Subject-Verb Agreement Exercises

Front

What is subject-verb agreement?

Back

Subject-verb agreement is the grammatical rule that the subject of a sentence must agree in number (singular or plural) with its verb.

Front

When do you use a singular verb with compound subjects joined by 'or'?

Back

Use a singular verb when the compound subjects are joined by 'or' and the subject closest to the verb is singular.

Front

Example of subject-verb agreement with 'either/or':

Back

Either the cat or the dog (is) barking.

Front

When do you use a plural verb with compound subjects joined by 'and'?

Back

Use a plural verb when the compound subjects are joined by 'and'.

Front

Example of subject-verb agreement with 'and':

Back

Annie and her brothers (are) at school.

Front

What is the rule for subjects separated by phrases?

Back

When a subject is separated from its verb by a phrase, the verb should agree with the main subject, not the noun in the phrase.

Front

Example of subject-verb agreement with a phrase:

Back

The man with all the birds (lives) on my street.

Front

What is the rule for collective nouns?

Back

Collective nouns can take either singular or plural verbs depending on whether the group acts as a single unit or as individuals.

Front

Example of collective noun usage:

Back

The team (are) arguing among themselves.

Front

What is the rule for subjects with 'as well as'?

Back

When a subject is followed by 'as well as', the verb agrees with the first subject.