Choose the correct verb form that agrees with the subject in each sentence.
English grammar worksheet with exercises to choose the correct verb form that agrees with the subject.
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Step-by-step solution for: Subject and verb agreement - ESL worksheet by nicole86
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Subject and verb agreement - ESL worksheet by nicole86
Let's go through each sentence and choose the correct verb form that agrees with the subject. We'll explain the reasoning for each.
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1. Annie and her brothers (is, are) at school.
✔ are
→ "Annie and her brothers" is a compound subject (two people), so it's plural → are
---
2. Either my mother or my father (is, are) coming to the meeting.
✔ is
→ With "either...or", use the verb that agrees with the closer subject ("father" is singular) → is
---
3. The dog or the cats (is, are) outside.
✔ are
→ "Cats" is closer and plural → are
---
4. Either my shoes or your coat (is, are) always on the floor.
✔ is
→ "Coat" is closer and singular → is
---
5. George and Tamara (doesn't, don't) want to see that movie.
✔ don't
→ Compound subject (two people) → plural → don't
---
6. Benito (doesn't, don't) know the answer.
✔ doesn't
→ Benito is singular → doesn't
---
7. One of my sisters (is, are) going on a trip to France.
✔ is
→ "One" is singular → is
---
8. The man with all the birds (live, lives) on my street.
✔ lives
→ "The man" is the subject; "with all the birds" is a prepositional phrase → singular → lives
---
9. The movie, including all the previews, (take, takes) about two hours to watch.
✔ takes
→ "The movie" is the main subject → singular → takes
---
10. The players, as well as the captain, (want, wants) to win.
✔ want
→ "The players" is the main subject; "as well as the captain" adds extra info → plural → want
---
11. Either answer (is, are) acceptable.
✔ is
→ "Either" means one of two → singular → is
---
12. Every one of those books (is, are) fiction.
✔ is
→ "Every one" is singular → is
---
13. Nobody (know, knows) the trouble I've seen.
✔ knows
→ "Nobody" is singular → knows
---
14. (Is, Are) the news on at five or six?
✔ Is
→ "The news" is an uncountable noun and treated as singular → Is
---
15. Mathematics (is, are) John's favorite subject, while Civics (is, are) Andrea's favorite subject.
✔ is, is
→ Both "Mathematics" and "Civics" are singular subjects (even though they end in -s, they are treated as singular) → is, is
---
16. Eight dollars (is, are) the price of a movie these days.
✔ is
→ "Eight dollars" refers to a single amount/price → treated as singular → is
---
17. (Is, Are) the tweezers in this drawer?
✔ Are
→ "Tweezers" is plural → Are
---
18. Your pants (is, are) at the cleaner's.
✔ are
→ "Pants" is plural → are
---
19. There (was, were) fifteen candies in that bag. Now there (is, are) only one left!
✔ were, is
→ First: "fifteen candies" → plural → were
Second: "one" → singular → is
---
20. The committee (debates, debate) these questions carefully.
✔ debates
→ "The committee" can be singular or plural depending on context. Here, it’s acting as a unit → singular → debates
---
21. The committee (leads, lead) very different lives in private.
✔ lead
→ Here, the committee members are acting individually → plural → lead
> Note: This contrasts with #20. Context matters.
---
22. The Prime Minister, together with his wife, (greets, greet) the press cordially.
✔ greets
→ "The Prime Minister" is the main subject; "together with his wife" is additional → singular → greets
---
23. All of the CDs, even the scratched one, (is, are) in this case.
✔ are
→ "All of the CDs" → plural → are
---
1. are
2. is
3. are
4. is
5. don't
6. doesn't
7. is
8. lives
9. takes
10. want
11. is
12. is
13. knows
14. Is
15. is, is
16. is
17. Are
18. are
19. were, is
20. debates
21. lead
22. greets
23. are
---
- Compound subjects: Use plural verb if both are singular/plural.
- Either/or, Neither/nor: Verb agrees with the closest subject.
- With phrases (e.g., "with", "including", "as well as"): Ignore them — verb agrees with the main subject.
- Collective nouns (e.g., committee, team): Singular if acting as a unit, plural if individuals.
- "Everyone", "nobody", "each", "every one": Always singular.
- Uncountable nouns (e.g., news, mathematics): Usually singular.
