninety rupees (is/are) too much for this
bag.
15. The cow as well as the horse (eats/eat)
grass.
16. Neither his father nor his mother (is/are)
alive.
17. There (is/are) many objectives to the plan.
18. Two-third of the city (is/are) in ruins.
19. The formation of the paragraphs (is/are)
important.
20. Man’s happiness or miseries (lay/lays) in
his own hands.
[email protected] 21. Knowledge and wisdom (has/have) of
times no connection.
22. (Is/are) your father and mother at home?
23. My friend and benefactor (has/have) come.
24. The rise and fall of tide (is/are) due to
lunar interface.
25. Silver as well as cotton (has/have) fallen in
price.
26. Justice as well as mercy (allow/allows) it.
27. His knowledge of Indian vernaculars
(is/are) far beyond the common.
28. If it (was/were) possible to get near when
one of the volcanic eruptions (take/takes)
place, we should see a great sight.
29. He asked me whether either of the
applicants (was/were) suitable.
30. Politics (was/were) with him the business
of his life.
31. The wages of the sin (is/are) death.
32. Great pains (has/have) been taken
33. Much pains (has/have) been taken
34. Fifteen minutes (is/are) allowed to each
speaker.
35. Either the physicians in this hospital or
the chief administrator (is/are) going to
have to make a decision.
36. (is/are) my boss or my sisters in the union
going to win this grievance?
37. Some of the votes (seem/seems) to have
been miscounted.
38. The tornadoes that tear through this county
every spring (is/are) more than just a
nuisance.
39. Everyone selected to serve on this jury
(has/have) to be willing to give up a lot of
time.
40. Kara Wolters, together with her
teammates, (presents/present) a formidable
opponent on the basketball court.
Page 1 www.edusaathi.com 41. He seems to forget that there (is/are) things
to be done before he can graduate.
42. There (has/have) to be some people left in
that town after yesterday's flood.
43. Some of the grain (appear/appears) to be
contaminated.
44. Three-quarters of the students (is/are)
against the tuition hike.
45. Three-quarters of the student body (is/are)
against the tuition hike.
46. A high percentage of the population
(is/are) voting for the new school.
47. A high percentage of the people
(was/were) voting for the new school.
48. The cracked windshield, in addition to the
torn upholstery and rusted body,
(has/have) made Ruth’s old car difficult to
sell.
49. This week's National Inquisitor claims that
there (is/are) photographs of the Loch Ness
Monster eating Elvis.
50. At Tito’s Taco Palace (work/works)
friends who will stuff double meat into our
burritos for free.
51. On the tables in the library (crawl/crawls)
the many germs that have escaped in the
hot breath of hardworking students.
52. None of this breakfast that Lilly Mae
cooked (is/are) fit to eat.
53. None of these chocolate-broccoli muffins
(taste/tastes) good, either.
54. The whole red ant colony, including the
queen and all of her drones, (has/have)
swarmed over Tommy's feet, stinging his
ankles.
55. Fifteen gallons of chocolate milk
(make/makes) Herbert the elephant a
happy pachyderm.
Directions for Questions 56 to 72: Fill in the
blank with the most apprpriate form of verb. The
verb is written in bold just before the sentence.
56. TO HOPE: Everyone on the roller
coaster, including Martha and Angie,
[email protected] __________ that the hot dogs, onion rings,
funnel cake, and cotton candy will stay
down during the twisting ride to come.
57. TO BOTHER: Neither Fred's ratty
clothes nor his sullen attitude __________
Esmeralda, who lets Fred pick up the
check every time they dine out.
58. TO HUG: That pair of jeans __________
the curves of Hannah’s body as nicely as
tinfoil on a baked potato.
59. TO ANNOY: Neither the coughing
muffler nor the squeaky brakes
__________ Ruth as much as the broken
radio in her old car.
60. TO GET: Florida alligators usually
__________ severe indigestion after eating
poodles.
61. TO CLING: Every cat hair, candy
wrapper, and loose thread __________ to
the super-charged polyester pants that
Theodora loves to wear.
62. TO KNOW: Any one of Ms. Orsini's
students __________ the rules that govern
subject-verb agreement.
63. TO TAKE: The shine on my hardwood
floors __________ abuse from the ragged
toenails of Floyd, my dog.
64. TO HAVE: Neither of those students
__________ a clue about the rules
governing subject-verb agreement. Pity
them both during the quiz.
65. TO MAKE: Patience and compassion, in
addition to a wallet bulging with money,
__________ everyone want Jordan as a
friend.
66. TO REQUIRE: Statistics __________ so
much homework that Michelle's poor
fingers have permanent indentations from
the calculator pads.
67. TO COME: The committee ___________
from all parts of the city, so we usually
have to start late because so many
members get stuck in traffic.
Page 2 www.edusaathi.com 68. TO
BELIEVE:
The
committee
___________ that waiting until everyone
arrives is more important than starting on
time.
69. TO BE: When Dad is angry, there
__________ fire flickering in his eyes as
well as smoke escaping from his ears.
70. TO BRIGHTEN: When Matthew is
having a bad day, old episodes of The XFiles always __________ his mood.
