Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental aspect of the English language that can be challenging to master. It refers to the agreement between the subject and the verb in a sentence in terms of their number and person. While it might seem like a simple concept, many people still struggle with it, and it can be especially tricky in some cases. In this article, we will explore some of the most challenging exercises on subject-verb agreement and provide answers to help you understand it better.
Exercise 1:
Choose the correct verb that agrees with the subject in each of the following sentences:
1. The group of students (is/are) going on a field trip tomorrow.
Answer: is
2. Neither John nor his brothers (was/were) able to attend the wedding.
Answer: was
3. All of the books on the shelf (belongs/belong) to the library.
Answer: belong
4. The news about the virus (is/are) worrying everyone.
Answer: is
5. The committee (takes/take) their responsibilities seriously.
Answer: takes
Exercise 2:
Identify the subject-verb agreement errors in the following sentences and correct them:
1. The student, along with his friends, are planning a trip next month.
Correction: The student, along with his friends, is planning a trip next month.
2. The company, as well as its employees, were affected by the economic crisis.
Correction: The company, as well as its employees, was affected by the economic crisis.
3. Neither the teacher nor the students were ready for the exam.
Correction: Neither the teacher nor the students was ready for the exam.
4. The news on the radio are not always accurate.
Correction: The news on the radio is not always accurate.
5. She, along with her brothers, were playing soccer in the backyard.
Correction: She, along with her brothers, was playing soccer in the backyard.
Exercise 3:
Rewrite the following sentences to ensure subject-verb agreement:
1. There are two dogs and a cat in the house.
Rewritten: There are two dogs and one cat in the house.
2. The box of chocolates were almost empty.
Rewritten: The box of chocolates was almost empty.
3. The number of visitors to the museum have increased over the years.
Rewritten: The number of visitors to the museum has increased over the years.
4. Each of the students were given a different task to complete.
Rewritten: Each of the students was given a different task to complete.
5. The group of musicians are performing at the concert tonight.
Rewritten: The group of musicians is performing at the concert tonight.
Subject-verb agreement can be a challenging concept to master, but with practice, you can improve your skills. By doing these exercises, you can identify areas where you need to improve and learn to use the right verb tense and form for different subjects. Remember, consistent practice is key to improving your writing and language skills.