- Plural nouns ending in -s: Some (like "pants", "tweezers") are plural; others (like "mathematics") are singular.
Let me know if you'd like a printable version or explanations in another language!
---
1. Annie and her brothers (is, are) at school.
✔ are
→ "Annie and her brothers" is a compound subject (two people), so it's plural → are
---
2. Either my mother or my father (is, are) coming to the meeting.
✔ is
→ With "either...or", use the verb that agrees with the closer subject ("father" is singular) → is
---
3. The dog or the cats (is, are) outside.
✔ are
→ "Cats" is closer and plural → are
---
4. Either my shoes or your coat (is, are) always on the floor.
✔ is
→ "Coat" is closer and singular → is
---
5. George and Tamara (doesn't, don't) want to see that movie.
✔ don't
→ Compound subject (two people) → plural → don't
---
6. Benito (doesn't, don't) know the answer.
✔ doesn't
→ Benito is singular → doesn't
---
7. One of my sisters (is, are) going on a trip to France.
✔ is
→ "One" is singular → is
---
8. The man with all the birds (live, lives) on my street.
✔ lives
→ "The man" is the subject; "with all the birds" is a prepositional phrase → singular → lives
---
9. The movie, including all the previews, (take, takes) about two hours to watch.
✔ takes
→ "The movie" is the main subject → singular → takes
---
10. The players, as well as the captain, (want, wants) to win.
✔ want
→ "The players" is the main subject; "as well as the captain" adds extra info → plural → want
---
11. Either answer (is, are) acceptable.
✔ is
→ "Either" means one of two → singular → is
---
12. Every one of those books (is, are) fiction.
✔ is
→ "Every one" is singular → is
---
13. Nobody (know, knows) the trouble I've seen.
✔ knows
→ "Nobody" is singular → knows
---
14. (Is, Are) the news on at five or six?
✔ Is
→ "The news" is an uncountable noun and treated as singular → Is
---
15. Mathematics (is, are) John's favorite subject, while Civics (is, are) Andrea's favorite subject.
✔ is, is
→ Both "Mathematics" and "Civics" are singular subjects (even though they end in -s, they are treated as singular) → is, is
---
16. Eight dollars (is, are) the price of a movie these days.
✔ is
→ "Eight dollars" refers to a single amount/price → treated as singular → is
---
17. (Is, Are) the tweezers in this drawer?
✔ Are
→ "Tweezers" is plural → Are
---
18. Your pants (is, are) at the cleaner's.
✔ are
→ "Pants" is plural → are
---
19. There (was, were) fifteen candies in that bag. Now there (is, are) only one left!
✔ were, is
→ First: "fifteen candies" → plural → were
Second: "one" → singular → is
---
20. The committee (debates, debate) these questions carefully.
✔ debates
→ "The committee" can be singular or plural depending on context. Here, it’s acting as a unit → singular → debates
---
21. The committee (leads, lead) very different lives in private.
✔ lead
→ Here, the committee members are acting individually → plural → lead
> Note: This contrasts with #20. Context matters.
---
22. The Prime Minister, together with his wife, (greets, greet) the press cordially.
✔ greets
→ "The Prime Minister" is the main subject; "together with his wife" is additional → singular → greets
---
23. All of the CDs, even the scratched one, (is, are) in this case.
✔ are
→ "All of the CDs" → plural → are
---
✔ Final Answers:
1. are
2. is
3. are
4. is
5. don't
6. doesn't
7. is
8. lives
9. takes
10. want
11. is
12. is
13. knows
14. Is
15. is, is
16. is
17. Are
18. are
19. were, is
20. debates
21. lead
22. greets
23. are
---
🔍 Key Grammar Rules Recap:
- Compound subjects: Use plural verb if both are singular/plural.
- Either/or, Neither/nor: Verb agrees with the closest subject.
- With phrases (e.g., "with", "including", "as well as"): Ignore them — verb agrees with the main subject.
- Collective nouns (e.g., committee, team): Singular if acting as a unit, plural if individuals.
- "Everyone", "nobody", "each", "every one": Always singular.
- Uncountable nouns (e.g., news, mathematics): Usually singular.
- Plural nouns ending in -s: Some (like "pants", "tweezers") are plural; others (like "mathematics") are singular.
Let me know if you'd like a printable version or explanations in another language!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of subject verb agreement worksheet with answers.
