This is grade school
My best friend (is / are) in the library right now.
✅ Answer: My best friend is in the library.
(Rule: Singular subject → singular verb.
The library books (is / are) neatly arranged on the shelves.
✅ Answer: The library books are neatly arranged on the shelves.
(Rule: Plural subject → plural verb.)
Not only the honors student but also her friends (has / have) been invited to the academic symposium.
✅ Answer: Not only the honors student but also her friends have been invited to the academic symposium.
(Rule: With “not only… but also…,” verb agrees with the noun closest — “friends” is plural.)
Either the series of lectures on medieval literature or the panel discussions on modern novels (is / are) drawing the largest crowd.
✅ Answer: Either the series of lectures on medieval literature or the panel discussions on modern novels are drawing the largest crowd.
(Rules: “Either…or…” — verb agrees with closest noun “discussions” (plural); “series” is singular but not the deciding subject.)
Either the team of debaters, which has been practicing for weeks, or the captains of the rival schools (is / are) presenting first at the regional competition.
✅ Answer: Either the team of debaters, which has been practicing for weeks, or the captains of the rival schools are presenting first at the regional competition.
(Rules: “Either…or…” → verb agrees with closest noun “captains” (plural); collective noun “team” is singular but irrelevant; intervening clause is ignored.)
The teachers (checks / check) the exam papers every Friday.
✅ Answer: The teachers check the exam papers every Friday.
(Rule: Plural subject → plural verb.)
My homework (is / are) on the teacher’s desk.
✅ Answer: My homework is on the teacher’s desk.
(Rule: “Homework” is uncountable → singular verb.)
The minutes of the meeting (was / were) distributed to all club members.
✅ Answer: The minutes of the meeting were distributed to all club members.
(Rule: “Minutes” in this sense is plural, even though it’s a single record.)
The committee, which meets every Friday, (has / have) agreed that the members should research separately before the next debate.
✅ Answer: The committee, which meets every Friday, have agreed that the members should research separately before the next debate.
(Rules: Collective noun acting individually → plural; intervening clause doesn’t change number.)
Not only the committee on academic integrity but also the council members, who represent different departments, (was / were) asked to review the plagiarism cases.
✅ Answer: Not only the committee on academic integrity but also the council members, who represent different departments, were asked to review the plagiarism cases.
(Rules: “Not only…but also…” → verb matches “members” (plural); “committee” is singular but overridden; relative clause doesn’t change number.)
Our class (has / have) a field trip scheduled next month.
✅ Answer: Our class has a field trip scheduled next month.
(Rule: Collective noun as one unit → singular verb.)
They (play / plays) basketball after school.
✅ Answer: They play basketball after school.
(Rule: Plural pronoun → plural verb without “-s.”)
Neither Shakespeare’s tragedies nor his comedies (captures / capture) the complete range of his wit.
✅ Answer: Neither Shakespeare’s tragedies nor his comedies capture the complete range of his wit.
(Rule: “Neither… nor…” agrees with the noun closest — “comedies” is plural.)
Not only the plays of Sophocles but also the poetry of Homer (was / were) discussed in yesterday’s literature seminar.
✅ Answer: Not only the plays of Sophocles but also the poetry of Homer was discussed in yesterday’s literature seminar.
(Rules: Verb agrees with noun closest — “poetry” is singular; “not only…but also…” structure.)
Here (is / are) a list of the students who have qualified for the literary quiz bee finals.
✅ Answer: Here is a list of the students who have qualified for the literary quiz bee finals.
(Rules: “Here” → verb agrees with subject “list” (singular); plural noun “students” in modifying phrase is ignored; sentence-inversion trap.)
She (writes / write) for the school newspaper.
✅ Answer: She writes for the school newspaper.
(Rule: Singular pronoun → singular verb with “-s” in present tense.
The bell (rings / ring) at exactly 7:30 a.m.
✅ Answer: The bell rings at exactly 7:30 a.m.
(Rule: Singular noun → singular verb with “-s.”)
Five kilometers (is / are) a long distance to walk between classes.
✅ Answer: Five kilometers is a long distance to walk between classes.
(Rule: Expressions of measurement as a whole → singular verb.)
The number of students who have registered for the writing workshop (is / are) surprising.
✅ Answer: The number of students who have registered for the writing workshop is surprising.
(Rules: “The number of…” → singular verb; plural noun “students” inside phrase doesn’t affect it.)
A number of applicants, along with their mentors, (is / are) preparing presentations for the university fair.
✅ Answer: A number of applicants, along with their mentors, are preparing presentations for the university fair.
(Rules: “A number of…” → plural verb; intervening phrase doesn’t affect verb; compound noun “mentors” doesn’t determine agreement.)
The principal (was / were) at the student assembly yesterday.
✅ Answer: The principal was at the student assembly yesterday.
(Rule: Singular subject in past tense → “was.”)
We (was / were) excited for the school fair.
✅ Answer: We were excited for the school fair.
(Rule: Plural subject in past tense → “were.”)
The faculty, along with the student council, (is / are) planning the literary festival.
✅ Answer: The faculty, along with the student council, is planning the literary festival.
(Rule: Intervening phrase does not affect number — “faculty” here is treated as one unit.)
Here (comes / come) the winners of the interschool essay contest.
✅ Answer: Here come the winners of the interschool essay contest.
(Rules: “Here” — verb agrees with subject “winners” (plural); sentence-inversion trap.)
The faculty, not the students or the alumni, (decides / decide) whether the literary festival will include international authors.
✅ Answer: The faculty, not the students or the alumni, decides whether the literary festival will include international authors.
(Rules: Positive phrase “faculty” is the subject → singular verb; “not” phrase is ignored; “faculty” here treated as one unit.)