English Grammar

Your guide to error-free writing

You are here: Home / Exercises / Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-Verb Agreement

- pdf

This grammar exercise tests your understanding of rules regarding subject-verb agreement.

1. The long and the short of the matter ………………………….. that we have been betrayed.

The verb must be singular when two or more subjects together express one idea.

2. The chairman and the secretary …………………………………. present.

The verb must be plural when two or more singular subjects are connected by and.

3. No nook or corner ……………………………… left unexplored.

The verb must be singular when two or more singular subjects are connected by or.

4. Neither Sam nor his brother …………………………….. present there.

The verb must be singular when two or more singular subjects are connected by neither/nor.

5. Does anyone …………………………… where Celia lives?

The infinitive does not take the marker –s after do, does or did.

6. ……………………………… she in love with somebody else?

7. He and I ……………………………. birds of the same feather.

When two singular subjects are connected by and, the verb must be singular.

8. Everybody …………………………….. frustrated by the delay.

We use a singular verb after everybody.

9. Tell the children to raise their …………………………….

We usually use a plural noun after a plural possessive.

10. Many people lost their …………………………… in the accident.

11. Neither the minister nor his secretary ………………………………. able to give a satisfactory explanation.

12. A good knowledge of at least three languages …………………………… essential for this job.

Here the actual subject is the singular noun knowledge.

Answers

  1. The long and the short of the matter is that we have been betrayed.
  2. The chairman and the secretary were present.
  3. No nook or corner was left unexplored.
  4. Neither Sam nor his brother was present there.
  5. Does anyone know where Celia lives?
  6. Is she in love with somebody else?
  7. He and I are birds of the same feather.
  8. Everybody was frustrated by the delay.
  9. Tell the children to raise their hands.
  10. Many people lost their lives in the accident.
  11. Neither the minister nor his secretary was able to give a satisfactory explanation.
  12. A good knowledge of at least three languages is essential for this job.

Send this to a friend