71. TO HIT: Each of those opera singers
regularly ___________ notes high enough
to break glass and rupture eardrums.
72. TO BE: Either the fried oyster sandwich
or shrimp pizza __________ the best
choice for lunch at Crusty's Seafood
Restaurant.
75.
a. Where are the bowl of squid
eyeball stew plus the platter of
broccoli-chocolate muffins that
Madison made for Elizabeth’s
housewarming party?
b. Where are the bowl of squid
eyeball stew and the platter of
broccoli-chocolate muffins that
Madison made for Elizabeth’s
housewarming party?
c. Where is the bowl of squid eyeball
stew and the platter of broccolichocolate muffins that Madison
made
for
Elizabeth’s
housewarming party?
76.
a. Here is the fifty-dollar bill that I
promised for pet sits Bo-Bo, my
Jack Russell terrier, this weekend.
b. Here are the fifty-dollar bill that I
promised for pet sitting Bo-Bo, my
Jack Russell terrier, this weekend.
c. Here is the fifty-dollar bill that I
promised for pet sitting Bo-Bo, my
Jack Russell terrier, this weekend.
Directions for Questions 73 to 97: Out of the
given three options choose the sentence that is
grammatically consistent.
73.
a. Our dog Babe, together with her
seven puppies, has chewed all the
stuffing out of the sofa cushions.
b. Our dog Babe, together with her
seven puppies, have chewed all the
stuffing out of the sofa cushions.
c. Our dog Babe, along with her
seven puppies, have chewed all the
stuffing out of the sofa cushions.
77.
a. Neither of my two older brothers
invests money wisely.
b. Neither of my two older brother
invests money wisely.
c. Neither of my two older brothers
invest money wisely.
74.
a. This weekend, a Great White
shark, along with a school of
barracuda, are terrorizing the
tourists at Daytona Beach.
b. This weekend, a Great White
shark, as well as a school of
barracuda, are terrorizing the
tourists at Daytona Beach.
c. This weekend, a Great White
shark, as well as a school of
barracuda, is terrorizing the tourists
at Daytona Beach.
[email protected] 78.
a. Every piece of popcorn and
dropped chocolate on the theater
floor have stuck in the treads of
Larry’s new running shoes.
b. Every piece of popcorn and
dropped chocolate on the theater
floor has stuck in the treads of
Larry’s new running shoes.
c. Every piece of popcorn and
dropped chocolate on the theater
Page 3 www.edusaathi.com floor is stucking in the treads of
Larry’s new running shoes.
b. Mike is one of those students who
never bring a pen with him to
writing class.
c. Mike is one of those students
which never brings a pen with him
to writing class.
79.
a. All that Susan wants this semester
are a wink and a smile from the
cute guy who sits next to her in
algebra class.
b. All that Susan wants this semester
is a wink and a smile from the cute
guy who sits next to her in algebra
class.
c. All that Susan wants this semester
is a wink and a smile from the cute
guy who is sitting next to her in
algebra class.
83.
a. The iguana is the only one of my
brother's reptiles that do not require
live rodents for dinner.
b. The iguana is the only one of my
brother's reptiles that does not
requires live rodents for dinner.
c. The iguana is the only one of my
brother's reptiles that does not
require live rodents for dinner.
80.
a. All that the cute guy want this
semester is the correct answers
from Susan's algebra quiz.
b. All that the cute guy want this
semester is the correct answer from
Susan's algebra quiz.
c. All that the cute guy wants this
semester is the correct answers
from Susan's algebra quiz.
84.
a. The family has conflicting opinions
about how to celebrate the holidays
since they learned that Grandpa is a
space alien from a distant galaxy.
b. The family have conflicting
opinions about how to celebrate the
holidays since they learned that
Grandpa is a space alien from a
distant galaxy.
c. The family has conflicting opinions
about how to celebrate the holidays
since they learned that Grandpa are
a space alien from a distant galaxy.
81.
a. Now that the cute guy has found a
way to cheat, mathematics no
longer causes him problems in
school.
b. Now that the cute guy have found a
way to cheat, mathematics no
longer cause him problems in
school.
c. Now that the cute guy has found a
way to cheat, mathematics no
longer cause him problems in
school.
85.
a. Seventeen dollars is all that Brenda
has saved for spring break this
year.
b. Seventeen dollars are all that
Brenda has saved for spring break
this year.
c. Seventeen dollars are all that
Brenda had saved for spring break
this year.
82.
a. Mike is one of those students who
never brings a pen with him to
writing class.
[email protected] 86.
a. Two hundred buckets of sand fills
the interior of Mr. Clark’s new car.
Page 4 www.edusaathi.com b. Two hundred buckets of sand fill
the interior of Mr. Clark’s new car.
c. Two hundred bucket of sands fill
the interior of Mr. Clark’s new car.
b. Not only the squid soufflé but also
the fried octopus make a delicious
snack to eat while you are watching
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
c. Not only the squid soufflé but also
the fried octopus makes a delicious
snack to eat while you are watching
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
87.
a. The flaming-orange polyester pant,
together with the beehive hairdo,
make Betty stand out among the
other shoppers at the mall.
b. The flaming-orange polyester
pants, together with the beehive
hairdo, make Betty stand out
among the other shoppers at the
mall.
c. The flaming-orange polyester
pants, together with the beehive
hairdo, makes Betty stand out
among the other shoppers at the
mall.
