Subject Verb Agreement (Editable with Answers) - ESL worksheet by ... - Free Printable

The task involves filling in the blanks with the correct verb form based on subject-verb agreement rules. Subject-verb agreement means that the verb must agree with its subject in number (singular or plural). Here's how to solve each problem:

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Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement:

1. Singular Subjects: Use a singular verb (e.g., "is," "does").
2. Plural Subjects: Use a plural verb (e.g., "are," "do").
3. Compound Subjects:
- If joined by "and," use a plural verb.
- If joined by "or" or "nor," use the verb that agrees with the closer subject.
4. Indefinite Pronouns: Use singular verbs (e.g., "each," "either," "neither," "everyone").
5. Collective Nouns: Use a singular verb unless the individuals are acting separately.
6. Expressions of Quantity:
- Singular expressions like "a lot of," "each," "every," etc., take singular verbs.
- Plural expressions like "many," "few," "several," etc., take plural verbs.

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Solutions and Explanations:

#### 1) Fire and water ________ not agree.
- Subject: "Fire and water" (compound subject, plural).
- Correct Answer: do
- Explanation: Compound subjects joined by "and" are plural, so use "do."

#### 2) He and his friend ________ arrived.
- Subject: "He and his friend" (compound subject, plural).
- Correct Answer: have
- Explanation: Compound subjects joined by "and" are plural, so use "have."

#### 3) Each minute and each hour ________ precious.
- Subject: "Each minute and each hour" (compound subject, plural).
- Correct Answer: are
- Explanation: Compound subjects joined by "and" are plural, so use "are."

#### 4) Every boy and every girl ________ punctual.
- Subject: "Every boy and every girl" (compound subject, plural).
- Correct Answer: are
- Explanation: Compound subjects joined by "and" are plural, so use "are."

#### 5) No boy or girl ________ left behind.
- Subject: "No boy or girl" (compound subject, singular because of "or").
- Correct Answer: was
- Explanation: Compound subjects joined by "or" take the verb that agrees with the closer subject ("girl" is singular).

#### 6) Either he or I ________ to go there.
- Subject: "Either he or I" (compound subject, singular because of "either").
- Correct Answer: am
- Explanation: Compound subjects joined by "either" take the verb that agrees with the closer subject ("I" is singular).

#### 7) Neither food nor water ________ available there.
- Subject: "Neither food nor water" (compound subject, singular because of "neither").
- Correct Answer: was
- Explanation: Compound subjects joined by "neither" take the verb that agrees with the closer subject ("water" is singular).

#### 8) Subhash or his friends ________ helped him.
- Subject: "Subhash or his friends" (compound subject, plural because of "friends").
- Correct Answer: have
- Explanation: Compound subjects joined by "or" take the verb that agrees with the closer subject ("friends" is plural).

#### 9) Neither Kumar nor his friends ________ hurt in the accident.
- Subject: "Neither Kumar nor his friends" (compound subject, plural because of "friends").
- Correct Answer: were
- Explanation: Compound subjects joined by "neither" take the verb that agrees with the closer subject ("friends" is plural).

#### 10) Either you or I ________ in the wrong.
- Subject: "Either you or I" (compound subject, singular because of "either").
- Correct Answer: am
- Explanation: Compound subjects joined by "either" take the verb that agrees with the closer subject ("I" is singular).

#### 11) Neither you nor he ________ to blame.
- Subject: "Neither you nor he" (compound subject, singular because of "he").
- Correct Answer: is
- Explanation: Compound subjects joined by "neither" take the verb that agrees with the closer subject ("he" is singular).

#### 12) Ashok as well as his family ________ happy.
- Subject: "Ashok" (main subject, singular).
- Correct Answer: is
- Explanation: When "as well as" is used, the verb agrees with the main subject ("Ashok" is singular).

#### 13) The Nawab, with his attendants, ________ welcomed.
- Subject: "The Nawab" (main subject, singular).
- Correct Answer: was
- Explanation: Prepositional phrases like "with his attendants" do not affect the subject-verb agreement. The main subject is "The Nawab" (singular).

