Agreement With Verb Subject Exercises

Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement: Exercises and Explanations

Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental concept in English grammar. It simply means that the verb in a sentence must agree in number (singular or plural) with its subject. This seemingly simple rule can be surprisingly tricky, especially with complex sentence structures and unusual verb forms. This article provides a comprehensive guide to subject-verb agreement, including numerous exercises to help you master this crucial grammatical skill. We'll cover various scenarios, from simple sentences to more complex constructions, equipping you with the knowledge and practice you need to confidently navigate subject-verb agreement challenges.

Understanding the Basics of Subject-Verb Agreement

The foundation of subject-verb agreement lies in identifying the subject of the sentence – the noun or pronoun performing the action – and matching it with the correct form of the verb.

• Singular subjects take singular verbs: The dog barks loudly.
• Plural subjects take plural verbs: The dogs bark loudly.

Seems simple, right? However, numerous complexities arise when we consider various grammatical constructions.

Common Challenges in Subject-Verb Agreement

Let's delve into some common scenarios that often cause confusion:

1. Intervening Phrases:

Intervening phrases or clauses placed between the subject and the verb do not affect the agreement. The verb should still agree with the subject.

Example:

• The boy, along with his friends, plays basketball every Saturday. (The subject is "boy," which is singular.)
• The students, despite their exhaustion, are studying hard for the exam. (The subject is "students," which is plural.)

2. Compound Subjects:

A compound subject consists of two or more subjects joined by a conjunction.

• And: With "and," the subjects are usually plural, requiring a plural verb.
  • The cat and the dog chase each other.
• Or/Nor: With "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
  • Neither the dogs nor the cat eats the birdseed.
  • Either the cat or the dogs eat the birdseed.

3. Collective Nouns:

Collective nouns (e.g., team, family, group) can be singular or plural depending on the context. If the group acts as a single unit, use a singular verb. If the individuals within the group are acting independently, use a plural verb.

• The team plays well together. (Team acting as a unit)
• The team are arguing amongst themselves. (Individuals within the team acting independently)

4. Indefinite Pronouns:

Indefinite pronouns (e.g., everyone, someone, anybody, each, either, neither) are usually singular and take singular verbs.

• Everyone is invited to the party.
• Each of the students takes a different approach to the problem.
• Neither of the options seems appealing.

Exception: The indefinite pronouns both, few, many, several are always plural.

• Both of the cars are expensive.
• Many of the books are missing.

5. Subjects with Phrases Containing "of":

When the subject includes a prepositional phrase starting with "of," the verb agrees with the subject, not the object of the preposition.

• A basket of apples sits on the table. (Subject: "basket," singular)
• One third of the students are failing the course. (Subject: "third," singular, but refers to plural students, so it depends on the context. If the phrase was "one third of the student body," it would be singular)

6. Inverted Sentence Structure:

In sentences with inverted structures (where the verb comes before the subject), be careful to identify the subject correctly.

• Here comes the parade. (Subject: "parade," singular)
• There are many challenges ahead. (Subject: "challenges," plural)

Exercises on Subject-Verb Agreement

Now, let's put your knowledge to the test with a series of exercises. Choose the correct verb form for each sentence:

Exercise 1: Basic Subject-Verb Agreement

1. The cat (sleeps/sleep) on the mat.
2. The dogs (bark/barks) at the mailman.
3. My friend (is/are) coming to visit.
4. The birds (sing/sings) sweetly in the morning.
5. The children (play/plays) in the park.

Exercise 2: Intervening Phrases

1. The book, along with the magazines, (is/are) on the shelf.
2. The teacher, despite her patience, (is/are) frustrated.
3. The flowers, including the roses, (need/needs) watering.
4. The team, despite their loss, (is/are) in good spirits.
5. My brother, together with his cousins, (is/are) going to a football game.

