Grammar
Grammar Rules
1. Subject verb agreement
10. Questions
2. Articles and determiners
11. Modals
3. Quantifiers
12. Conditionals
4. Intensifiers
13. Coordinating Conjunctions
5. Pronouns
14. Subordinating Conjunctions
6. Relative Pronouns
15. Comparatives and Superlatives
7. Prepositions
16. Word Order
8. Verb Forms (Tense/ aspect/ voice)
17. Parts Of Speech
9. Verb Forms (Infinitives/ gerunds, etc.)
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1. Elementary A1
Table of grammar contents – A1 – Test-English
2. Pre-intermediate A2
Table of grammar contents – A2 – Test-English
3. Intermediate B1
Table of grammar contents – B1 – Test-English
4. Upper-intermediate B1+ Table of grammar contents – B1+ – Test-English
5. Pre-advances B2
Table of grammar contents – B2 – Test-English
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20 Rules of Subject Verb
Agreement
1. Subjects and verbs must agree in number.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Singular subject = singular verb
Plural subject = plural verb
Cow= singular, eats= singular
Ducks= plural, quack= plural
*Hint*= SVS- singular verbs have an S
Singular yes?- the verb has an “S”!
Singular no? The “S” has to go!
2. Don’t get confused by the words that
come between the subject and verb.
The detective who was called to the case
is usually very good.
3. Prepositional phrases between the subject
and verb usually do not affect the agreement.
The biker in this race is very competitive.
The bikers in this race are very competitive.
4. If a sentence starts with “there” or “ here”,
the subject will always be placed after the verb.
There is a meeting today.
Here are the results from this past month.
5. Subjects can come after the verb in
questions.
• Does Betty always play with dolls?
• How are the Bosco sticks today?
6. If two subjects are joined by “and”, they
typically require a plural verb.
• The puppy and the lady are friends.
7. If two subjects are separated by “and”
refer to the same thing, the verb is singular.
• Spaghetti and meatballs is my favorite pasta dish.
8. If both subjects are singular and connected by
or, nor, neither/nor, either/or and not only/but also,
the verb is singular.
• Sally or Bubba has stolen the scarecrow.
• Not only the guitar player but also the drummer was
soaked with sweat.
9. If both subjects are plural and connected by
the words or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not
only/but also, the verb is plural.
• Cookies or brownies are nice treats for your teacher.
10. If one subject is singular and one plural and
are connected by the words or, nor, neither/nor,
either/or, and not only/but also, use the subject
that is nearest the verb.
• Either my sisters or my mom has sent me a present.
• Not only Bob but also the Smiths want some
hamburgers for supper.
11. Units of measurement usually use a
singular verb.
• Six gallons of paint was used on the house.
• Five dollars is too much for a cup of coffee.
12. Collective nouns usually take a singular
verb.
• The herd is stampeding.
The class was ready for the test.
13. Titles of books, movies, novels, etc. are
treated as singular.
• Holes was one of my favorite books.
I want to see the movie.
14. Two infinitives separated by and take a
plural verb.
• To run and to read are my two favorite “Free-time”
activities.
15. Gerunds alone take a singular verb.
Gerunds linked by and take a plural verb.
• Dancing is not something everyone can do as well as
I can!
• Reading and swimming are my favorite free time
activities.
16. If the words each, every or no come
before the subject, the verb is singular.
• Each boy and girl has to take the test.
• Every frog and toad turns into a prince.
• No paper and pen is required.
17. Most indefinite pronouns take singular
verbs.
one
someone
anyone
No one
everyone
Little
One
Another
Neither
Much
Each
Either
body
somebody
anybody
nobody
everybody
thing
something
anything
nothing
everything
* Everybody is happy.
* No one has a dime.
* Nothing was going to help.
18. Both, few, many, others, and several take
a plural verb.
• Several need to finish the race.
• A few have the right answer.
19. When the subject is all, any, more, most,
none, or some, this is the ONLY time you must
look at the object of the prepositional phrase to
determine whether it is singular or plural.
• All of the chickens have laid eggs.
• Some of the milk has spilled.
20. Final rule- Remember, only the
SUBJECT affects the verb!
Either Anne or Tony (load, loads) the dishwasher.
Neither the coach nor the principal (is, are) happy with the
team’s performance.
Either the boys or their sisters (take, takes) the garbage out.
