Subject Verb Agreement Set 1
Preposition Quiz
Many a good man ........... been addicted to drugs.
✅ Many a + singular noun + singular verb'
The earth ........... round the sun.
✅ Singular subjects (the earth) take singular verb i.e. moves (V5) '
............. your father and mother job holder?
✅ Two or more nouns or pronouns joined by ‘and’ often require a plural verb.'
Mathematics .......... a universal language underlying all scientific fields.
✅ Some nouns ending in –s are plural in form, but singular in meaning like: mathematics, linguistics, statistics, economics, ethics, politics, gymnastics'
Fives .......... handball skills by hitting a ball against a wall.
✅ Use singular verb (V5: gets, demands/has/is/was) for GAMES and SPORTS like: rounders, table tennis, checkers/ draughts, noughts and crosses, musical bumps, fives, billiards, bowls, darts, dominoes, etc.'
Deer ........... commonly spotted in the forest.
✅ Some nouns like staff, cattle, livestock, people, vermin, poultry, sheep, deer, salmon, fish, police, outskirts, stairs, arms, swine, gentry and clergymen take plural verb [V1: go/eat/look/eat/are (were/have)]'
Neither of these two boys ............ good at English.
✅ If the subject of a sentence begins with ‘either of / neither of / each of / one of / everyone of + plural nouns, it must be followed by singular verb i.e. V5 (is/was/has/goes/wants)'
A chain of restaurants .......... expanding across the city.
✅ Phrases beginning with a chain of / a bunch of / a bouquet of / a batch of / a galaxy of / a series of / a packet of +plural nouns generally take singular verb'
Twenty minus five .......... fifteen.
✅ Subjects that are about specific quantity or amount, distance, measurement and arithmetic sums often have a singular verb (is/was/has/equals/means)'
Pliers ............ versatile tools in a toolbox.
✅ Scissors, shorts, pants, jeans, trousers, binoculars, tongs, and pliers take plural verbs (are/were/have). However, when referred to as "a pair of," they take a singular verb (is/was/has). '
A pair of tongs .......... sitting by the barbecue.
✅ Scissors, shorts, pants, jeans, trousers, binoculars, tongs, and pliers take plural verbs (are/were/have). However, when referred to as "a pair of," they take a singular verb (is/was/has). '
Either of the women ....... beautiful.
✅ If the subject of a sentence begins with ‘either of / neither of / each of / one of / everyone of + plural nouns, it must be followed by singular verb [V5: goes/plays (is/was/has)]'
A flock of sheep .......... coming.
✅ Phrases beginning with -a crowd of / a band of/ a group of / a herd of / a flock of / a gang of / a regiment of / a set of / a team of / a pack of / a pride of +plural nouns take both plural and singular verbs.'
There ........ a guest in the restaurant.
✅ There +singular verb + singular noun'
He ........... absent yesterday
✅ Singular subjects (he) take singular verb i.e. was'
I will ........... New York next month.
✅ .................... '
You should ...........hard.
✅ Modal auxiliary verbs such as can/ could/shall/should/will/would/ may/might /must/ ought to/need to/dare to/used to, etc. are always followed by plural verbs even if the subject is singular '
Time and tide .......... for no man.
✅ When the noun, even joined by 'and', suggests one idea to the mind or refers to something, the verb is singular'
The text ......... accompanied by a series of stunning photographs.
✅ Two or more subjects joined by ‘as well as’, ‘with’, ‘together with’, ‘along with’, accompanied by’, ‘including’, ‘in addition’, ‘no less than’, etc. take verb according to the former subject'
Linguistics ........... into the complexities of language evolution.
✅ Some nouns ending in –s are plural in form, but singular in meaning like: mathematics, linguistics, statistics, economics, ethics, politics, gymnastics '
Measles ............ a contagious disease that spreads rapidly in unvaccinated populations.
✅ Some nouns ending in –s are plural in form, but singular in meaning like: measles, shambles, rabies, AIDS, mumps, tuberculosis, syphilis, paralysis, crisis, diabetes, shingles, rickets [Diseases and Injuries]'
Darts ............ at a target on the board to score points.
✅ Use singular verb (V5: gets, demands/has/is/was) for GAMES and SPORTS like: rounders, table tennis, checkers/ draughts, noughts and crosses, musical bumps, fives, billiards, bowls, darts, dominoes, etc. '
Either of the women ........... beautiful.
✅ Two or more nouns qualified by each or every, joined by ‘and’ require singular verb: V5 (goes/eats/has/is/was)'
A bunch of keys ......... found on the sidewalk.
✅ Phrases beginning with a chain of / a bunch of / a bouquet of / a batch of / a galaxy of / a series of / a packet of +plural nouns generally take singular verb'
Trousers ........... in various styles.
✅ Scissors, shorts, pants, jeans, trousers, binoculars, tongs, and pliers take plural verbs (are/were/have). However, when referred to as "a pair of," they take a singular verb (is/was/has).'