Test your subject-verb agreement skills with focused practice. Ideal for English learners and those refining their skills. Dive in and challenge yourself!
Mastering subject-verb agreement is essential for precise and fluent English. Yet, many find it to be tricky terrain, especially ELLs and new learners. This foundational piece of English grammar, though seemingly simple, can often be overshadowed by more complex rules.
Ensuring correct subject-verb agreement is a cornerstone to making your sentences grammatically correct and more professional. To help bridge the understanding gap, The Reliable Narrator has crafted a practice guide filled with exercises and explanations.
Let’s dive in and perfect your subject-verb agreement skills!
Warm-up: Identify the Subject and Verb
Before diving into the Subject-Verb Agreement, it’s important to recognize the subject and the verb in a sentence.
Example
In the sentence, “The dog barks loudly,” “dog” is the subject, and “barks” is the verb.
Exercise 1
Identify the subject and verb in the following sentences:
- The children play in the park.
- Jane and Mary sing beautifully.
- The pizza smells delicious.
Exercise 1A
Identify the subject and verb in the following sentences:
- The orchestra performs at the gala.
- The sun sets beautifully beyond the mountains.
- Books and magazines are on the table.
Understanding the Basics of Subject-Verb Agreement
Remember, with Subject-Verb Agreement: a singular subject pairs with a singular verb, and a plural subject pairs with a plural verb.
Examples
Choose the correct verb for each sentence:
- The boy plays. (singular)
- The boys play. (plural)
Exercise 2
Choose the correct verb for each sentence:
- The cat (run/runs) fast.
- The dogs (bark/barks) at the stranger.
- Cars (is/are) useful for long trips.
- The movie (start/starts) at 8 PM.
Exercise 2A
Pair the subject with the appropriate verb:
- The apple (taste/tastes) sweet.
- The boys (rides/ride) their bikes.
- Radios (emit/emits) sound waves.
- The computer (freeze/freezes) occasionally.
Subject-Verb Agreement in Complex Sentences
Sometimes, prepositional phrases can confuse the true subject. Don’t let them trip you up!
Examples
- The bouquet of roses smells heavenly. (singular subject – bouquet)
- The group of students are on a field trip. (plural subject – students)
Exercise 3
Choose the correct verb for the complex sentences:
- The stack of books (is/are) on the table.
- The school of fish (move/moves) swiftly.
- The team of players (run/runs) daily.
Exercise 3A
Select the fitting verb for the provided complex sentences:
- The bouquet with the pink ribbons (look/looks) stunning.
- The choir of children (sing/sings) melodiously.
- The group with the colorful flags (march/marches) in the parade.
Intervening Words and Phrases
Intervening words or phrases often appear between the subject and verb, but they don’t affect the agreement.
Example
The boy, along with his friends, plays soccer.
Exercise 4
Identify the correct verb in these sentences:
- The cake, in addition to the pies, (was/were) eaten.
- The teacher, with all her students, (is/are) on a trip.
Exercise 4A
Choose the accurate verb in these scenarios:
- The song, along with its rhythm, (capture/captures) hearts.
- The leader, as well as his delegates, (is/are) at the summit.
- The lady with her basket of fruits (sell/sells) by the street.
Compound Subjects
When subjects are joined by “and,” use a plural verb. When subjects are joined by “or/nor,” the verb agrees with the nearer subject.
Examples
- Coffee and tea are available. (plural verb)
- Neither the coach nor the players were late. (agreeing with “players”)
Exercise 5
Fill in with the right verb form:
- Both the teacher and the principal (is/are) in a meeting.
- Neither the pen nor the pencils (is/are) working.
Exercise 5A
Complete with the correct verb:
- Neither the car nor the bikes (is/are) in the garage.
- Both the cat and the dog (chase/chases) the ball.
- Either the roses or the tulip (bloom/blooms) first in spring.
Reliable Thoughts
Practice makes perfect, especially in the realm of English grammar. By consistently working through Subject-Verb Agreement exercises, students and ELLs can strengthen their grasp on subject-verb agreement. While it might seem challenging at the onset, remember that every practice session gets you one step closer to mastery. Continue practicing, seeking feedback, and immersing in the language. Your effort today is the foundation for your fluency tomorrow.
ANSWER KEY
Exercise 1
The children play in the park.
Subject: The children
Verb: play
Jane and Mary sing beautifully.
Subject: Jane and Mary
Verb: sing
The pizza smells delicious.
Subject: The pizza
Verb: smells
Exercise 1A
The orchestra performs at the gala.
Subject: The orchestra
Verb: performs
The sun sets beautifully beyond the mountains.
Subject: The sun
Verb: sets
Books and magazines are on the table.
Subject: Books and magazines
Verb: are
Exercise 2
The cat (run/runs) fast.
The dogs (bark/barks) at the stranger.
Cars (is/are) useful for long trips.
The movie (start/starts) at 8 PM.
Exercise 2A
The apple (taste/tastes) sweet.
The boys (rides/ride) their bikes.
Radios (emit/emits) sound waves.
The computer (freeze/freezes) occasionally.
Exercise 3
The stack of books (is/are) on the table.
The school of fish (move/moves) swiftly.
The team of players (run/runs) daily.
Exercise 3A
The bouquet with the pink ribbons (look/looks) stunning.
The choir of children (sing/sings) melodiously.
The group with the colorful flags (march/marches) in the parade.
Exercise 4
The cake, in addition to the pies, (was/were) eaten.
The teacher, with all her students, (is/are) on a trip.
Exercise 4A
The song, along with its rhythm, (capture/captures) hearts.
The leader, as well as his delegates, (is/are) at the summit.
The lady with her basket of fruits (sell/sells) by the street.
Exercise 5
Both the teacher and the principal (is/are) in a meeting.
Neither the pen nor the pencils (is/are) working.
Exercise 5A
Neither the car nor the bikes (is/are) in the garage.
Both the cat and the dog (chase/chases) the ball.
Either the roses or the tulip (bloom/blooms) first in spring.
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