7.13: Subject-Verb Agreement
- Page ID
- 7112
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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.
- There (is, are) an empty cup and a paper bag on the floor.
- My sister as well as two of my brothers (lives, live) in Florida.
- The professor, together with twenty-five students, (is, are) happy that the term was almost over.
- My grandmother and grandfather (look, looks) alike.
- Either my brothers or my younger sister (is, are) owed my thanks.
- One of her six children (run, runs) five miles every day.
- Each of the students (spend, spends) six hours studying for classes every day of the week.
- Neither of the boys (is, are) willing to study during the weekends.
- As a result of the conflict, there (is, are) bloodshed and chaos.
- Do you think that the manager and our supervisor (understands, understand) the problem?
- Neither my sister nor my brothers (is, are) planning to drive down from New York for my seventh marriage.
- One of my shoes (is, are) missing.
- Christopher or Laura (email, emails) me almost every day.
- Maria's regular salary together with tips (are, is) just enough for her to survive.
- Under my son's bed (was, were) three Rolling Stone magazines.
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.
- One of my old fillings (need, needs) to be replaced.
- The young widow with her five small children (want, wants) to get on the bus.
- In the back of the closet (is, are) some old paperback novels you might like to have.
- The Chevy with the blue tinted windows (need, needs) washing.
- Geoffrey (doesn't, don't) have time to finish his work.
- Along the river's edge (is, are) found many different kinds of wild flowers.
- Every one of the employees (seem, seems) ready for a vacation.
- Each of the Academy Award winners (was, were) well-paid.
- Some of the sweaters that are supposed to be new (have, has) torn seams.
- One of the clerks (do, does) much better work than the other one.
- The serving platter with the flowers and vines on it (is, are) pretty.
- Neither my brothers nor my sister (is, are) going to the beach with me this weekend.
- Laura, together with Sally and Jon, (is, are) going to Port St. John this weekend.
- The plumber with his young helper (was, were) at the door only 10 minutes after Maria called.
- Neither the scouts nor the scoutmaster (was, were) found until the second day of the search.
Practice 3
Directions: In each of the following sentences, select the appropriate form of the verb.
- A seer, so my friends tell me, (predict, predicts) events or developments.
- The seer, together with three other psychics, (plans, plan) to make a number of startling predictions.
- These predictions, including one about how well you will do on this practice, (is, are) not to be believed.
- My sister, along with her husband and my parents, (is, are) driving to a wedding this weekend.
- Inside my refrigerator (is, are) a can of Diet Pepsi and an old English muffin.
- One of my brothers (was, were) in Atlanta last weekend.
- The teacher as well as her students (believe, believes) that practice makes perfect.
- However, I believe that perfect practice, including long drills, (is, are) the key to success.
- Neither of the two politicians (expect, expects) to lose the race.
- Neither Senator Smith nor her administrative assistants (return, returns) phone calls.
- Neither her administrative assistants nor Senator Smith (return, returns) phone calls.
- Each of the twins (has, have) some unusual habits.
- The first type of driver that I find annoying (is, are) the speeders.
- She is one of the students who always (answer, answers) correctly.
- Sara is the only one of the students who always (answer, answers) correctly.
Practice 4
Directions: In each of the following sentences, select the appropriate form of the verb.
- There (is, are) a pebble and some sand in my shoe.
- A list of Dalton State College course offerings (is, are) posted on the college webpage.
- Details of the accident (was, were) not released.
- The stereo, together with the phone and the CD layer, (go, goes) dead during electrical storms.
- Maria and Stephanie (play, plays) Dream Phone on Saturday mornings.
- Here (is, are) Tom and Jerry.
- Directions for the recipe (is, are) on the back of the box.
- In the safety-deposit box at the bank (is, are) is an extra key to my house and some important papers.
- All of the cookies (taste, tastes) stale.
- In the locker room (is, are) a few old weights.
- Neither that Internet site nor the article from Time magazine (was, were) helpful to my research.
- All of the snow (has, have) melted.
- Larissa or her cousins (is, are) coming to Dalton to visit.
- Either the articles on the Internet or the one in library (seem, seems) to have relevant information.
- The article, together with the web pages, (is, are) too much for me to read today.
References
- Dr. Mary Nielsen, Dean of the Dalton State College School of Liberal Arts.