Exercise 3: Compound Subjects

1. The dog and the cat (play/plays) together.
2. Neither the sun nor the stars (shine/shines) brightly tonight.
3. Either the students or the teacher (is/are) responsible.
4. Both the boy and his sister (love/loves) to swim.
5. Neither Sarah nor her friends (are/is) attending the meeting.

Exercise 4: Collective Nouns

1. The family (is/are) going on vacation.
2. The team (celebrate/celebrates) their victory.
3. The jury (was/were) divided in their opinion.
4. The flock of birds (fly/flies) south for the winter.
5. The class (is/are) preparing for the final exam.

Exercise 5: Indefinite Pronouns

1. Everyone (is/are) welcome.
2. Somebody (has/have) left the door open.
3. Each of the apples (is/are) ripe.
4. Several of the students (was/were) absent today.
5. Neither of the twins (wants/want) to go.

Exercise 6: Subjects with Phrases Containing "of"

1. One-third of the cake (is/are) left.
2. Half of the students (has/have) finished the exam.
3. A lot of trouble (is/are) brewing.
4. Most of the pizza (is/are) gone.
5. Two-thirds of the class (has/have) completed the assignment.

Exercise 7: Inverted Sentence Structure

1. There (is/are) many reasons to be happy.
2. Here (comes/come) the bus.
3. Beyond the hills (lies/lie) a hidden valley.
4. There (is/are) no excuses.
5. Up the street (walks/walk) a tall, slender figure.

Answers to Exercises

Exercise 1: 1. sleeps, 2. bark, 3. is, 4. sing, 5. play

Exercise 2: 1. is, 2. is, 3. need, 4. are, 5. are

Exercise 3: 1. play, 2. shine, 3. is, 4. love, 5. are

Exercise 4: 1. is, 2. celebrates, 3. were, 4. flies, 5. is

Exercise 5: 1. is, 2. has, 3. is, 4. were, 5. wants

Exercise 6: 1. is, 2. have, 3. is, 4. is, 5. have

Exercise 7: 1. are, 2. comes, 3. lies, 4. are, 5. walks

Advanced Subject-Verb Agreement Scenarios

Let's explore some more nuanced situations requiring a deeper understanding of subject-verb agreement.

1. Relative Clauses:

The verb in a relative clause agrees with the antecedent (the noun or pronoun the relative pronoun refers to).

• The car, which is red, belongs to my neighbor. (The relative clause refers to "car")
• The books, which are on the table, belong to John. (The relative clause refers to "books")

2. Clauses Introduced by "Who," "That," or "Which":

The verb in clauses introduced by "who," "that," or "which" agrees with the antecedent of the relative pronoun.

• The man who lives next door is a doctor.
• The woman who owns the bakery is very kind.

3. "One of the..." constructions:

When using "one of the...," the verb usually agrees with the plural noun following "of."

• One of the students who are failing the course needs extra help.

4. Titles of Works:

Titles of books, movies, etc., are always singular even if they contain plural words.

• "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" is a classic novel.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What if the subject is a fraction?

A: The verb agrees with the noun following "of." For example: "One-half of the apples are rotten," but "One-half of the pie is gone."

Q: What about sentences with expletive "there"?

A: The verb agrees with the subject that follows the expletive "there." For example: "There are many reasons," or "There is a reason."

Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid?

A: Common mistakes include confusing the subject with the object of a preposition, misidentifying the subject in complex sentences, and incorrectly handling collective nouns and indefinite pronouns.

Conclusion

Mastering subject-verb agreement is crucial for clear and effective communication. While the basic rule seems simple, understanding the nuances presented by different sentence structures and grammatical elements is key. Through consistent practice and careful attention to detail, you can confidently overcome these challenges and produce grammatically correct and polished writing. Remember to always identify the true subject of the sentence before selecting the appropriate verb form. By diligently applying the guidelines and practicing with the exercises provided, you will significantly improve your understanding and application of subject-verb agreement. With practice, what once seemed challenging will become second nature, allowing you to communicate with precision and clarity.