Subject-verb agreement is an important aspect of the English language, and it can often be tricky to get it right. To help you test your knowledge on subject-verb agreement, we have put together some multiple choice questions with answers.
1. Which sentence has a subject-verb agreement error?
a) The team of players are ready to start the game.
b) The group of students is preparing for their presentation.
c) The herd of cows graze in the field.
Answer: a) The team of players are ready to start the game. – The correct sentence should be “The team of players is ready to start the game.” Even though “players” is plural, the subject of the sentence is “team,” which is singular.
2. Which sentence has a subject-verb agreement error?
a) The news about the election is concerning.
b) The number of students who passed the exam are small.
c) The list of items to bring includes a sleeping bag and a flashlight.
Answer: b) The number of students who passed the exam are small. – The correct sentence should be “The number of students who passed the exam is small.” Even though “students” is plural, the subject of the sentence is “number,” which is singular.
3. Which sentence has a subject-verb agreement error?
a) Neither John nor his friends is attending the party.
b) The book about dinosaurs and their environment is fascinating.
c) The group of tourists, including the guide, are taking pictures.
Answer: c) The group of tourists, including the guide, are taking pictures. – The correct sentence should be “The group of tourists, including the guide, is taking pictures.” Even though “tourists” is plural, the subject of the sentence is “group,” which is singular.
4. Which sentence has a subject-verb agreement error?
a) The research done by the scientists are groundbreaking.
b) One of the students in the class is absent.
c) The company and its employees are celebrating their success.
Answer: a) The research done by the scientists are groundbreaking. – The correct sentence should be “The research done by the scientists is groundbreaking.” Even though “scientists” is plural, the subject of the sentence is “research,” which is singular.
5. Which sentence has a subject-verb agreement error?
a) Some of the dogs in the park are barking.
b) The news from the government is worrisome.
c) Neither the cat nor the dog has eaten their food.
Answer: c) Neither the cat nor the dog has eaten their food. – The correct sentence should be “Neither the cat nor the dog has eaten its food.” Even though there are two subjects, they are joined by “nor,” which means they are singular. Therefore, the pronoun should be “its” and not “their.”
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is an important rule to follow in English, and these multiple-choice questions can help you test your knowledge. Remember, the subject and verb of a sentence must agree in number, regardless of any other words in the sentence. By practicing these questions and paying attention to subject-verb agreement, you can improve your writing and communication skills.
