Subject-Verb Agreement Exercises:

Answers and Explanations

There (doesn’t/don’t) seem to be any people from Scandinavia present.

“There” postpones the subject, so look for it after the verb.

We can eliminate “from Scandinavia,” since that’s a prepositional phrase.

That leaves us with “people” as the subject. People doesn’t? Or People don’t?

There There don’tdon’t seem to be any seem to be any people from Scandinavia presentpeople from Scandinavia present..

Jasper National Park, with its natural beauty and Jasper National Park, with its natural beauty and year-round schedule of activities, (attract/attracts) year-round schedule of activities, (attract/attracts) visitors from all over the world.visitors from all over the world.

We can eliminate “with its . . .,” since that’s a prepositional phrase. These are simply intervening words that need to be ignored.

That leaves us with “Jasper National Park” as the subject.

The park attract? Or the park attracts?

Jasper National Park, with its natural beauty Jasper National Park, with its natural beauty and year-round schedule of activities, and year-round schedule of activities, attractsattracts visitors from all over the world. visitors from all over the world.

Neither of the passengers (was/were) Neither of the passengers (was/were) able to help the driver with directions.able to help the driver with directions.

We can eliminate “of the passengers,” since this is a prepositional phrase.

So the subject is “neither.” “Neither” is singular (always think of it as “neither

one”). Neither one was? Neither one were?

Neither of the passengers Neither of the passengers waswas able to help able to help the driver with directions.the driver with directions.

Local interest in international commodities Local interest in international commodities (is/are) increasing.(is/are) increasing.

We can eliminate “in international commodities,” since that is a prepositional phrase.

The subject, then, is “local interest.” Local interest is? Local interest are?

Local interest in international Local interest in international commodities commodities isis increasing. increasing.

This sentence follows the “agreement with the closest subject rule.”

Eliminate the first part: not only the pupil but also. The instructor was? The instructor were?

Not only the pupil but also the instructor Not only the pupil but also the instructor waswas exhausted at the end of the day. exhausted at the end of the day.

Not only the pupil but also the instructor Not only the pupil but also the instructor (was/were) exhausted at the end of the day.(was/were) exhausted at the end of the day.

Eliminate “of hanging flowers”: this is a prepositional phrase, so ignore it.

The basket add? The basket adds?

The basket of hanging The basket of hanging flowers flowers addsadds a decorative a decorative touch to the balcony.touch to the balcony.

The basket of hanging flowers (add/adds) The basket of hanging flowers (add/adds) a decorative touch to the balcony.a decorative touch to the balcony.

Ignore “as well as the desk clerk.” It doesn’t use the word “and,” so it doesn’t make the subject plural. It’s just intervening words to be ignored.

The porter was? The porter were?

The porter, as well as the desk clerk, The porter, as well as the desk clerk, waswas unsure of the man’s whereabouts. unsure of the man’s whereabouts.

The porter, as well as the desk clerk, The porter, as well as the desk clerk, (was/were) unsure of the man’s (was/were) unsure of the man’s whereabouts.whereabouts.

Ignore “of my biggest problems.” It’s a prepositional phrase: it modifies the subject, but it’s not the subject itself. It’s just intervening words to be ignored.

One is? One are?

One of my biggest problems One of my biggest problems isis subject-verb agreement. subject-verb agreement.

One of my biggest problems (is/are) One of my biggest problems (is/are) subject-verb agreement.subject-verb agreement.

The word “and” combines the two nouns and makes the subject plural. (If it helps you to get the verb right, think of plurals as “they.”)

They make? They makes?

The owl and the loon The owl and the loon makemake their home in the region.their home in the region.

The owl and the loon (make/makes) The owl and the loon (make/makes) their home in the region.their home in the region.

“Each” is singular. It doesn’t actually matter that “hand and foot” is plural: “each,” coming in front of the subject, takes precedence.

Think of “each” as “each one.”

Each one leave? Each one leaves?

