Complete the following sentences using an appropriate verb form.
1Either he or I ............... mistaken.
Wrong!
With "either... or," the verb agrees with the nearer subject, so "am" is correct.
2Either the boy or his parents ............... erred.
Wrong!
With "either... or," the verb agrees with the nearer subject, so "have" is correct.
3My parents and I ............... lived here for five years.
Wrong!
The compound subject "my parents and I" is plural, so "have" is correct.
4The council ............... elected its president.
Wrong!
The collective noun "council" is treated as singular here, so "has" is correct.
5A number of boys ............... caught cheating on the exam.
Wrong!
"A number of boys" means several boys and takes a plural verb, so "were" is correct.
6A number of interesting suggestions ............... been made.
Wrong!
"A number of interesting suggestions" means several suggestions and takes a plural verb, so "have" is correct.
7The news ............... true.
Wrong!
"News" is singular in form and meaning here, so "is" is correct.
8Each of the boys ............... given a prize.
Wrong!
"Each" is singular, so "was" is correct.
9The chief, as well as his men, ............... massacred.
Wrong!
"As well as his men" does not make the singular subject plural, so "was" is correct.
10John, as well as James, ............... praise.
Wrong!
"As well as James" does not make the singular subject plural, so "deserves" is correct.
Answers
- Either he or I am mistaken.
- Either the boy or his parents have erred.
- My parents and I have lived here for five years.
- The council has elected its president.
- A number of boys were caught cheating on the exam.
- A number of interesting suggestions have been made.
- The news is true.
- Each of the boys was given a prize.
- The chief, as well as his men, was massacred.
- John, as well as James, deserves praise.