SIMPLE OR SNEAKY? (SINGLE SUBJECTS)
Which sentence is correct?
A) The committee meet every Thursday.
B) The committee meets every Thursday.
B) The committee meets every thursday
Which sentence is correct?
A) Peanut butter and jelly goes well together.
B) Peanut butter and jelly go well together.
Answer: B – Compound subject joined by “and” is plural.
Which is correct?
A) Either the cat or the dogs is outside.
B) Either the cat or the dogs are outside.
Answer: B – Verb agrees with nearer subject “dogs.”
Identify the error:
“The list of items are long and confusing.”
Answer: Error – verb should be is. Subject = list, not items.
Identify the subject:
“Neither the president nor his advisors support the proposal.”
Answer: Subject = “advisors,” so verb = support.
Correct the error:
“Neither the boys nor their teacher were available.”
Answer: Should be was because subject nearest = teacher (singular).
Choose the correct verb:
“Mathematics (is / are) my favorite subject.”
Answer: is – even though plural in form, “Mathematics” is singular.
Correct this:
“The singer and the dancer is talented.”
Answer: If one person has both roles → is talented. If two people → are talented.
Fill in:
“Neither my mother nor my sisters (want / wants) to go.”
Fill in:
Answer: want – “sisters” is plural and closest.
True or False: “The news are disturbing” is correct. Explain
Answer: False – “news” is singular, so it should be is.
Which is correct?
A) The manager and the employee was late.
B) The manager and the employee were late.
Answer: B – Two different people, so plural subject = were.
Identify the correct verb:
“Either my parents or my brother (is / are) bringing dessert.”
Answer: is – verb agrees with nearest subject brother.
Explain why this is wrong:
“Politics are complicated.”
Incorrect – “Politics” is treated as singular (subject = field of study), so it should be is complicated.
Explain the difference:
“The singer and actor is talented.” vs.
“The singer and the actor are talented.”
Answer: First = one person with two roles (singular). Second = two different people (plural).
Explain rule: In “Neither the coach nor the players ___ here,” why does the verb follow players?
Because in “either/or” and “neither/nor” constructions, verb agrees with the subject closer to it.