The Ultimate Subject-Verb Agreement Challenge
Master your grammar with 50 tricky questions. You have 30 minutes!
1. The quality of the apples _____ not very good.
Rule: The subject is 'quality' (singular), not 'apples'. The prepositional phrase 'of the apples' does not affect the verb. Therefore, the singular verb 'was' is correct.
2. Neither the players nor the coach _____ happy with the referee's decision.
Rule (Proximity Rule): With 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the subject closer to it. 'The coach' is singular, so the verb must be singular ('is').
3. A number of students _____ reported sick after the trip.
Rule: The phrase 'a number of' is treated as plural and takes a plural verb. Contrast this with 'the number of', which takes a singular verb.
4. The politician, along with the newsmen, _____ expected shortly.
Rule: Phrases set off by commas like 'along with', 'as well as', 'besides', etc., are not part of the subject. The verb agrees with the main subject, 'The politician' (singular).
5. The pair of scissors _____ on the table.
Rule: Nouns like 'scissors', 'trousers', 'spectacles' are plural. However, when preceded by the phrase 'a pair of', the subject becomes 'pair' (singular), which requires a singular verb.
6. Many a man _____ tried to climb this mountain peak.
Rule: The expression 'many a' is followed by a singular noun ('man') and always takes a singular verb.
7. The jury _____ divided in their opinions.
Rule (Collective Nouns): When the members of a collective noun (like 'jury') are acting as individuals (as indicated by 'divided in their opinions'), a plural verb is used.
8. Two-thirds of the cake _____ been eaten.
Rule (Fractions): With fractions, the verb agrees with the noun in the 'of' phrase. 'Cake' is a singular (uncountable) noun, so the verb is singular ('has').
9. Bread and butter _____ his only breakfast.
Rule (Compound Subjects): When two nouns joined by 'and' refer to a single idea or thing, they take a singular verb. 'Bread and butter' is considered a single dish.
10. Each of the suspected men _____ arrested.
Rule: The indefinite pronoun 'each' is always singular. The prepositional phrase 'of the suspected men' does not change the subject. Therefore, a singular verb is required.
11. The news from the war front _____ not encouraging.
Rule: Nouns that are plural in form but singular in meaning, like 'news', 'mathematics', 'physics', take a singular verb.
12. One of my friends _____ gone to France for a holiday.
Rule: In the structure 'one of...', the subject is 'one', which is singular. Therefore, it takes a singular verb ('has').
13. The number of casualties _____ increasing daily.
Rule: The phrase 'the number of' is always treated as singular and takes a singular verb. 'A number of' is plural.
14. None of the counterfeit money _____ been found.
Rule: With indefinite pronouns like 'none', the verb agrees with the object of the preposition 'of'. 'Money' is uncountable and singular, so the verb is singular ('has').
15. All of the pies _____ already been eaten.
Rule: With indefinite pronouns like 'all', the verb agrees with the object of the preposition 'of'. 'Pies' is plural, so the verb is plural ('have').
16. My friend and benefactor _____ arrived.
Rule: When two nouns joined by 'and' refer to the same person or thing, the verb is singular. The absence of a second article ('the' or 'my') before 'benefactor' implies that 'friend' and 'benefactor' are the same person.
17. Here _____ the documents you asked for.
Rule (Inverted Sentences): In sentences beginning with 'here' or 'there', the true subject follows the verb. The subject is 'documents' (plural), so the verb is plural ('are').
18. The poet and the philosopher _____ both addressed the gathering.
Rule: When two nouns are joined by 'and' and preceded by separate articles ('the poet' and 'the philosopher'), they refer to two different people. Therefore, the subject is plural and requires a plural verb.
19. Not only the students but also their instructor _____ been called to the principal's office.
Rule (Proximity Rule): With 'not only...but also', the verb agrees with the subject closer to it. 'Their instructor' is singular, so the verb is singular ('has').
20. Measles _____ a contagious disease that causes a fever and a red rash.
Rule: Nouns like 'measles', 'mumps', and 'shingles' are plural in form but refer to a single disease and take a singular verb.
21. The captain, with all his players, _____ given a warm welcome.
Rule: The phrase 'with all his players' is a parenthetical phrase. It does not affect the verb, which must agree with the main subject 'The captain' (singular).
22. Every man, woman, and child in the village _____ terrified.
Rule: When 'every' or 'each' precedes a compound subject joined by 'and', the verb is singular.
23. More than one person _____ injured in the accident.
Rule: The phrase 'more than one' is grammatically singular and takes a singular verb, even though the meaning is plural.
24. What we need the most _____ good, moral leaders.
Rule: When a clause ('What we need the most') acts as the subject, it is treated as singular and takes a singular verb.
25. One hundred rupees _____ not a big amount for him.
Rule: When an amount of money, a period of time, or a distance is considered as a single unit, it takes a singular verb.
