Fill in the blanks.
1The chairman, as well as the secretary, ............... present at the inauguration of the sports club.
Wrong!
With "as well as", the verb agrees with the first subject, so "was" is correct.
2The bunch of flowers ............... fresh.
Wrong!
The subject is the singular collective noun "bunch", so "looks" is correct.
3The poet and thinker ............... no more.
Wrong!
"The poet and thinker" refers to one person, so "is" is correct.
4Neither Sam nor his parents ............... to be involved in this.
Wrong!
With "neither... nor", the verb agrees with the nearer subject "parents", so "seem" is correct.
5Sheela, as well as her sisters, ............... always on time.
Wrong!
With "as well as", the verb agrees with "Sheela", so "is" is correct.
6Every adult citizen ............... a vote.
Wrong!
"Every adult citizen" is singular, so "has" is correct.
7Either Shyam or Rahul ............... to complete the assignment.
Wrong!
With "either... or", the verb agrees with the nearer singular subject "Rahul", so "has" is correct.
8Neither James nor Stella ............... submitted their assignment.
Wrong!
With two singular subjects joined by "neither... nor", the verb is singular, so "has" is correct.
9Bread and butter ............... served for breakfast.
Wrong!
"Bread and butter" is treated as one meal item here, so "was" is correct.
10There ............... fifteen apples in the basket.
Wrong!
In a "there" sentence, the verb agrees with "fifteen apples", so "are" is correct.
11Nobody ............... what he is going through.
Wrong!
"Nobody" takes a singular verb, so "knows" is correct.
12............... there anybody inside?
Wrong!
"Anybody" is singular, so "Is" is correct.
Answers
- The chairman, as well as the secretary, was present at the inauguration of the sports club.
- The bunch of flowers looks fresh.
- The poet and thinker is no more.
- Neither Sam nor his parents seem to be involved in this.
- Sheela, as well as her sisters, is always on time.
- Every adult citizen has a vote.
- Either Shyam or Rahul has to complete the assignment.
- Neither James nor Stella has submitted their assignment.
- Bread and butter was served for breakfast.
- There are fifteen apples in the basket.
- Nobody knows what he is going through.
- Is there anybody inside?
