Subject-Verb Agreement Exercise worksheet - Free Printable

Subject-Verb Agreement Problem

The task involves choosing the correct verb form to match the subject in each sentence. This is a fundamental concept in grammar known as subject-verb agreement, where the verb must agree with the subject in number (singular or plural).

Let's solve each sentence step by step:

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#### 1. My dog ______ with the red ball.
- Subject: "My dog" (singular)
- Verb options: "play" (plural), "plays" (singular)
- Correct choice: "plays"

Reason: The subject "My dog" is singular, so the verb must also be singular.

Answer: plays

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#### 2. You ______ beautiful in that dress.
- Subject: "You" (plural or singular depending on context, but typically treated as plural in general usage)
- Verb options: "look" (plural), "looks" (singular)
- Correct choice: "look"

Reason: In standard English, "you" is always treated as plural, so the verb should be in the plural form.

Answer: look

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#### 3. The girls in my classroom ______ clever.
- Subject: "The girls" (plural)
- Verb options: "are" (plural), "is" (singular)
- Correct choice: "are"

Reason: The subject "The girls" is plural, so the verb must also be plural.

Answer: are

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#### 4. Miss Aina and her students ______ to Penang for a field trip.
- Subject: "Miss Aina and her students" (compound subject, plural because it includes multiple people)
- Verb options: "travel" (plural), "travels" (singular)
- Correct choice: "travel"

Reason: When subjects are joined by "and," the verb agrees with the plural nature of the compound subject.

Answer: travel

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#### 5. Neither San nor his girlfriend ______ breakfast.
- Subject: "Neither San nor his girlfriend" (compound subject, singular because "neither...nor" indicates one of two individuals)
- Verb options: "eat" (plural), "eats" (singular)
- Correct choice: "eats"

Reason: With "neither...nor," the verb agrees with the closest subject, which is singular ("his girlfriend").

Answer: eats

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#### 6. Either Bob or his brothers ______ to the store.
- Subject: "Either Bob or his brothers" (compound subject, plural because "either...or" indicates one of two groups, and the closest subject is plural)
- Verb options: "walk" (plural), "walks" (singular)
- Correct choice: "walk"

Reason: With "either...or," the verb agrees with the closest subject, which is plural ("his brothers").

Answer: walk

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#### 7. Asia ______ the biggest continent.
- Subject: "Asia" (singular)
- Verb options: "are" (plural), "is" (singular)
- Correct choice: "is"

Reason: The subject "Asia" is a singular noun, so the verb must also be singular.

Answer: is

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#### 8. These jeans ______ too tight!
- Subject: "These jeans" (plural)
- Verb options: "are" (plural), "is" (singular)
- Correct choice: "are"

Reason: The subject "These jeans" is plural, so the verb must also be plural.

Answer: are

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#### 9. The audience ______ after Wafi's speech.
- Subject: "The audience" (singular, even though it refers to a group of people)
- Verb options: "clap" (plural), "claps" (singular)
- Correct choice: "claps"

Reason: In formal English, "the audience" is often treated as a singular entity, so the verb is singular.

Answer: claps

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#### 10. All of her money ______ been stolen.
- Subject: "All of her money" (singular, as "all" refers to a collective amount)
- Verb options: "have" (plural), "has" (singular)
- Correct choice: "has"

Reason: The phrase "all of her money" is considered singular because it refers to a collective amount, not individual units.

Answer: has

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Final Answers:

1. plays
2. look
3. are
4. travel
5. eats
6. walk
7. is
8. are
9. claps
10. has

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Explanation:

- Singular subjects require singular verbs (e.g., "is," "plays," "claps").
- Plural subjects require plural verbs (e.g., "are," "travel," "walk").
- Compound subjects connected by "and" are plural.
- Compound subjects connected by "neither...nor" or "either...or" take the verb form based on the closest subject.
- Collective nouns like "audience" or "all of her money" are generally treated as singular.

Final Answer:
\boxed{
\text{1. plays, 2. look, 3. are, 4. travel, 5. eats, 6. walk, 7. is, 8. are, 9. claps, 10. has}
}