Each human hand and foot Each human hand and foot leavesleaves a distinctive print. a distinctive print.

Each human hand and foot (leave/leaves) Each human hand and foot (leave/leaves) a distinctive print.a distinctive print.

When “each” comes after the subject, ignore it.

“And” makes the subject plural: they.

They expect? They expects?

My uncle and my nephew each My uncle and my nephew each expectexpect to catch the biggest fish. to catch the biggest fish.

My uncle and my nephew each (expect/expects) My uncle and my nephew each (expect/expects) to catch the biggest fish.to catch the biggest fish.

“Every” means “every ONE.” It makes the subject singular.

“As well as” doesn’t make the subject plural (only “and” can do that.) So ignore the intervening words.

Every one experience? Every one experiences?

Every adult, as well as most Every adult, as well as most children, children, experiencesexperiences some anxiety. some anxiety.

Every adult, as well as most children, Every adult, as well as most children, (experience/experiences) some anxiety.(experience/experiences) some anxiety.

“Each” is singular. It doesn’t actually matter that “freshman, sophomore, and junior” is plural: “each,” coming in front of the subject, takes precedence.

Think of “each” as “each one.”

Each one is? Each one are?

Each freshman, sophomore, and junior Each freshman, sophomore, and junior isis asked to contribute to the project. asked to contribute to the project.

Each freshman, sophomore, and junior Each freshman, sophomore, and junior (is/are) asked to contribute to the project.(is/are) asked to contribute to the project.

Ignore intervening words.

The subject is “nervousness.”

Nervousness take? Nervousness takes?

Nervousness, sometimes a sign of other Nervousness, sometimes a sign of other disorders, often disorders, often takestakes several forms. several forms.

Nervousness, sometimes a sign of other Nervousness, sometimes a sign of other disorders, often (take/takes) several forms.disorders, often (take/takes) several forms.

“There” postpones the subject, so look for it after the verb.

Eliminate the prepositional phrases: “of children,” “in the fields,” and “behind the house.”

Ignore “playing”: it’s a verbal. “A group” is the subject.

“Group” is a collective noun: it’s singular.

There There isis a group of children playing a group of children playing in the fields behind the house.in the fields behind the house.

There (is/are) a group of children playing There (is/are) a group of children playing in the fields behind the house.in the fields behind the house.

Eliminate the prepositional phrase: “about those intersections.”

“Everything” is the subject.

Everything is? Everything are?

Everything about those Everything about those intersections intersections isis dangerous. dangerous.

Everything about those intersections Everything about those intersections (is/are) dangerous.(is/are) dangerous.

“The jury” is the subject.

It’s a collective noun.

Collective nouns are singular. You can test for the correct verb by substituting a singular pronoun: he, she, or it.

It remain faithful? It remains faithful?

The jury The jury remainsremains faithful to its pledge faithful to its pledge of fairness and confidentiality.of fairness and confidentiality.

The jury (remain/remains) faithful to its The jury (remain/remains) faithful to its pledge of fairness and confidentiality.pledge of fairness and confidentiality.

Ignore the prepositional phrase, “of the Rockies.”

The grandeur is? The grandeur are?

The grandeur of the The grandeur of the Rockies Rockies isis a major factor a major factor in the park’s popularity.in the park’s popularity.

The grandeur of the Rockies (is/are) a The grandeur of the Rockies (is/are) a major factor in the park’s popularity.major factor in the park’s popularity.

The pronoun “who” is the subject of the dependent clause. It’s neither singular nor plural, so it can’t help with the verb choice.

We need to go to the antecedent to answer the singular/plural question.

The antecedent for “who” is “journalists.” (Structurally, “who” must refer back to the closest available antecedent.)

Journalists write? Journalists writes?

Franklin is one of the journalists who Franklin is one of the journalists who often often writewrite editorials. editorials.

Franklin is one of the journalists who Franklin is one of the journalists who often (write/writes) editorials.often (write/writes) editorials.

