Join Core Login
Subject Verb Agreement

Subject Verb Agreement

By Englicist

Subject-Verb Agreement: Practice Questions

Practice is essential for mastering subject–verb agreement. This set of exam-style questions includes error correction, fill in the blanks, and transformation of sentences, followed by a complete answer key.

Section A: Error Correction

Directions: Each sentence below has an error in subject–verb agreement. Rewrite the sentence correctly.

  1. Each of the players have a new jersey.
  2. The team are playing well against its rivals.
  3. Neither of the answers are correct.
  4. A number of students is absent today.
  5. The number of girls in this class are increasing every year.
  6. The furniture in this room are very old.
  7. My scissors is lying on the table.
  8. Mathematics are an interesting subject.
  9. Either the principal or the teachers is responsible for this decision.
  10. Not only the students but also the teacher were late for the assembly.
  11. The committee have submitted its report.
  12. Many a student have failed this test.
  13. The news are not very encouraging today.
  14. Ten kilometres are a long distance to walk every day.
  15. The people of this village has suffered a lot.
  16. Every boy and every girl were given a badge.
  17. The army were moving in different directions.
  18. Lots of rice are wasted in hotels.
  19. The jury have given their verdict.
  20. Physics have many interesting branches.

Section B: Fill in the Blanks

Directions: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb given in brackets.

  1. Each of the students ________ (was / were) given a certificate.
  2. Either Rohan or his friends ________ (is / are) coming to visit us.
  3. The bouquet of roses ________ (smell / smells) wonderful.
  4. My trousers ________ (is / are) too tight.
  5. A number of tourists ________ (has / have) arrived today.
  6. The number of tourists ________ (is / are) increasing every season.
  7. Ten rupees ________ (is / are) not enough to buy this pen.
  8. Either the boys or the girl ________ (was / were) at fault.
  9. Neither my brother nor my sisters ________ (was / were) present.
  10. The audience ________ (was / were) requested to remain seated.
  11. Many a flower ________ (blooms / bloom) in this garden.
  12. Lots of people ________ (was / were) standing outside the stadium.
  13. Lots of sugar ________ (was / were) wasted during the transport.
  14. My family ________ (lives / live) in Mumbai.
  15. My family ________ (is / are) quarrelling among themselves.
  16. Here ________ (comes / come) the winners of the race.
  17. There ________ (has / have) been many complaints about this issue.
  18. More than one student ________ (has / have) applied for this scholarship.
  19. Both the captain and the coach ________ (was / were) praised by the principal.
  20. Neither the teacher nor the students ________ (seems / seem) interested in the proposal.

Section C: Transformation of Sentences

Directions: Rewrite the sentences as instructed, ensuring correct subject–verb agreement.

  1. All the members were present. (Begin with: Each)
  2. Each of the boys was rewarded. (Begin with: All)
  3. The teacher as well as the students was honoured. (Rewrite using: and)
  4. Both the manager and the assistant are responsible. (Rewrite using: Not only…but also)
  5. Not only the students but also the principal was pleased. (Rewrite using: Both…and)
  6. A large number of letters were received. (Begin with: The number of…)
  7. The number of visitors is increasing. (Begin with: A number of…)
  8. He, along with his friends, is going to the fair. (Rewrite without using: along with)
  9. Either Rahul or his brothers are telling a lie. (Rewrite with the plural subject first)
  10. Neither the boys nor the girl was injured. (Rewrite with the singular subject first)

Section D: Identify the Correct Sentence

Directions: In each question, choose the sentence that is grammatically correct in terms of subject–verb agreement.

    1. Each of the books are on the table.
    2. Each of the books is on the table.
    3. Each of the book is on the table.
    4. Each of the book are on the table.
    1. The team have won its match.
    2. The team has won their match.
    3. The team has won its match.
    4. The team have won their match.
    1. Neither of the boys were selected.
    2. Neither of the boys was selected.
    3. Neither of the boy were selected.
    4. Neither of the boy was selected.
    1. Ten years is a long time to wait.
    2. Ten years are a long time to wait.
    3. Ten year is a long time to wait.
    4. Ten year are a long time to wait.
    1. The United States are a powerful country.
    2. The United States is a powerful country.
    3. The United States were a powerful country.
    4. The United States be a powerful country.

