Subject And Verb Agreement Exercises

Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement: Exercises and Explanations for Perfect Grammar

Subject-verb agreement, the cornerstone of grammatically correct sentences, refers to the principle that a verb must agree in number (singular or plural) with its subject. This seemingly simple rule can become surprisingly tricky, especially when dealing with complex sentence structures or tricky exceptions. This comprehensive guide provides a range of exercises, explanations, and examples to help you master subject-verb agreement, solidifying your understanding and improving your writing skills. We’ll cover common pitfalls and offer strategies to confidently tackle even the most challenging scenarios.

Understanding the Basics: Singular vs. Plural

Before diving into the exercises, let's refresh our understanding of the fundamental concept. A singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb.

• Singular: The dog barks loudly.
• Plural: The dogs bark loudly.

Notice how the verb changes from "barks" (singular) to "bark" (plural) to match the number of the subject. This seemingly straightforward rule often presents challenges when encountering more complex sentence structures.

Exercise 1: Basic Subject-Verb Agreement

Identify the correct verb form (singular or plural) for each sentence.

1. The cat (sleeps/sleep) on the mat.
2. The birds (sing/sings) beautifully in the morning.
3. My friend (is/are) coming over for dinner.
4. The flowers (bloom/blooms) brightly in the spring.
5. The children (play/plays) happily in the park.
6. The news (is/are) shocking.
7. My glasses (is/are) broken.
8. The scissors (is/are) sharp.
9. Mathematics (is/are) a challenging subject.
10. The police (is/are) investigating the crime.

Answer Key: 1. sleeps, 2. sing, 3. is, 4. bloom, 5. play, 6. is, 7. are, 8. are, 9. is, 10. are

Intervening Phrases: Don't Be Fooled!

One common source of confusion arises from intervening phrases placed between the subject and the verb. These phrases often modify the subject but do not change its number. Ignore these phrases when determining subject-verb agreement.

Example: The dog, along with its puppies, barks incessantly.

"Along with its puppies" is an intervening phrase. The subject remains "dog" (singular), thus requiring the singular verb "barks."

Exercise 2: Intervening Phrases

Choose the correct verb form for each sentence, disregarding intervening phrases.

1. The book, along with several articles, (is/are) on the table.
2. My sister, together with her friends, (goes/go) to the movies every week.
3. The teacher, accompanied by her students, (visits/visit) the museum.
4. The car, including all its accessories, (costs/cost) a fortune.
5. The team, despite their efforts, (loses/lose) the game.

Answer Key: 1. is, 2. goes, 3. visits, 4. costs, 5. loses

Compound Subjects: And, Or, Nor

Compound subjects joined by "and" are usually plural and take a plural verb. However, subjects joined by "or" or "nor" take a verb that agrees with the subject closest to the verb.

• Plural: The cat and the dog play together.
• Singular: Neither the cat nor the dogs bark.
• Singular: Either the dogs or the cat sleeps in the sun.

Exercise 3: Compound Subjects

Choose the correct verb form for each sentence.

1. My brother and sister (travel/travels) extensively.
2. Neither the teacher nor the students (understand/understands) the assignment.
3. Either the dogs or the cat (is/are) responsible for the mess.
4. Both my parents and I (agree/agrees) on the decision.
5. Neither the books nor the magazines (were/was) damaged in the fire.

Answer Key: 1. travel, 2. understand, 3. is, 4. agree, 5. were

Collective Nouns: A Trickier Case

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

• Singular: The team is practicing together. (Team acts as one unit)
• Plural: The team are arguing amongst themselves. (Members act individually)

Exercise 4: Collective Nouns

Choose the correct verb form for each sentence.

1. The family (is/are) having dinner together.
2. My family (is/are) divided on the issue.
3. The team (plays/play) exceptionally well as a unit.
4. The team (is/are) each pursuing their own individual goals.
5. The flock (flies/fly) south for the winter.
6. The flock (is/are) scattered across the field.

Answer Key: 1. is, 2. are, 3. plays, 4. are, 5. flies, 6. are

Indefinite Pronouns: Singular or Plural?

Indefinite pronouns (e.g., everyone, someone, anybody, each, either, neither) are always singular and take singular verbs. However, pronouns like both, few, many, several are always plural.

• Singular: Everyone is invited to the party.
• Plural: Both of them are coming.

Exercise 5: Indefinite Pronouns

Choose the correct verb form for each sentence.

1. Everyone (is/are) expected to participate.
2. Somebody (has/have) left their book on the table.
3. Nobody (knows/know) the answer.
4. Each of the students (receives/receive) a certificate.
5. Several (is/are) attending the conference.
6. Few (have/has) completed the assignment on time.

Answer Key: 1. is, 2. has, 3. knows, 4. receives, 5. are, 6. have

Subject-Verb Agreement with Phrases or Clauses

When the subject is a phrase or clause, the verb is always singular.

• Singular: To err is human.
• Singular: What she said was surprising.

Exercise 6: Phrases and Clauses as Subjects

Choose the correct verb form for each sentence.

1. To study diligently (is/are) essential for success.
2. What he said (was/were) very controversial.
3. How she felt (was/were) a mystery to everyone.
4. Whatever you decide (is/are) fine with me.
5. That he left early (was/were) unexpected.

Answer Key: 1. is, 2. was, 3. was, 4. is, 5. was

Advanced Exercises: Putting It All Together

These exercises combine various concepts discussed above, requiring a deeper understanding of subject-verb agreement rules.

Exercise 7: Mixed Bag

Choose the correct verb form for each sentence.

1. The committee (meets/meet) every Tuesday.
2. Neither the players nor the coach (was/were) happy with the outcome.
3. Everyone in the class (is/are) ready for the exam.
4. My friends and I (plan/plans) to go camping this weekend.
5. The data, along with the analysis, (supports/support) the hypothesis.
6. Both the cat and the dogs (sleeps/sleep) soundly at night.
7. The news from the front (is/are) quite discouraging.
8. Neither the sun nor the stars (was/were) visible through the storm clouds.
9. What you need (is/are) a good night's sleep.
10. The group of students (debates/debate) the merits of the proposal.

Answer Key: 1. meets, 2. were, 3. is, 4. plan, 5. supports, 6. sleep, 7. is, 8. were, 9. is, 10. debate

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Q: What if the subject is a fraction? The verb agrees with the noun following the "of" preposition. For example: One-third of the apples is rotten. Two-thirds of the students are absent.

• Q: What about titles of books or movies? These are always treated as singular. For example: “The Great Gatsby” is a classic novel.

• Q: What if the subject is an amount of money or time? These are treated as singular. For example: Ten dollars is a small amount. Five years is a long time.

Conclusion: Practice Makes Perfect!

Mastering subject-verb agreement requires consistent practice and attention to detail. By understanding the rules and working through various exercises, you can significantly improve the clarity and accuracy of your writing. Remember to always identify the subject of the sentence correctly and consider any intervening phrases or special cases, such as collective nouns and indefinite pronouns. With dedicated effort, you can confidently navigate the complexities of subject-verb agreement and express your ideas with grammatical precision. Continue practicing with various sentence structures and you will find yourself effortlessly applying these crucial grammatical rules.