Class Copy
1. Choose the verb that agrees with the subject in the sentence.
In the past, people _______ made fewer job changes.
A. has
B. have
C. is having
D. having
2. Which of the following verbs agrees with the subject in the sentence?
The five deer in the field _______ fast.
A. will
B. was
C. is
D. are
3. Choose the verb or verb phrase that best completes the sentence.
The capybara is the largest type of rodent. It is like a guinea pig that can grow to be four feet tall.
Many capybaras live in South America and like to swim. A capybara colony naturally _______
in a rainforest environment.
A. are thriving
B. thrive
C. have thrived
D. thrives
4. Choose the verb that agrees with the subject in the sentence.
The boy or his friends _______ around the track.
A. was running
B. runs
C. is running
D. run
5. Which of the following verbs agrees with the subject in the sentence?
Everything in the warehouse _______ painting.
A. are needing
B. needs
C. need
D. needing
6. Which verb correctly completes the sentence below?
The king's horses and the king's men _______ not able to bring her back again.
A. was
B. were
C. is
D. be
7. Which verb belongs in the sentence below?
Mathematics _______ more to our daily lives than most people imagine.
A. contributes
B. contribute
C. contributing
D. were contributing
8. Choose the verb or verb phrase that correctly completes the sentence.
Scientists have determined that a flock of geese _______ in a "V" formation in order to conserve
energy.
A. fly
B. are flying
C. have flown
D. flies
9. Which of the following verbs agrees with the subject in the sentence?
All of the workers _______ $10 per hour.
A. earn
B. earns
C. is earning
D. earning
10. Which verb correctly completes the sentence below?
Bart or Lisa _______ the house.
A. was owning
B. own
C. owning
D. owns
11. Which verb correctly completes the sentence below?
Neither Nina nor Louise _______ to patch up the relationship to save the band.
A. want
B. were wanting
C. wanting
D. wants
12. Choose the verb that correctly completes the sentence.
The three attorneys _______ believe that the defendant's alibi is credible.
A. doesn't
B. doesnt'
C. don't
D. dont
13. Which verb correctly completes the sentence below?
Each of the musicians _______ an instrument when the conductor signals with the
baton.
A. were raising
B. raise
C. raises
D. raising
14. Choose the verb that correctly completes the sentence.
The binoculars for the men in the battalion _______ cumbersome, to say the least.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. am
15. Which verb belongs in the sentence below?
There _______ more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your
philosophy.
A. is
B. are
C. be
D. was
Answers
1. B
2. D
3. D
4. D
5. B
6. B
7. A
8. D
9. A
10. D
11. D
12. C
13. C
14. B
15. B
Explanations
1. Because the subject "people" is plural, the verb must also be plural. "Have" is the plural form
of the verb.
2. "Deer" is plural here even though it does not end in "s." "Are" is the plural form of the verb.
3. A collective noun refers to a group of people, animals, or things. The collective noun usually
takes a singular verb when the group acts as one unit. In the sentence, the collective noun and
subject is "colony." It refers to one unit of capybaras. Therefore, "colony" needs a singular verb.
4. When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or pronoun joined by or
or nor ("The boy or his friends"), the verb ("run") should agree with the part of the subject that is
nearer the verb ("friends").
5. Because the subject "everything" is singular, the verb must also be singular. "Needs" is the
singular form of the verb.
6. Because the subject "horses and men" is plural, the verb must also be plural. "Were" is the
plural form of the verb.
7. Because the subject "mathematics" is singular, the verb must also be singular. "Contributes" is
the singular form of the verb.
8. A collective noun refers to a group of people, animals, or things. The collective noun usually
takes a singular verb when the group acts as a unit. In the sentence, the collective noun and
subject is "flock." It refers to one unit of geese. Therefore, "flock" needs a singular verb. The
prepositional phrase "of geese" does not affect subject-verb agreement.
9. Because the subject "all" is plural, the verb must also be plural. "Earn" is the plural form of the
verb.
10. When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by or or nor, use a singular
verb. The two singular nouns here are "Bart" and "Lisa." The singular verb is "owns."
11. Because the subject "neither" is singular, the verb must also be singular. "Wants" is the
singular form of the verb.
12. The subject (the three attorneys) is plural; therefore, it must have the plural verb don't.
13. Because the subject "each" is singular, the verb must also be singular. "Raises" is the singular
form of the verb.
14. Nouns like scissors, tweezers, trousers, and binoculars require plural verbs. Remember there
are two parts to these objects.
15. Because the subject "things" is plural, the verb must also be plural. "Are" is the plural form
of the verb. Sentences that start with "there are" are usually in reverse order. This means the verb
comes before the subject in the sentence. "There" is never an actual subject of the sentence; it is
an adverb.