Fill in the blanks with a verb form that agrees with the subject.
1.The manager along with his secretary ............................ present in the conference room.
When we connect two nouns with along with, the verb agrees with the former.
2. Neither John nor Peter ............................... present at the hearing.
When we connect two singular nouns with neither / nor, the verb is singular.
3. Thousand dollars ............................. not a small sum.
4. Maria as well as Alice ............................. there.
When we connect two singular nouns with as well as, the verb is singular.
5. Neither you nor I ........................... responsible for this.
When we connect two pronouns with neither/ nor, the verb agrees with the pronoun following nor.
6. He neither ............................. his money nor ............................. it.
7. Any increase in the price of essential commodities ............................... in inflation.
Here the actual subject is the singular expression increase.
8. Our team ............................... likely to win.
Collective nouns are usually used with singular verbs.
9. My family ............................... of my parents, my husband and my children.
10. The audience .............................. enthralled by the performance.
We usually use a singular verb after audience.
11. Young children ............................... their parents.
12. The baby ............................. startled by the loud sound.
Answers
1.The manager along with his secretary was present in the conference room.
2. Neither John nor Peter was present at the hearing.
3. Thousand dollars is not a small sum.
4. Maria as well as Alice was there.
5. Neither you nor I am responsible for this.
6. He neither spends his money nor donates it.
7. Any increase in the price of essential commodities results in inflation.
8. Our team is likely to win.
9. My family consists of my parents, my husband and my children.
10. The audience was enthralled by the performance.
11. Young children imitate their parents.
12. The baby was startled by the loud sound.