#### 14) The crew ________ large.
- Subject: "The crew" (collective noun, singular when acting as a unit).
- Correct Answer: was
- Explanation: Collective nouns like "crew" are singular when acting as a unit.

#### 15) The fleet ________ set sail.
- Subject: "The fleet" (collective noun, plural when referring to individual ships).
- Correct Answer: has
- Explanation: Collective nouns like "fleet" can be plural when referring to individual units (ships).

#### 16) The news ________ true.
- Subject: "The news" (uncountable noun, singular).
- Correct Answer: is
- Explanation: Uncountable nouns like "news" are always singular.

#### 17) The wages (reward of sin) ________ death.
- Subject: "The wages" (plural noun).
- Correct Answer: are
- Explanation: "Wages" is a plural noun.

#### 18) A hundred dollars ________ not a big amount.
- Subject: "A hundred dollars" (treated as a single unit, singular).
- Correct Answer: is
- Explanation: Expressions of quantity like "a hundred dollars" are treated as singular.

#### 19) The United States of America ________ a rich country.
- Subject: "The United States of America" (treated as a single entity, singular).
- Correct Answer: is
- Explanation: Country names like "The United States of America" are treated as singular.

#### 20) “The Arabian Nights” ________ an interesting story.
- Subject: "The Arabian Nights" (title treated as a single entity, singular).
- Correct Answer: is
- Explanation: Titles like "The Arabian Nights" are treated as singular.

#### 21) All that glitters ________ not gold.
- Subject: "All that glitters" (singular concept).
- Correct Answer: is
- Explanation: "All" is singular when it refers to a collective idea.

#### 22) The child whose parents are dead ________ called an orphan.
- Subject: "The child" (singular).
- Correct Answer: is
- Explanation: The main subject is "The child" (singular).

#### 23) Either of the two girls ________ beautiful.
- Subject: "Either of the two girls" (singular because of "either").
- Correct Answer: is
- Explanation: Indefinite pronouns like "either" are singular.

#### 24) Neither of the two ________ trustworthy.
- Subject: "Neither of the two" (singular because of "neither").
- Correct Answer: is
- Explanation: Indefinite pronouns like "neither" are singular.

#### 25) Each of the two sisters ________ virtuous.
- Subject: "Each of the two sisters" (singular because of "each").
- Correct Answer: is
- Explanation: Indefinite pronouns like "each" are singular.

#### 26) Everyone of you ________ in the right.
- Subject: "Everyone of you" (singular because of "everyone").
- Correct Answer: is
- Explanation: Indefinite pronouns like "everyone" are singular.

#### 27) None of these boys ________ hardworking.
- Subject: "None of these boys" (singular because of "none").
- Correct Answer: is
- Explanation: Indefinite pronouns like "none" are singular.

#### 28) Any of the four questions ________ to be attempted.
- Subject: "Any of the four questions" (singular because of "any").
- Correct Answer: is
- Explanation: Indefinite pronouns like "any" are singular.

#### 29) No news ________ good news.
- Subject: "No news" (singular because "news" is uncountable).
- Correct Answer: is
- Explanation: "News" is an uncountable noun and is always singular.

#### 30) Two and two ________ four.
- Subject: "Two and two" (mathematical expression, singular).
- Correct Answer: makes
- Explanation: Mathematical expressions are treated as singular.

#### 31) None of you ________ likely to fail.
- Subject: "None of you" (singular because of "none").
- Correct Answer: is
- Explanation: Indefinite pronouns like "none" are singular.

#### 32) Neither of them ________ right.
- Subject: "Neither of them" (singular because of "neither").
- Correct Answer: is
- Explanation: Indefinite pronouns like "neither" are singular.

#### 33) Each of the sisters ________ clever.
- Subject: "Each of the sisters" (singular because of "each").
- Correct Answer: is
- Explanation: Indefinite pronouns like "each" are singular.

