Subject/Verb Agreement Quiz: Can You Pass?

1. Many of my friends __________good skaters.

Is

Are

Remember--
Ignore the prepositional phrase between your subject and verb
Many is a plural indefinite pronoun.

Explanation

Remember--
Ignore the prepositional phrase between your subject and verb
Many is a plural indefinite pronoun.

2. _____________my boss or my sisters in the union going to win this grievance?

Is

Are

When or is used between two subjects, you choose the closest subject in order to decide if the verb should be singular or plural

Explanation

When or is used between two subjects, you choose the closest subject in order to decide if the verb should be singular or plural

3. Everybody _______ welcome at the skating party.

Is

Are

Remember that the word everybody is an indefinite pronoun. Indefinite pronouns with the words--body, one, or thing in them are singular and use a singular verb.

Explanation

Remember that the word everybody is an indefinite pronoun. Indefinite pronouns with the words--body, one, or thing in them are singular and use a singular verb.

4. Either the physicians in this hospital or the chief administrator ________ going to have to make a decision.

Is

Are

When using either/or, pick the closes subject to decide whether to use the singular or plural verb. The correct verb form to use is "is" because "the chief administrator" is the subject closer to the verb and is singular.

Explanation

When using either/or, pick the closes subject to decide whether to use the singular or plural verb. The correct verb form to use is "is" because "the chief administrator" is the subject closer to the verb and is singular.

5. I hope nobody ______________to bring skates.

Forgets

Forget

Nobody is a singular indefinite pronoun (remember indefinite pronouns that have the words--body, one and thing are singular).
An-s- is added to make a singular action verb in present tense.

Explanation

Nobody is a singular indefinite pronoun (remember indefinite pronouns that have the words--body, one and thing are singular).
An-s- is added to make a singular action verb in present tense.

6. Some of the votes __________________________to have been miscounted.

Seem

Seems

Ignore the prepositional phrase in order to find your subject and verb. Also, the indefinite pronoun some can be singular or plural; you have to look at the word that it is referring to ---votes--to decide if you need a singular or plural verb.

Explanation

Ignore the prepositional phrase in order to find your subject and verb. Also, the indefinite pronoun some can be singular or plural; you have to look at the word that it is referring to ---votes--to decide if you need a singular or plural verb.

7. All of us _______________the music at the skating rink.

Enjoys

Enjoy

The correct verb form in the sentence "All of us enjoy the music at the skating rink" is "enjoy" because the subject "All of us" is plural. In English, plural subjects take the base form of the verb without an "s" at the end. Using "enjoys" would be incorrect as it is the third person singular form of the verb, appropriate for singular subjects like "he" or "she."

Explanation

The correct verb form in the sentence "All of us enjoy the music at the skating rink" is "enjoy" because the subject "All of us" is plural. In English, plural subjects take the base form of the verb without an "s" at the end. Using "enjoys" would be incorrect as it is the third person singular form of the verb, appropriate for singular subjects like "he" or "she."

8. Some of the grain ____________to be contaminated.

Appear

Appears

Ignore the prepositional phrase in the sentence and remember that the word some is an indefinite pronoun and can be singular or plural. You have to decide based on the word that it is referring to--grain.

Explanation

Ignore the prepositional phrase in the sentence and remember that the word some is an indefinite pronoun and can be singular or plural. You have to decide based on the word that it is referring to--grain.

9. The tornadoes that tear through this county every spring ____________more than just a nuisance.

Are

Is

ignore the dependent clause in the sentence to find your subject and verb

Explanation

ignore the dependent clause in the sentence to find your subject and verb

10. Most of the music__________________popular dance music.

Is

Are

Ignore the prepositional phrase to find the subject and verb.
Most is an indefinite pronoun that can be either singular or plural. Find the word that it is referring to and decide if it is singular or plural.

Explanation

Ignore the prepositional phrase to find the subject and verb.
Most is an indefinite pronoun that can be either singular or plural. Find the word that it is referring to and decide if it is singular or plural.

11. Kara Wolters, together with her teammates, _________a formidable opponent on the basketball court.

Presents

Present

The sentence "Kara Wolters, together with her teammates," uses "together with her teammates" as a prepositional phrase, which does not change the number of the subject. The main subject of the sentence is "Kara Wolters," which is singular. Therefore, the verb should also be singular to match the subject

Explanation

The sentence "Kara Wolters, together with her teammates," uses "together with her teammates" as a prepositional phrase, which does not change the number of the subject. The main subject of the sentence is "Kara Wolters," which is singular. Therefore, the verb should also be singular to match the subject

12. One of my brothers _____________ tomatoes every year.

Plants

Plant

The sentence "One of my brothers" indicates that the subject of the sentence is singular ("one"), so the verb should also be in the singular form, which is "plants." This agrees with the singular subject to maintain proper subject-verb agreement.

Explanation

The sentence "One of my brothers" indicates that the subject of the sentence is singular ("one"), so the verb should also be in the singular form, which is "plants." This agrees with the singular subject to maintain proper subject-verb agreement.