91.
a. Mary Anne's compassion and the
Professor's intelligence and the
Skipper's good humor, are what
Jillian most enjoys about Gilligan's
Island.
b. Mary Anne's compassion, as well
as the Professor's intelligence and
the Skipper's good humor, are what
Jillian most enjoys about Gilligan's
Island.
c. Mary Anne's compassion, as well
as the Professor's intelligence and
the Skipper's good humor, is what
Jillian most enjoys about Gilligan's
Island.
88.
a. Here are the grasshoppers that you
need to give the iguana while
Marvin recovers in the hospital.
b. Here is the grasshoppers that you
need to give the iguana while
Marvin recovers in the hospital.
c. Here are the grasshoppers that you
need to give the iguana while
Marvin recover in the hospital.
92.
a. Each of these yo-yo champions
give the same advice: you have to
risk whacking yourself in the head
a few times to master the really
challenging tricks.
b. Each of these yo-yo champions
gives the same advice: you have to
risk whacking yourself in the head
a few times to master the really
challenging tricks.
c. Each of these yo-yo champions
gives the same advice: you have to
risk yourself whacking in the head
a few times to master the really
challenging tricks.
89.
a. Wrestling on the cafeteria floor are
two hungry students that want the
last slice of pepperoni pizza.
b. Wrestling on the cafeteria floor, the
two hungry students that want the
last slice of pepperoni pizza.
c. Wrestling on the cafeteria floor is
two hungry students that want the
last slice of pepperoni pizza.
90.
a. The squid soufflé with the fried
octopus make a delicious snack to
eat while you are watching 20,000
Leagues Under the Sea.
[email protected] 93.
a. Every love bug smashed on his
windshield,
every
cockroach
poisoned by insecticide, and every
Page 5 www.edusaathi.com trapped spider starving to death in a
dusty corner cause Ernie, an
aspiring Buddhist, a pang of guilt.
b. Every love bug smashed on his
windshield,
every
cockroach
poisoned by insecticide, and every
trapped spider starving to death in a
dusty corner causes Ernie, an
aspiring Buddhist, a pang of guilt.
c. Every love bug smashed on his
windshield with every cockroach
poisoned by insecticide and every
trapped spider starving to death in a
dusty corner causes an aspiring
Buddhist Ernie a pang of guilt.
94.
a. The powdery sugar on lemon
doughnuts makes Rhonda happy to
start a new day.
b. The powdery sugar on lemon
doughnuts make Rhonda happy to
start a new day.
c. The powdery sugar on lemon
doughnuts make Rhonda day
happy.
Palace is an authentic multicultural
experience.
b. Lincoln is one of those people who
think eating at Tito’s Taco Palace
is an authentic multicultural
experience.
c. Lincoln is one of those people who
thinks eating at Tito’s Taco Palace
is an authentic multicultural
experience.
97.
a. There is many misconceptions
about gorillas; the most damaging
is that these primates are ferocious,
crazed killers like King Kong.
b. There is many misconceptions that
gorillas; especially the most
damaging is that these primates are
ferocious, crazed killers like King
Kong.
c. There are many misconceptions
about gorillas; the most damaging
is that these primates are ferocious,
crazed killers like King Kong.
95.
a. Every one of Jenny's six cats
enjoys relaxing on top of her new
car; the paw prints create an Art
Deco design in the dust that coats
the hood.
b. Every one of Jenny's six cats enjoy
relaxing on top of her new car; the
paw prints create an Art Deco
design in the dust that coats the
hood.
c. Every one of Jenny's six cats enjoy
relaxing on top of her new car; the
paw prints creates an Art Deco
design in the dust that coats the
hood.
96.
a. Lincoln is one of those people who
thinks that eating at Tito’s Taco
[email protected] Page 6 Subject Verb Agreement Practise Exercise (Solutions)
1. Is
2. Has
3. Are
4. Was
5. Has
6. Was
7. Is
8. Have
9. Has
10. Is
11. Was
12. Was
13. Was
14. Is
15. Eats
16. Is
17. Are
18. Is
19. Is
20. lay
21. have
22. are
23. has
24. is
25. has
26. allows
27. is
28. was, take
29. was
30. was
31. is
32. have
33. has
34. Is
35. Is
36. is
37. seem
38. is
39. have
40. presents
41. are
42. has
43. appears
44. are
45. is
46. is
47. were
48. has
49. are
50. work
51. crawl
52. is
53. tastes
54. has
55. makes
56. hopes
57. bothers
58. hug
59. annoy
60. get
61. cling
62. knows
63. takes
64. has
65. make
66. requires
67. comes
68. believes
69. is
70. brighten
71. hits
72. has
73. a
74. c
75. b
76. c
77. a
78. b
79. a
80. c
81. a
82. b
83. c
84. a
85. a
86. b
87. b
88. a
89. a
90. c
91. c
92. b
93. a
94. c
95. a
96. b
97. c