The pronoun “who” is the subject of the dependent clause. It’s neither singular nor plural, so it can’t help with the verb choice. We need to go to the antecedent to answer the singular/plural question.

The antecedent for “who” is “sisters.” (Structurally, “who” must refer back to the closest available antecedent.)

Sisters travel? Sisters travels?

Melissa is the only one of the sisters who Melissa is the only one of the sisters who traveltravel regularly to New York. regularly to New York.

Melissa is the only one of the sisters who Melissa is the only one of the sisters who (travel/travels) regularly to New York.(travel/travels) regularly to New York.

The subject of the sentence is “twenty-five cents.”

Sums of money are, according to the rules of grammar, treated as singular. (Substitute the pronoun “it.”)

It does not? It do not?

Twenty-five cents Twenty-five cents does notdoes not buy much these days.buy much these days.

Twenty-five cents (does not/do not) Twenty-five cents (does not/do not) buy much these days.buy much these days.

Ignore the modifier, “each morning,” and ignore the prepositional phrase, “of open coastline.”

Distances are, according to the rules of grammar, treated as singular. (Substitute the pronoun “it.”)

It spread out? It spreads out?

Each morning, eight kilometers of open Each morning, eight kilometers of open coastline coastline spreadsspreads out before his view. out before his view.

Each morning, eight kilometers of open coastline Each morning, eight kilometers of open coastline (spread/spreads) out before his view.(spread/spreads) out before his view.

“One-third” is the subject. (“Of the students” is, of course, a prepositional phrase.)

Fractions may be single or plural, depending on what they refer to. In this case, the fraction refers to several students. Since it refers to more than one, it’s plural.

One-third of the students One-third of the students feelfeel that that the teacher is asking too much.the teacher is asking too much.

One-third of the students (feel/feels) that One-third of the students (feel/feels) that the teacher is asking too much.the teacher is asking too much.

“One-third” is the subject. (“Of the swimming pool” is, of course, a prepositional phrase.)

Fractions may be single or plural, depending on what they are fractions of. In this case, we have a fractional portion of a swimming pool—one single thing.

In this case, the fraction is singular.

One-third of the swimming pool desperately One-third of the swimming pool desperately needsneeds to be refurbished. to be refurbished.

One-third of the swimming pool desperately One-third of the swimming pool desperately (need/needs) to(need/needs) to be refurbished.be refurbished.

The subject is “physics.”

Titles of school subjects are, by definition, singular.

Replace with the singular pronoun “it” to test for the right verb: It sound? It sounds?

Physics Physics soundssounds like a very like a very interesting course to take this year.interesting course to take this year.

Physics (sound/sounds) like a very Physics (sound/sounds) like a very interesting course to take this year.interesting course to take this year.

The subject is “the media.”

“Media” is a collective noun, and therefore singular.

In this sentence, not only the verb but also the pronoun needs to be made singular.

The media The media downplaysdownplays the significance the significance of of itsits presence at the event. presence at the event.

The media (downplay/downplays) the The media (downplay/downplays) the significance of their presence at the event.significance of their presence at the event.

The subject is “statistics.”

“Statistics” is plural.

You can substitute the plural pronoun “they” to test for the right verb. They reveal? They reveals?

Statistics Statistics revealreveal several alarming several alarming trends regarding global warming.trends regarding global warming.

Statistics (reveal/reveals) several alarming Statistics (reveal/reveals) several alarming trends regarding global warming.trends regarding global warming.

The subject is “glasses.”

“Glasses” is plural.

You can substitute the plural pronoun “they” to test for the right verb. They make? They makes?

My brother’s new glasses My brother’s new glasses makemake him look like a librarian.him look like a librarian.

My brother’s new glasses (make/makes) My brother’s new glasses (make/makes) him look like a librarian.him look like a librarian.

The subject is “pair.” (“Winter gloves” isn’t it, since “winter gloves” is the object of the preposition “of.”)

“Pair” is a collective noun. Collective nouns are singular.

