Multiple Choice
The flock of birds ________ south for the winter every year.
A) fly
B) flies
C) flying
B) flies
The subject is the singular "flock," not "birds.")
Neither the cat nor the dogs ________ (be) allowed on the sofa.
are
With neither/nor, the verb agrees with the closest subject: "dogs."
Identify the subject and the correct verb form for the following sentence:
The boxes of chocolate (sit/sits) on the counter.
Subject: boxes
Verb: sit
Ignore the prepositional phrase "of chocolate."
What is the subject of the following sentence?
My sister's jacket was left on the bench that night.
Jacket
Mathematics ________ my most challenging subject last semester.
A) was
B) were
C) are
A) was
Fields of study like Mathematics or Physics are singular.
Everything in these drawers ________ (need) to be organized before the inspection.
needs
Indefinite pronouns like everything, everybody, someone are singular.
Rewrite the following sentence to correct the subject-verb agreement error:
There is many reasons why we should go to the park today.
There are many reasons..."
The subject "reasons" follows the verb in "there is/are" constructions.
What is the verb in the following sentence?
The neighbor's dog is so annoying!
is
Ten miles ________ a long distance to run without a water break.
A) are
B) is
C) were
B) is
Units of measurement, time, or money are usually treated as a single collective unit.
DDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The committee ________ (disagree) on whether to move forward with the new proposal, as they all have different opinions.
Hint: Think about whether the committee is acting as one unit or as individuals.
disagree
In this context, the members are acting individually, making the collective noun plural. If they acted as one, it would be disagrees.
Explain why the verb in the following sentence is correct or incorrect:
The mayor, as well as his brothers, are going to the prison.
Incorrect.
The subject is "The mayor."
Phrases like "as well as," "along with," or "including" do not change the number of the subject.
It should be is.
List all the subjects and verbs in the following sentence:
Barty and his froggy friend walked and hopped along the flower path, smiling up at the sun.
Subjects:
Barty, his froggy friend
Verbs:
walked, hopped, smiling
The bouquet of red roses ________ a beautiful scent to the entire room.
A) lend
B) lends
C) lending
B) lends
The bouquet ~~of red roses~~ lends...
The buttons on my favorite winter coat ________ (be) made of polished wood.
are
The buttons ~~on my favorite winter coat~~ are...
Identify the correct verb:
"The teacher, along with all of her students, (is / are) attending the assembly."
is
The teacher ~~along with all of her students~~ is...
The teacher -- is attending the assembly.
Zydeco music originated in the French Creole community of southwest Louisiana. One instrument that gives zydeco its unique sound is the vest frottoir. The vest frottoir ______ a wearable washboard that is played by rubbing spoons or bottle openers against it.
A. have been
B. is
C. were
D. are
Choice B is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject-verb agreement. The singular verb "is" agrees in number with the singular subject "vest frottoir."
Choice A is incorrect because the plural verb "have been" doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject "vest frottoir."
Choice C is incorrect because the plural verb "were" doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject "vest frottoir."
Choice D is incorrect because the plural verb "are" doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject "vest frottoir."
The captain, as well as the rest of the crew members, ________ expected to remain on the ship.
A) was
B) were
C) are
A) was
The captain ~~as well as the rest of the crew members~~ was...
The captain -- was expected to remain on the ship.
The old house on the hill, which has been empty for decades and contains many broken windows, ________ (look) spooky at night.
looks
The old house ~~on the hill, which has been empty...~~ looks...
The old house -- looks spooky at night.
Identify the mistake in the following sentence:
The results of the study, including the data from the final three months, shows a significant increase in productivity.
show
The results ~~of the study, including the data...~~ show...
The results show -- a significant increase in productivity.
The classic children’s board game Chutes and Ladders is a version of an ancient Nepalese game, Paramapada Sopanapata. In both games, players encounter “good” or “bad” spaces while traveling along a path; landing on one of the good spaces ______ a player to skip ahead and arrive closer to the end goal.
A. allows
B. are allowing
C. have allowed
D. allow
Choice A is the best answer. The convention being tested is subject–verb agreement. The singular verb “allows” agrees in number with the singular subject “landing.”
Choice B is incorrect because the plural verb “are allowing” doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject “landing.”
Choice C is incorrect because the plural verb “have allowed” doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject “landing.”
Choice D is incorrect because the plural verb “allow” doesn’t agree in number with the singular subject “landing.”