14.13: Subject-Verb Agreement
- Page ID
- 256898
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)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.