26. It is I who _____ to blame for this mistake.
Rule: In a relative clause starting with 'who', 'which', or 'that', the verb agrees with the antecedent of the pronoun. Here, 'who' refers to 'I', so the verb is 'am'.
27. The committee _____ issued its report to the public.
Rule (Collective Nouns): When a collective noun ('committee') acts as a single, unified body (as indicated by 'issued its report'), it takes a singular verb.
28. The Arabian Nights _____ still a great favourite among children.
Rule: The titles of books, plays, movies, etc., are treated as singular, even if they are in plural form, and take a singular verb.
29. None of the candidates _____ responded to the final call.
Rule: With 'none of', the verb agrees with the noun in the prepositional phrase. 'Candidates' is plural, so the verb is plural ('have'). While 'has' is sometimes used informally, 'have' is grammatically standard.
30. This is one of the most interesting books that _____ appeared this year.
Rule: In the structure 'one of the... that/who...', the verb in the relative clause agrees with the antecedent of 'that/who', which is 'books' (plural). Therefore, the verb is 'have'.
31. The rise and fall of the tides _____ caused by the moon.
Rule: When two subjects joined by 'and' form a single idea or concept ('The rise and fall' is seen as one cyclical process), a singular verb is used.
32. Athletics _____ a required subject for all students.
Rule: Names of subjects that end in '-ics' (like 'athletics', 'politics', 'economics') are singular and take a singular verb.
33. Neither of the two brothers _____ any resemblance to their father.
- bears
- bear
- are bearing
- have borne
Rule: The indefinite pronoun 'neither' is singular and requires a singular verb ('bears').
34. A series of lectures _____ scheduled for next week.
Rule: The subject is 'series', which is singular, not 'lectures'. Therefore, the verb is singular ('is').
35. All that glitters _____ not gold.
Rule: This is a famous proverb. The clause 'All that glitters' functions as a singular subject, representing a single concept, and thus takes a singular verb.
36. The rich _____ not always happy.
Rule: When an adjective like 'rich', 'poor', 'blind', or 'elderly' is used with 'the' to represent a class of people, it is treated as plural.
37. There _____ a list of committee members on the head table.
Rule (Inverted Sentences): In sentences beginning with 'there', the verb agrees with the subject that follows it. The subject is 'a list' (singular), not 'members', so the verb is singular ('is').
38. Ten kilometres _____ a long way to walk in the sun.
Rule: Expressions of distance, money, or time are considered a single unit and take a singular verb.
39. The majority of the work _____ been completed.
Rule: With 'majority of', the verb agrees with the noun in the 'of' phrase. 'Work' is uncountable and singular, so the verb is singular ('has').
40. He is one of those boys who _____ always on time.
Rule: In the structure 'one of those... who...', the relative pronoun 'who' refers to the plural noun ('boys'), not 'one'. Therefore, it takes a plural verb ('are').
41. The Prime Minister, together with his wife, _____ the press cordially.
- greet
- greets
- are greeting
- were greeting
Rule: The phrase 'together with his wife' is parenthetical and does not affect the subject. The subject is 'The Prime Minister' (singular), so the verb must be singular ('greets').
42. A large part of the mango _____ rotten.
Rule: With phrases like 'a large part of', the verb agrees with the noun in the 'of' phrase. 'Mango' (a single fruit) is singular, so the verb is singular ('is').
43. Our football team _____ confident of winning the match.
Rule (Collective Nouns): Here, the 'team' is acting as a single unit with one feeling (confidence). Therefore, it takes a singular verb.
44. The gentry of the town _____ invited to the function.
Rule: Collective nouns like 'gentry', 'peasantry', 'clergy', and 'cattle' are always treated as plural and take a plural verb.
45. What I say and what I think _____ my own business.
Rule: When two clauses joined by 'and' function as the subject, they can be treated as a single idea, especially when they represent a personal domain or concept. In this context, they form a single unit and take a singular verb.
46. Neither my colleagues nor the manager _____ aware of the new policy.
Rule (Proximity Rule): With 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the subject that is closer to it. 'The manager' is singular, so the verb must be singular ('is').
47. The introduction to all the chapters _____ very well written.
Rule: The true subject of the sentence is 'The introduction' (singular), not 'chapters'. The verb must agree with the singular subject.
48. The wear and tear on the car _____ quite significant after the long trip.
Rule (Compound Subjects): 'The wear and tear' is an idiomatic expression that refers to a single concept of damage over time. Therefore, it takes a singular verb.
49. Either of the plans _____ equally risky.
Rule: The indefinite pronoun 'either' (meaning 'one or the other') is always singular and takes a singular verb.
50. A lot of the houses in this locality _____ a garden.
- have
- has
- is having
- was having
Rule: With phrases like 'a lot of', the verb agrees with the noun in the 'of' phrase. 'Houses' is plural, so the verb is plural ('have').
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