My pair of winter gloves My pair of winter gloves hasn’thasn’t been seen since been seen since we moved in March.we moved in March.

My pair of winter gloves (haven’t/hasn’t) My pair of winter gloves (haven’t/hasn’t) been seen since we moved in March.been seen since we moved in March.

“The Seven Samurai” is a title. Titles are singular.

Akiro Kurosawa’s Akiro Kurosawa’s The Seven The Seven SamuraiSamurai remainsremains a landmark film. a landmark film.

Akiro Kurosawa’s Akiro Kurosawa’s The Seven SamuraiThe Seven Samurai (remain/remains) a landmark film.(remain/remains) a landmark film.

We can eliminate “to these incidents,” since this is a prepositional phrase.

So the subject is “the reaction.”

The reaction was? The reaction were?

The reaction to these incidents The reaction to these incidents waswas quick and angry. quick and angry.

The reaction to these incidents The reaction to these incidents (was/were) quick and angry.(was/were) quick and angry.

We can eliminate “of the passengers,” since this is a prepositional phrase.

So the subject is “each.”Each is singular.Each one has? Each one have?

Each of the passengers Each of the passengers hashas a headphone. a headphone.

Each of the passengers Each of the passengers (has/have) a headphone.(has/have) a headphone.

“Controlled substances” is the subject.

In this case, it’s not plural, because it’s a name or a title (in this case, a name for illegal drugs).

Titles are singular.

ControlIed substancesControlIed substances isis a a euphemism for illegal drugs.euphemism for illegal drugs.

ControlIed substancesControlIed substances (is/are) (is/are) a euphemism for illegal drugs.a euphemism for illegal drugs.

The pronoun “that” is the subject of the dependent clause. It’s neither singular nor plural, so it can’t help with the verb choice.

We need to go to the antecedent to answer the singular/plural question.

The antecedent for “that” is “things.” (Structurally, “that” must refer back to the closest available antecedent.)

Things set? Things sets?

Our facility with language is one of the Our facility with language is one of the things that things that setset us apart from animals. us apart from animals.

Our facility with language is one of the things Our facility with language is one of the things that (set/sets) us apart from animals.that (set/sets) us apart from animals.

“There” postpones the subject, so look for it after the verb.

We can eliminate “of twenty volunteers,” since that’s a prepositional phrase.

The subject is “a social worker and a crew.” The word “and” combines these into a plural subject. (Substitute “they” to check the verb.)

They was? They were?

There There werewere a social worker and a social worker and a crew of twenty volunteers.a crew of twenty volunteers.

There (was/were) a social worker and There (was/were) a social worker and a crew of twenty volunteers.a crew of twenty volunteers.

Where’s the subject? It’s not “at the front” or “of the orchestra”—these are prepositional phrases.

The usual word order in this sentence is inverted. The subject comes after the verb.

The word “and” joins the words “the concertmaster” and “the pianist” and makes the subject plural.

They sit? They sits?At the front of the orchestra At the front of the orchestra sitsit the the concertmaster and the pianist.concertmaster and the pianist.

At the front of the orchestra (sit/sits) At the front of the orchestra (sit/sits) the concertmaster and the pianist.the concertmaster and the pianist.

This may sound wrong to you, but it is correct. Change the sentence to the more standard word order, and it will sound fine: The concertmaster and the pianistThe concertmaster and the pianist sitsit at the front of the at the front of the orchestra.orchestra.

We can eliminate “of the children,” since this is a prepositional phrase.

So the subject is “none.”

“None” (not one) is singular.

Not one have? Not one has?

None of the children who were absent None of the children who were absent yesterday yesterday hashas returned to school. returned to school.

None of the children who were absent None of the children who were absent yesterday (have/has) returned to school.yesterday (have/has) returned to school.

(In case you’re wondering, “were” is plural, because it agrees with “who,” which stands in for the plural antecedent “children.”)

We can eliminate “in Japan,” since this is a prepositional phrase.

