Fill in the blanks with a verb form that agrees with the subject in number and person.
1Every room ............... been cleaned.
Wrong!
The singular subject "Every room" agrees with "has" in the present perfect.
2Each new day ............... different.
Wrong!
The singular subject "Each new day" agrees with "is".
3The students in this class ............... black notebooks.
Wrong!
The plural subject "The students" agrees with "have".
4The climate of London ............... my health.
Wrong!
The singular subject "The climate of London" needs "does not suit" in the present simple negative.
5My sister and I ............... pleased to accept your invitation.
Wrong!
The compound subject "My sister and I" agrees with "are".
6Each one of these apples ............... red.
Wrong!
The singular subject phrase "Each one" agrees with "is".
7The whole class ............... listening to the speech when the fire alarm went off.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
"Class" is a group noun. It usually takes a singular verb ("was") when the group is seen as one unit; in British English a plural verb ("were") is also common. "Are" is wrong because the action is in the past.
8My sister and my brother ............... at the party.
Wrong!
Two singular subjects joined by "and" agree with the plural verb "were".
9She and I ............... having dinner together.
Wrong!
The compound subject "She and I" agrees with "were".
10Neither red nor green ............... me.
Wrong!
With two singular choices joined by "neither... nor," the verb agrees with the nearer singular subject, so "suits" is correct.
11Either Jack or Peter ............... to clean the room.
Wrong!
With "either... or," the verb agrees with the nearer singular subject, so "has" is correct.
12The President, as well as the Prime Minister, ............... visiting Moscow.
Wrong!
The phrase "as well as the Prime Minister" does not change the singular subject, so "is" is correct.
Answers
- Every room has been cleaned.
- Each new day is different.
- The students in this class have black notebooks.
- The climate of London does not suit my health.
- My sister and I are pleased to accept your invitation.
- Each one of these apples is red.
- The whole class was / were listening to the speech when the fire alarm went off.
- My sister and my brother were at the party.
- She and I were having dinner together.
- Neither red nor green suits me.
- Either Jack or Peter has to clean the room.
- The President, as well as the Prime Minister, is visiting Moscow.