Neither the dogs nor the cats (comes, come) when we call
them.
Neither the children nor their mother (were, was) ready for
the trip.
Neither the mother nor her children (were, was) ready for the
trip.
Either Anne or Tony (load, loads) the dishwasher.
Neither the coach nor the principal (is, are) happy with the
team’s performance.
Either the boys or their sisters (take, takes) the garbage out.
Neither the dogs nor the cats (comes, come) when we call
them.
The class (has, have) completed their projects.
The class (has, have) elected its officers.
Two hours (was, were) a long time to wait.
Thirty dollars (was, were) too much for a concert ticket.
Six dollars (was, were) found in the couch cushions.
Two hours—one before school and one after—(is, are) all I
have for practice.
“Memories” (is, are) my favorite poem.
Rickets (are, is) a serious health concern in some countries.
The news of the nominee (was, were) a surprise.
Every homeowner and storekeeper (has, have) joined the
cleanup.
Many a litterbug (was, were) surprised by the stiff fines.
My pen pal and best friend (is, are) my cousin.
Macaroni and cheese (is, are) my favorite dish.
George Lucas and Steven Spielberg (make, makes) movies.
Rhythm and imagery (helps, help) poets express their
feelings.
Some of the test (is, are) hard.
Some of the questions (is, are) hard.
Most of his routine (sound, sounds) familiar.
Most of his jokes (sound, sounds) familiar.
(Was, were) any of the feedback positive?
(Was, were) any of the reviews positive?
Each of the athletes (run, runs) effortlessly.
Neither of the women (is, are) ready to start.
Someone (was, were) waving a large flag.
(Does, do) everyone who signed up enjoy playing tennis.
(Were, was) both of the games postponed?
Few that I know of (has, have) qualified.
Several of the runners (is, are) exercising.
The apartments across the street (does, do) have balconies.
Eli, one of my friends, (was, were) late.
The planes pulling up to the gate (was, were) purchased by a
movie company.
1. Carlos is the only one of those students who __________ lived
up to the potential described in the yearbook.
a. has
b. have
2. The International Club, as well as the Choral Society and the
Rowing Club, __________ to submit a new constitution.
a. need
b. needs
3. One of my best friends ________ an extra on Seinfeld this week.
a. are
b. is
4. Not only the students but also their instructor________ been
called to the principal's office.
a. have
b. has
1. __________ go to the beach every summer.
a. He
b. She
c. We
d. It
2. Suddenly, __________ on the theatre.
a. they appear b. they appears. c. they
d. appear
3. There __________ many children in the park.
a. is
b. has
c. plays
d. are
4. Mona and Hind (They) __________ together.
a. study
b. studies
c. studying
d. students
5. People __________ watching television.
a. likely
b. like
c. likes
d. liking
6. __________ is writing the letter now.
a. I
b. He
c. We
d. They
5. Most of the milk _____ gone bad. Six gallons of milk _______ still
in the refrigerator.
a. has ---- are
b. have ---- is
6. Each and every student and instructor in this building __________
for a new facility by next year.
a. hope
b. hopes
7. The students and instructors each ________for a new facility by
next year.
a. hopes
b. hope
8. Rice and beans, my favorite dish, __________ me of my native
Puerto Rico.
a. remind
b. reminds
9. A large number of voters still ___________ along straight-party
lines.
a. votes
b. vote
10. Four years _______ a long time to spend away from your friends
and family.
a. are
b. is
11. Politics __________ sometimes a dirty business.
a. are
b. is
12. To an outsider, the economics of this country ________ to be in
disarray.
a. seem
b. seems
Subject Verb Agreement Extra Activities
REVISION:
https://quizizz.com/admin/quiz/629378f0260371001dbaa6a5/subject-verbagreement?page=ReportPagePlayersView&source=MainHeader&searchLocale&fromSearch=true
FREE TEST FROM THE MINISTRY: https://emsat.moe.gov.ae/emsat/EmSAT_AchieveSample_en.aspx
WORDWALL: https://wordwall.net/resource/6262595/emsat-subject-verb-agreement
QUIZIZZ: https://quizizz.com/admin/quiz/63bd356e93b5e8001ea216e5/emsat-grammar-subject-verbagreement
LIVEWORKSHEETS: Subject Verb Agreement online worksheet for 6 (liveworksheets.com)
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