Section E: Mixed Practice (ICSE-Style)

Directions: Do as directed.

  1. Correct the error in the following sentence (if any):
    The police is looking for the thief.
  2. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb:
    The cattle ________ (is / are) grazing in the field.
  3. Rewrite using “a number of”:
    Many students are absent today.
  4. Rewrite using “the number of”:
    Many trees were cut down last year.
  5. Fill in the blanks:
    Neither the teacher nor the students ________ (was / were) ready for the test.
  6. Correct the following sentence:
    One of my friends have gone abroad.
  7. Rewrite beginning with “There…”:
    Many problems exist in our society.
  8. Fill in the blanks:
    More than one book ________ (has / have) been lost.
  9. Correct the following sentence:
    A pair of shoes are on the rack.
  10. Fill in the blanks:
    The greater part of the work ________ (is / are) finished.

Answer Key

Section A: Error Correction

  1. Each of the players has a new jersey.
  2. The team is playing well against its rivals. (as one unit)
  3. Neither of the answers is correct.
  4. A number of students are absent today.
  5. The number of girls in this class is increasing every year.
  6. The furniture in this room is very old.
  7. My scissors are lying on the table.
  8. Mathematics is an interesting subject.
  9. Either the principal or the teachers are responsible for this decision. (nearest subject = teachers)
  10. Not only the students but also the teacher was late for the assembly. (nearest subject = teacher)
  11. The committee has submitted its report. (acting as one body)
  12. Many a student has failed this test.
  13. The news is not very encouraging today.
  14. Ten kilometres is a long distance to walk every day.
  15. The people of this village have suffered a lot.
  16. Every boy and every girl was given a badge.
  17. The army was moving in different directions. (if treated as one unit; “were” possible if stressing individuals, but school key prefers singular)
  18. Lots of rice is wasted in hotels.
  19. The jury has given its verdict. (as one body)
  20. Physics has many interesting branches. (many boards accept “is/has” as singular)

Section B: Fill in the Blanks

1. was, 2. are, 3. smells, 4. are, 5. have, 6. is, 7. is, 8. was, 9. were, 10. was (as one unit), 11. blooms, 12. were 13. was, 14. lives (family as one unit), 15. are (family members acting separately), 16. come, 17. have, 18. has, 19. were, 20. seem

Section C: Transformation of Sentences

  1. Each of the members was present.
  2. All the boys were rewarded.
  3. The teacher and the students were honoured.
  4. Not only the manager but also the assistant is responsible. (nearest subject = assistant; some boards accept plural here, but keep nearest-subject rule)
  5. Both the students and the principal were pleased.
  6. The number of letters received was large.
  7. A number of visitors are increasing every season.
  8. He and his friends are going to the fair.
  9. Either his brothers or Rahul is telling a lie. (with plural first; note nearest-subject rule)
  10. Neither the girl nor the boys were injured.

Section D: Identify the Correct Sentence

  1. (b) Each of the books is on the table.
  2. (c) The team has won its match.
  3. (b) Neither of the boys was selected.
  4. (a) Ten years is a long time to wait.
  5. (b) The United States is a powerful country.

Section E: Mixed Practice (ICSE-Style)

  1. The police are looking for the thief.
  2. The cattle are grazing in the field.
  3. A number of students are absent today.
  4. The number of trees cut down last year was high.
  5. Neither the teacher nor the students were ready for the test. (nearest subject = students)
  6. One of my friends has gone abroad.
  7. There are many problems in our society.
  8. More than one book has been lost.
  9. A pair of shoes is on the rack.
  10. The greater part of the work is finished.

This article is drafted with AI assistance and has been structured, reviewed, and edited by Jayanta Kumar Maity, M.A. in English, Editor & Co-Founder, Englicist.

While we strive for accuracy and clarity, if you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know to improve further.