Subject/Verb Agreement
(2)
Name ______________________________________ Date __________________ Period _____
Singular Subjects
The following pronouns are ___________________ and take ___________________ verbs:
each
either
neither
one
anyone
everyone
no one
someone
anybody
everybody
nobody
somebody
Examples:
a. Neither [of the two candidates] (was / were) present.
b. Each [of these shirts] (cost / costs) twelve dollars.
Exercise A ~ Circle the form of the verb in parentheses that agrees with the subject.
1. Either of the disc jockeys ( have / has ) brought the records.
2. Neither of my sisters ( enjoys / enjoy ) gardening.
3. Neither of my brothers ( have / has ) a car.
4. One of my cousins ( watch / watches ) videos every day.
5. Each of the marchers ( was / were ) carrying a sign.
6. No one ( believes / believe ) that his plants will actually produce vegetables.
7. In the corner ( stands / stand ) one of the disgruntled suspects.
8. Everybody in Mr. Cooper’s and Mrs. Oliver’s classes ( files / file ) down to the lab.
9. Everyone in the family ( hope / hopes ) he will go on to college.
10. Every one of the tantalizing cakes ( is / are ) gone.
11. Nobody ( knows / know ) why the neighbors moved out so quickly.
12. Each of the girls (sing / sings ) well.
13. Each of us ( pull / pulls ) obtrusive weeds in the garden every day.
14. Each one of Dickens’ novels ( was / were ) read eagerly in the United States.
15. One of the advantages of learning a foreign language ( is / are ) the ability to read the
literature of that language.
16. Everybody ( is / are ) quite likely to have some trouble with accents, too.
17. Either of my grandparents ( drive / drives ) the car.
18. Anyone in a field of knowledge ( are / is ) expected to keep informed in that field.
19. Neither of the plays ( was / were ) very interesting.
20. Someone in the next room ( has / have ) broken the mirror in the hall.
Plural Subjects
The following pronouns are __________________ and take ___________________ verbs:
both
few several
many
Examples:
a. Both [of the maples] [in our front yard] (turn / turns) red in the fall.
b. Many [of the group] (prefer / prefers) reading to partying.
Exercise B ~ Circle the form of the verb in parentheses that agrees with the subject.
1. Several of the novels by this author ( is / are ) interesting to young people.
2. Many ( find / finds ) Spanish a useful language to know.
3. Many of my classmates ( like / likes ) to read Greek myths.
4. Several ( prefer / prefers ) the legends of Hercules, the great hero.
5. A few of the students ( stages / stage ) a myth every year.
6. Both of the strongest boys in the class ( wants / want ) to be Hercules.
7. Several, however, ( seems / seem ) to prefer the myths involving the gods and
goddesses.
8. Both of the girls with long hair ( want / wants ) to cut it.
9. Many of the boys ( are / is ) hoping to play football this year.
10. Few in our class ( like / likes ) the idea of impersonating Hades, the god of the
underworld.
11. Many ( think / thinks ) that living on Mount Olympus would be high adventure.
12. In the storage closet ( is / are ) the decorations for the holiday.
13. Several with extra time ( have / has ) offered to create sets.
14. Both of my pen pals ( write / writes ) to me regularly.
15. Many in our group ( is / are ) entering the lucrative contest.
Singular or Plural Subjects
The following pronouns may be either ___________________ or ___________________:
all
any
most
none
some
Note: This is an exception to the first rule you learned about prepositional phrases because
the number of the pronoun must be determined by the prepositional phrase following it.
Examples:
a. Most of the day (is / are) over.
b. Most of the children (was / were) crying.
Exercise C ~ Circle the form of the verb in parentheses that agrees with the subject.
1. Some of the restaurants ( offers / offer ) special menus for children.
2. All of her coworkers ( has / have ) had the same work schedule.
3. ( Is / Are ) any of the pie left on the plate?
4. Most of the applicants on the list ( qualify / qualifies ) for the job.
5. None of the flights seem to ( arrive / arrives ) on time.
6. All of the band members ( want / wants ) to record a hit song.
7. ( Is / Are ) any of the bread stale?
8. Most of the computerized systems ( is / are ) fun to use.
9. Most of that song ( is / are ) repetitious.
10. Some of the athletes ( like / likes ) to compete against other schools.
11. All of the airlines ( offer / offers ) a hot dinner on their evening flights.
12. All of the jurors ( agree / agrees ) that the defendant is innocent.
13. Some of the theatre students ( work / works ) backstage.
14. Most of the problem ( stems / stem ) from a lack of resources on the land.
15. Some of the money ( were / was ) used to erect a hospital for children.
______________________________ MIXED PRACTICE ______________________________
1. Everyone in my neighborhood (plan / plans) to join the block association.
2. Both of the coaches (work / works) with us every afternoon after school.
3. Neither of those roads (lead / leads) to our favorite campsite.
4. No one at the meeting (know / knows) what time the guest speaker will arrive.
5. Some of my baseball cards (is / are ) valuable.
6. Several of the experts (doubt / doubts) the wisdom of taking huge doses of vitamins.
7. None of the blasé dogs (have / has) learned new tricks.
8. Most of the windows in the old house (is / are) broken.
9. Each of the managers (hire / hires) students for summer jobs.
10. Somebody with good handwriting skills (write / writes) on the board.