Fill in the blanks with appropriate forms of verb. Choose the answers from the options given in the brackets.
1One of my friends ............... gone to France.
Wrong!
The subject is "one", so the singular verb "has" is correct.
2Each of the boys ............... given a present.
Wrong!
"Each" takes a singular verb, so "was" is correct.
3Neither of the contestants ............... able to win a decisive victory.
Wrong!
"Neither" means not one of the two, so the singular verb "was" is correct.
4Oil and water ............... not mix.
Wrong!
The compound subject "oil and water" is plural here, so "do" is correct.
5He and I ............... at Oxford together.
Wrong!
The compound subject "He and I" is plural, so "were" is correct.
6Slow and steady ............... the race.
Wrong!
The phrase "slow and steady" names one idea, so the singular verb "wins" is correct.
7Neither Peter nor James ............... any right to the property.
Wrong!
With "neither... nor", the verb agrees with the nearer singular subject "James", so "has" is correct.
8No prize or medal ............... given to the boy, though he stood first in the examination.
Wrong!
With "no... or", the singular subjects "prize" and "medal" take the singular verb "was".
9Either Mary or Alice ............... responsible for this.
Wrong!
With "either... or", the verb agrees with the nearer singular subject "Alice", so "is" is correct.
10Neither the Minister nor his colleagues ............... given any explanation for this.
Wrong!
With "neither... nor", the verb agrees with the nearer plural subject "colleagues", so "have" is correct.
Answers
- One of my friends has gone to France.
- Each of the boys was given a present.
- Neither of the contestants was able to win a decisive victory.
- Oil and water do not mix.
- He and I were at Oxford together.
- Slow and steady wins the race.
- Neither Peter nor James has any right to the property.
- No prize or medal was given to the boy, though he stood first in the examination.
- Either Mary or Alice is responsible for this.
- Neither the Minister nor his colleagues have given any explanation for this.
