Making Subjects and Verbs Agree
Exercise A: On the line provided, rewrite each of the following pairs of subjects
and verbs
in the plural form.
EXAMPLE 1. dog barks = dogs bark
1. baby cries =
2. wind gusts =
3. squirrel chatters =
4. flower grows =
5. band plays =
6. boat sails =
7. lion roars =
8. sea gull flies =
9. girl sings =
10. day begins =
Exercise B: On the line provided, rewrite each of the following pairs of subjects
and verbs in the singular form.
EXAMPLE 1. cars start = car starts
1. children run =
2. storms howl =
3. owls hoot=
4. trees sway=
5. secretaries file=
6. gliders soar=
7. geese honk=
8. pitchers throw=
9. windows shine=
10. clocks tick=
Exercise C: Rewrite each of the following sentences on the lines provided.
Change the singular subjects to plural and the plural subjects to singular. Be
sure to make each verb agree with its subject. You may need to add an article
(a, an, or the) to some subjects.
EXAMPLES
1. The comedian laughs. =The comedians laugh.
2. Astronauts are highly trained. = The astronaut is highly trained.
1. Moira’s aunt bakes bread.
____________________________________________________________
2. Meteorologists predict the weather.
__________________________________________________
3. The lock is jammed.
________________________________________________________________
4. Cousin Tony’s child speaks Spanish.
__________________________________________________
5. The flowers bloom in June.
__________________________________________________________
6. They compete in races.
________________________________________________________________
7. Whooping cranes are endangered.
____________________________________________________
8. The pagoda has eight sides.
__________________________________________________________
9. The dancers are moving gracefully.
____________________________________________________
Using Correct Subject-Verb Agreement
Exercise A: Highlight the subject in each of the following sentences. Then,
highlight the
verb form in parentheses that agrees in number with its subject.
EXAMPLE 1. The goal of the team (comes, come) first.
1. The spring rolls, not the sour fish soup, (appear, appears) first on the menu.
2. Our supply of towels ( goes, go) very fast.
3. The reasons for his success (is, are) easy to see.
4. The list of winners (impresses, impress) all of us.
5. The uses of aluminum (is, are) various.
6. This book about the rain forests (have, has) many beautiful photographs.
7. The guacamole mix together with the bowl (costs, cost) $2.50.
8. The rivalry between the two towns (is, are) very keen.
9. Mario, along with his sisters, (loves, love) going to the Jacob Lawrence
exhibit.
Exercise B: For each of the following sentences, highlight the verb in
parentheses that agrees in number with its subject.
EXAMPLE 1. The blue curtains (was, were) a handsome addition to the room.
1. One of our greatest traffic problems, reckless drivers, ( frustrate, frustrates)
even the experts.
2. Chicken pot stickers, a popular Chinese appetizer, (taste, tastes) delicious.
3. Her only source of income (come, comes) from odd jobs.
4. The only evidence of the crime (seem, seems) hard to believe.
5. The use of too many capitals (is, are) as serious a mistake as using too few.
2 Agreement
Language
Ensuring Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns and Compound Subjects
Exercise A: In each of the following sentences, highlight the verb in
parentheses that agrees with its subject or subjects.
EXAMPLE 1. Both the color print and the negative (has, have) been lost.
1. A short story and an excerpt of a novel by Ernest J. Gaines (appears,
appear) in this literature collection.
2. Every Saturday, either Chen or his sisters (cleans, clean) the bathroom and
kitchen.
3. Basil and oregano (is, are) key seasonings for this Italian dish.
4. Tani or Elbert (knows, know) the way to the flea market.
5. Neither the coach nor the players (wants, want) to lose another game.
Ensuring Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns and
Compound Subjects
Language
Handbook
Exercise A: Rewrite each of the following sentences on the lines provided.
Change the singular subjects to plural and the plural subjects to singular. Be
sure to make each verb agree with its subject. You may need to change other
words in the sentence.
EXAMPLE 1. The peaches don’t look ripe. = The peach doesn’t look ripe.
1. The windows in the bedroom don’t open.
________________________________________________
2. This key doesn’t work in this lock.
____________________________________________________
3. Don’t they cost much?
________________________________________________________________
4. These pens don’t write well.
________________________________________________________
5. This Mimbres bowl doesn’t fit on the shelf.
____________________________________________
Exercise B: In each of the following sentences, highlight the verb in
parentheses that agrees with its subject.
EXAMPLE 1. The invading army (has, have) surrounded the city.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The audience quickly (takes, take) their seats as the house lights dim.
The band (loads, load) their instruments in the bus with care.
After each basket by the home team, the crowd (roars, roar).
The staff (has, have) organized a picnic for the second week in June.
Our team (wins, win) most of the close games.
Exercise C: Underline the subject or subjects in each of the following
sentences. Then, underline the verb in parentheses that agrees with its subject
or subjects.
EXAMPLE 1. The first item listed in this recipe (is, are) string beans.
1. Salted eggs (remain, remains) an important symbolic dish in the Seder meal.
2. Lemons (seems, seem) to be a good garnish for many fish dishes.
3. The pyramids of Egypt in Giza (is, are) one of the Seven Wonders of the
Ancient World.
4. The poems of Maya Angelou always (has, have) been an inspiration to me.
5. One memorable sight from our travels (was, were) the magnificent mountain
ranges in
Honshu, Japan.
6. One responsibility of car owners (continue, continues) to be regular oil
changes.
7. Elia and Mauli ( place, places) first in the doubles tennis tournament.
8. Green bell peppers (is, are) an essential ingredient in Gordon’s stir fry.
9. Now, the two injured children (become, becomes) his immediate concern.
10. Fleas and ticks (appear, appears) to be an ongoing problem for many pet
owners.
Ensuring Agreement When the Verb Precedes the Subject
Exercise A: Underline the subject in each sentence. Then, underline the verb
or contraction that agrees with the subject.
EXAMPLE 1. There (is, are) no curves in this road.
1. There (sit, sits) our dog and cat.
2. There (is, are) usually seven candles on a menorah.
3. Here (are, is) my plans for the summer.
4. There ( go, goes) all the buses.
5. Here (lies, lie) the bodies of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett
Browning.
6. Here (comes, come) one of my favorite authors, Pat Mora.
7. There (weren’t, wasn’t) enough programs for everybody.
8. There (have been, has been) too many accidents lately.
9. Where (is, are) your seats for the ice-skating show?
10. How much (do, does) those pocket radios cost?
Exercise B: Rewrite each sentence, changing the italicized subject from
singular to plural. You will need to change the verb, and you may need to
change or delete other words, too.
EXAMPLE 1. There is a picture on the wall. = There are pictures on the wall
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Here’s your friend.
How much is the pumpkin?
Where’s my letter ?
There goes the fire engine!
Is there a lemon for the punch?