#### 34) Game after game ________ played.
- Subject: "Game after game" (singular because it refers to a series of games as a whole).
- Correct Answer: was
- Explanation: Phrases like "game after game" are treated as singular.

#### 35) He as well as you ________ intelligent.
- Subject: "He" (main subject, singular).
- Correct Answer: is
- Explanation: When "as well as" is used, the verb agrees with the main subject ("He" is singular).

#### 36) Justice as well as mercy ________ it.
- Subject: "Justice" (main subject, singular).
- Correct Answer: allows
- Explanation: When "as well as" is used, the verb agrees with the main subject ("Justice" is singular).

#### 37) None of you ________ done his work seriously.
- Subject: "None of you" (singular because of "none").
- Correct Answer: has
- Explanation: Indefinite pronouns like "none" are singular.

#### 38) The quality of these apples ________ not good.
- Subject: "The quality" (singular).
- Correct Answer: is
- Explanation: "Quality" is a singular noun.

#### 39) Fifty thousand rupees ________ a big sum.
- Subject: "Fifty thousand rupees" (treated as a single unit, singular).
- Correct Answer: is
- Explanation: Expressions of quantity like "fifty thousand rupees" are treated as singular.

#### 40) Forty metres ________ a good distance.
- Subject: "Forty metres" (treated as a single unit, singular).
- Correct Answer: is
- Explanation: Expressions of measurement like "forty metres" are treated as singular.

#### 41) Iron as well as gold ________ found in India.
- Subject: "Iron" (main subject, singular).
- Correct Answer: is
- Explanation: When "as well as" is used, the verb agrees with the main subject ("Iron" is singular).

#### 42) The cow as well as the horse ________ grass.
- Subject: "The cow" (main subject, singular).
- Correct Answer: eats
- Explanation: When "as well as" is used, the verb agrees with the main subject ("The cow" is singular).

#### 43) Which of these umbrellas ________ yours?
- Subject: "Which of these umbrellas" (singular because of "which").
- Correct Answer: is
- Explanation: Indefinite pronouns like "which" are singular.

#### 44) The Council ________ of one opinion.
- Subject: "The Council" (singular when acting as a unit).
- Correct Answer: is
- Explanation: Collective nouns like "Council" are singular when acting as a unit.

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Final Answers:

1. do
2. have
3. are
4. are
5. was
6. am
7. was
8. have
9. were
10. am
11. is
12. is
13. was
14. was
15. has
16. is
17. are
18. is
19. is
20. is
21. is
22. is
23. is
24. is
25. is
26. is
27. is
28. is
29. is
30. makes
31. is
32. is
33. is
34. was
35. is
36. allows
37. has
38. is
39. is
40. is
41. is
42. eats
43. is
44. is

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Boxed Final Answer:
\boxed{
\begin{array}{ll}
1. \text{do} & 23. \text{is} \\
2. \text{have} & 24. \text{is} \\
3. \text{are} & 25. \text{is} \\
4. \text{are} & 26. \text{is} \\
5. \text{was} & 27. \text{is} \\
6. \text{am} & 28. \text{is} \\
7. \text{was} & 29. \text{is} \\
8. \text{have} & 30. \text{makes} \\
9. \text{were} & 31. \text{is} \\
10. \text{am} & 32. \text{is} \\
11. \text{is} & 33. \text{is} \\
12. \text{is} & 34. \text{was} \\
13. \text{was} & 35. \text{is} \\
14. \text{was} & 36. \text{allows} \\
15. \text{has} & 37. \text{has} \\
16. \text{is} & 38. \text{is} \\
17. \text{are} & 39. \text{is} \\
18. \text{is} & 40. \text{is} \\
19. \text{is} & 41. \text{is} \\
20. \text{is} & 42. \text{eats} \\
21. \text{is} & 43. \text{is} \\
22. \text{is} & 44. \text{is} \\
\end{array}
}