Agreement of Subjects and Verbs Exercises: Mastering the Fundamentals of Grammar
Proper agreement of subjects and verbs is a critical skill in the English language. A subject and verb must agree in number and person for a sentence to make sense. If there is no agreement, it will result in a grammatically incorrect sentence, which can be confusing and difficult to read.
To improve your understanding of subject-verb agreement, here are some exercises to help you master the fundamentals of grammar:
Exercise 1: Singular and Plural Verbs
Identify the correct verb to use in the sentences below:
1. Mary _____ (is/are) a talented artist.
2. The boys _____ (plays/play) soccer every Saturday.
3. The book on the table _____ (belongs/belong) to me.
4. The committee _____ (was/were) divided on the issue.
5. The choir _____ (sings/sing) beautifully.
Answers:
1. is
2. play
3. belongs
4. was
5. sings
Exercise 2: Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns such as everyone, anybody, and some can be tricky to match with the correct verb. Fill in the blanks correctly with the correct verb:
1. Everyone _____ (has/have) a right to their own opinion.
2. Somebody _____ (is/are) coming to the party.
3. Each of the students _____ (has/have) their own locker.
4. Some of the cake _____ (was/were) left over from the party.
5. None of the food _____ (was/were) appealing to me.
Answers:
1. has
2. is
3. has
4. was
5. was
Exercise 3: Subject-Verb Agreement with Compound Subjects
When two or more subjects are joined by and, the verb must be plural. Identify the correct verb in the following sentences:
1. Lily and her sisters _____ (enjoy/enjoys) going to the park.
2. The book, pencil, and notebook _____ (is/are) on the desk.
3. Neither the teacher nor the students _____ (likes/like) pop quizzes.
4. My friends and I _____ (was/were) late for the movie.
5. Pasta with marinara sauce and meatballs _____ (is/are) my favorite meal.
Answers:
1. enjoy
2. are
3. like
4. were
5. is
Exercise 4: Special Cases of Subject-Verb Agreement
Some subjects do not follow the usual rules of subject-verb agreement, such as collective nouns, titles, and phrases starting with there. Choose the correct verb to use in the following:
1. The committee _____ (is/are) discussing the new regulations.
2. The audience _____ (was/were) clapping loudly.
3. The band _____ (was/were) playing their new album.
4. There _____ (is/are) too many people in the store.
5. The staff _____ (is/are) being trained on new protocols.
Answers:
1. is
2. was
3. was
4. are
5. is
It`s important to note that mastering subject-verb agreement takes practice and patience. By becoming familiar with the different scenarios you might encounter, you`ll be better equipped to structure your thoughts into coherent sentences. Keep these exercises in mind as you write and edit your work, and you`ll find yourself becoming more confident and skilled in your use of grammar.
