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7.13: Subject-Verb Agreement

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    Practice 1

    Choose the correct verb in the following sentences. Click on the answer key at the end of the practice.

    1. There (is, are) an empty cup and a paper bag on the floor.
    2. My sister as well as two of my brothers (lives, live) in Florida.
    3. The professor, together with twenty-five students, (is, are) happy that the term was almost over.
    4. My grandmother and grandfather (look, looks) alike.
    5. Either my brothers or my younger sister (is, are) owed my thanks.
    6. One of her six children (run, runs) five miles every day.
    7. Each of the students (spend, spends) six hours studying for classes every day of the week.
    8. Neither of the boys (is, are) willing to study during the weekends.
    9. As a result of the conflict, there (is, are) bloodshed and chaos.
    10. Do you think that the manager and our supervisor (understands, understand) the problem?
    11. Neither my sister nor my brothers (is, are) planning to drive down from New York for my seventh marriage.
    12. One of my shoes (is, are) missing.
    13. Christopher or Laura (email, emails) me almost every day.
    14. Maria's regular salary together with tips (are, is) just enough for her to survive.
    15. Under my son's bed (was, were) three Rolling Stone magazines.
    Answer

    Answer Key - Subject/Verb Agreement Practice 1

    Practice 2

    Reminders: Each, everyone, everybody, and one are singular pronouns.
    Watch for prepositional phrases that separate the subject from the verb (of the ____, with the ____). The verb should agree with the subject of the sentence, not the object of the preposition.

    Directions: In each of the following sentences, select the appropriate form of the verb.

    1. One of my old fillings (need, needs) to be replaced.
    2. The young widow with her five small children (want, wants) to get on the bus.
    3. In the back of the closet (is, are) some old paperback novels you might like to have.
    4. The Chevy with the blue tinted windows (need, needs) washing.
    5. Geoffrey (doesn't, don't) have time to finish his work.
    6. Along the river's edge (is, are) found many different kinds of wild flowers.
    7. Every one of the employees (seem, seems) ready for a vacation.
    8. Each of the Academy Award winners (was, were) well-paid.
    9. Some of the sweaters that are supposed to be new (have, has) torn seams.
    10. One of the clerks (do, does) much better work than the other one.
    11. The serving platter with the flowers and vines on it (is, are) pretty.
    12. Neither my brothers nor my sister (is, are) going to the beach with me this weekend.
    13. Laura, together with Sally and Jon, (is, are) going to Port St. John this weekend.
    14. The plumber with his young helper (was, were) at the door only 10 minutes after Maria called.
    15. Neither the scouts nor the scoutmaster (was, were) found until the second day of the search.
    Answer

    Answer Key for Subject/Verb Agreement Practice 2

    Practice 3

    Directions: In each of the following sentences, select the appropriate form of the verb.

    1. A seer, so my friends tell me, (predict, predicts) events or developments.
    2. The seer, together with three other psychics, (plans, plan) to make a number of startling predictions.
    3. These predictions, including one about how well you will do on this practice, (is, are) not to be believed.
    4. My sister, along with her husband and my parents, (is, are) driving to a wedding this weekend.
    5. Inside my refrigerator (is, are) a can of Diet Pepsi and an old English muffin.
    6. One of my brothers (was, were) in Atlanta last weekend.
    7. The teacher as well as her students (believe, believes) that practice makes perfect.
    8. However, I believe that perfect practice, including long drills, (is, are) the key to success.
    9. Neither of the two politicians (expect, expects) to lose the race.
    10. Neither Senator Smith nor her administrative assistants (return, returns) phone calls.
    11. Neither her administrative assistants nor Senator Smith (return, returns) phone calls.
    12. Each of the twins (has, have) some unusual habits.
    13. The first type of driver that I find annoying (is, are) the speeders.
    14. She is one of the students who always (answer, answers) correctly.
    15. Sara is the only one of the students who always (answer, answers) correctly.
    Answer

    Answer Key for Subject-Verb Agreement Practice 3

    Practice 4

    Directions: In each of the following sentences, select the appropriate form of the verb.

    1. There (is, are) a pebble and some sand in my shoe.
    2. A list of Dalton State College course offerings (is, are) posted on the college webpage.
    3. Details of the accident (was, were) not released.
    4. The stereo, together with the phone and the CD layer, (go, goes) dead during electrical storms.
    5. Maria and Stephanie (play, plays) Dream Phone on Saturday mornings.
    6. Here (is, are) Tom and Jerry.
    7. Directions for the recipe (is, are) on the back of the box.
    8. In the safety-deposit box at the bank (is, are) is an extra key to my house and some important papers.
    9. All of the cookies (taste, tastes) stale.
    10. In the locker room (is, are) a few old weights.
    11. Neither that Internet site nor the article from Time magazine (was, were) helpful to my research.
    12. All of the snow (has, have) melted.
    13. Larissa or her cousins (is, are) coming to Dalton to visit.
    14. Either the articles on the Internet or the one in library (seem, seems) to have relevant information.
    15. The article, together with the web pages, (is, are) too much for me to read today.
    Answer

    Answer Key for Subject-Verb Agreement Practice 4

    References

    • Dr. Mary Nielsen, Dean of the Dalton State College School of Liberal Arts.

    This page titled 7.13: Subject-Verb Agreement is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Jenny Crisp via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.