Summary of traditional subject-verb agreement rules - ESL ... - Free Printable

To solve the problem, we need to apply the rules of subject-verb agreement. The key principles are:

1. Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs.
2. Certain words (e.g., "none," "either," "neither") are singular.
3. Expressions like "a number of" or "the number of" require careful attention: "a number of" is plural, while "the number of" is singular.
4. Collective nouns (e.g., "class," "team") can be singular or plural depending on context.

Let's go through each part step by step:

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A) The food ______ good. John’s advice ______ good.

- The food is singular, so it takes a singular verb.
- John’s advice is also singular (advice is uncountable).
- Solution:
- The food is good.
- John’s advice is good.

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B) The class ______ going on a field trip. The class ______ been arguing about where to go.

- The class can be singular or plural depending on context. Here, it seems to refer to the group as a whole, so it is singular.
- Solution:
- The class is going on a field trip.
- The class has been arguing about where to go.

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C) The rich are in favor of a tax cut.

- The rich refers to a group of people, so it is plural.
- Solution:
- The rich are in favor of a tax cut.

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D) Wales ______ a beautiful region. Mathematics ______ a difficult subject. Measles often ______ side effects. The news ______ very good.

- Wales is a singular noun (a country).
- Mathematics is a singular subject.
- Measles is a singular noun (a disease).
- The news is singular (uncountable).
- Solution:
- Wales is a beautiful region.
- Mathematics is a difficult subject.
- Measles often has side effects.
- The news is very good.

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E) Six hundred miles ______ too far to drive in one day.

- Six hundred miles is a plural subject, but it refers to a single distance, so it is treated as singular.
- Solution:
- Six hundred miles is too far to drive in one day.

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F) Four times five equal/equals twenty.

- Four times five is a mathematical expression treated as singular.
- Solution:
- Four times five equals twenty.

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G) My pair of scissors ______ lost. My scissors ______ lost.

- My pair of scissors is singular (pair is the subject).
- My scissors is plural (scissors is the subject).
- Solution:
- My pair of scissors is lost.
- My scissors are lost.

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H) What we need ______ more reference books.

- What we need is singular because it refers to a single thing (more reference books).
- Solution:
- What we need is more reference books.

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I) Reading books ______ my hobby. To err ______ human.

- Reading books is a gerund phrase acting as a singular subject.
- To err is an infinitive phrase acting as a singular subject.
- Solution:
- Reading books is my hobby.
- To err is human.

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J) A lot of the (book/information) ______ about urban poverty. A lot of computers ______ to be repaired. All my family lives in Ohio.

- A lot of the information is singular (information is uncountable).
- A lot of computers is plural.
- All my family is singular when referring to the entire family unit.
- Solution:
- A lot of the information is about urban poverty.
- A lot of computers are to be repaired.
- All my family lives in Ohio.

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K) Every student ______ a lunch box.

- Every student is singular.
- Solution:
- Every student has a lunch box.

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L) A number of students ______ taking the exam.

- A number of students is plural.
- Solution:
- A number of students are taking the exam.

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M) The number of students taking the exam ______ 75.

- The number of students is singular.
- Solution:
- The number of students taking the exam is 75.

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N) None of the magazines ______ here.

- None is singular.
- Solution:
- None of the magazines is here.

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O) (Either/neither) ______ acceptable to me.

- Either and neither are singular.
- Solution:
- Either/neither is acceptable to me.

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P) Either Bob or my cousins ______ going to do it. Neither my cousins nor Bob ______ going to do it.

- Either Bob or my cousins: The verb agrees with the closer subject ("my cousins" is plural).
- Neither my cousins nor Bob: The verb agrees with the closer subject ("Bob" is singular).
- Solution:
- Either Bob or my cousins are going to do it.
- Neither my cousins nor Bob is going to do it.

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Q) There ______ one book on the table. There ______ a book and a pen on the table.

- There is one book (singular subject).
- There are a book and a pen (plural subjects).
- Solution:
- There is one book on the table.
- There are a book and a pen on the table.

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Final Answer:

\boxed{
\begin{aligned}
&\text{A) The food } \mathbf{is} \text{ good. John’s advice } \mathbf{is} \text{ good.} \\
&\text{B) The class } \mathbf{is} \text{ going on a field trip. The class } \mathbf{has} \text{ been arguing about where to go.} \\
&\text{C) The rich } \mathbf{are} \text{ in favor of a tax cut.} \\
&\text{D) Wales } \mathbf{is} \text{ a beautiful region. Mathematics } \mathbf{is} \text{ a difficult subject. Measles often } \mathbf{has} \text{ side effects. The news } \mathbf{is} \text{ very good.} \\
&\text{E) Six hundred miles } \mathbf{is} \text{ too far to drive in one day.} \\
&\text{F) Four times five } \mathbf{equals} \text{ twenty.} \\
&\text{G) My pair of scissors } \mathbf{is} \text{ lost. My scissors } \mathbf{are} \text{ lost.} \\
&\text{H) What we need } \mathbf{is} \text{ more reference books.} \\
&\text{I) Reading books } \mathbf{is} \text{ my hobby. To err } \mathbf{is} \text{ human.} \\
&\text{J) A lot of the information } \mathbf{is} \text{ about urban poverty. A lot of computers } \mathbf{are} \text{ to be repaired. All my family } \mathbf{lives} \text{ in Ohio.} \\
&\text{K) Every student } \mathbf{has} \text{ a lunch box.} \\
&\text{L) A number of students } \mathbf{are} \text{ taking the exam.} \\
&\text{M) The number of students taking the exam } \mathbf{is} \text{ 75.} \\
&\text{N) None of the magazines } \mathbf{is} \text{ here.} \\
&\text{O) Either/neither } \mathbf{is} \text{ acceptable to me.} \\
&\text{P) Either Bob or my cousins } \mathbf{are} \text{ going to do it. Neither my cousins nor Bob } \mathbf{is} \text{ going to do it.} \\
&\text{Q) There } \mathbf{is} \text{ one book on the table. There } \mathbf{are} \text{ a book and a pen on the table.}
\end{aligned}
}