The subject is “company.”

“Company” is a collective noun.

Collective nouns are singular.

In Japan, a company often In Japan, a company often requiresrequires people to carry business cards.people to carry business cards.

In Japan, a company often (require/requires) In Japan, a company often (require/requires) people to carry business cards.people to carry business cards.

“There” postpones the subject, so look for it after the verb.

We can eliminate “of jeans” and “on the market,” since these are prepositional phrases.

The subject is “styles.”

Styles is? Styles are?

There There areare many different styles many different styles of jeans on the market.of jeans on the market.

There (is/are) many different styles There (is/are) many different styles of jeans on the market.of jeans on the market.

“As well as” can’t make the subject plural—only “and” can—so ignore these intervening words entirely.

The important word is “every,” which is singular.

Every one need? Every one needs?

Every bird, as well as most Every bird, as well as most reptiles, reptiles, needsneeds to build nests. to build nests.

Every bird, as well as most reptiles, Every bird, as well as most reptiles, (need/needs) to build nests.(need/needs) to build nests.

Los Angeles Times, which is the subject, sounds plural, but it’s not. It’s a name. Names are singular.

Use the singular pronoun “it” to test for the right verb.

It publish? It publishes?

The The Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times publishespublishes a number of investigative reports.a number of investigative reports.

The The Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times (publish/publishes) a (publish/publishes) a number of investigative reports.number of investigative reports.

We can ignore “countries,” since it’s the object of the preposition “of.”

“Community” is the subject. It is a collective noun.

Collective nouns are singular.

The European community of countries The European community of countries tendstends to work cooperatively. to work cooperatively.

The European community of countries The European community of countries (tend/tends) to work cooperatively.(tend/tends) to work cooperatively.

We can ignore “in the bag” and “on the floor,” since they are prepositional phrases.

“Books” is the subject.

Books belong? Books belongs?

The books in the bag on the floor The books in the bag on the floor belongbelong to my Brazilian friend. to my Brazilian friend.

The books in the bag on the floor The books in the bag on the floor (belong/belongs) to my Brazilian friend.(belong/belongs) to my Brazilian friend.

“Neither/nor” constructions follow the “agreement with the closest subject” rule.

“Neither my sister nor her friends” is the subject. The part the verb has to agree with is “her friends.”

Her friends have? Her friends has?

Neither my sister nor her friends Neither my sister nor her friends havehave any interest in mountain-climbing.any interest in mountain-climbing.

Neither my sister nor her friends (have/has) Neither my sister nor her friends (have/has) any interest in mountain-climbing.any interest in mountain-climbing.

“Either/or” constructions follow the “agreement with the closest subject” rule.

“Either the cook, the chauffeur, or the twins from Idaho” is the subject. The part the verb has to agree with is “the twins.” (Ignore “from Idaho”—that’s a prepositional phrase.)

The twins is? The twins are?

Either the cook, the chauffeur, or the Either the cook, the chauffeur, or the twins from Idaho twins from Idaho areare seeking revenge. seeking revenge.

Either the cook, the chauffeur, or the twins Either the cook, the chauffeur, or the twins from Idaho (is/are) seeking revenge.from Idaho (is/are) seeking revenge.

Ignore “of the answers,” because that’s a prepositional phrase.

The subject is “none.” “None” (not one) is singular.

Not one seem? Not one seems?

None of my answers None of my answers seemsseems to be correct. to be correct.

None of my answers (seem/seems) None of my answers (seem/seems) to be correct.to be correct.

Ignore “in the band,” because that’s a prepositional phrase.

The subject is “everyone.” “Everyone” (every ONE) is singular.

Everyone want? Everyone wants?

Nearly everyone in the Nearly everyone in the band band wantswants the school to the school to purchase new uniforms.purchase new uniforms.

Nearly everyone in the band (want/wants) Nearly everyone in the band (want/wants) the school to purchase new uniforms.the school to purchase new uniforms.