This page has exercise 6, subject verb agreement exercises for advanced students.
View the subject verb examples and rules at the bottom of the page and then try the exercises below.
Instructions: Complete the subject verb agreement exercises below by placing the correct form of the verb in each gap. The answers are given after the last question.
(1) Many of my friends __________ (disagree / disagrees) with me on this topic.
(2) Fifteen pounds __________ (is / are) the price of that jacket.
(3) Two hundred kilometres __________ (seem / seems) a long distance to drive just for a party.
(4) One-half of the students in the class __________ (has / have) good marks on the test.
(5) Several members of staff in the company __________ (need / needs) a higher salary.
(6) Neither the bread nor the cheese __________ (is / are) fresh enough to eat.
(7) Two chairs by the table in the dining room __________ (is / are) broken.
(8) Many politicians in public office __________ (has / have) concerns about protecting the details of their private lives.
(9) Either my aunt or my uncle usually __________ (help / helps) my parents.
(10) The price of that pair of gloves __________ (was / were) five euros.
(11) Both he and his father __________ (has / have) the same medical problems.
(12) Anyone who has had children __________ (understand / understands) the importance of discipline.
(13) My neighbour, encouraged by his wife, __________ (give/ gives) money to those in need.
(14) Sanjav, my colleague and friend, __________ (work / works) in an office.
(15) Many __________ (go / goes) on pilgrimage in the summer.
(1) disagree – The subject of the sentence is many.
(2) is – The subject of the sentence is the price.
(3) seems – The subject of the sentence is a long way.
(4) have – The subject of the sentence is one-half of the students.
(5) need – The subject of the sentence is several members.
(6) is – The subject of the sentence is neither.
(7) are – The subject of the sentence is two chairs.
(8) have – The subject of the sentence is many politicians.
(9) helps – The subject of the sentence is either.
(10) was – The subject of the sentence is the price.
(11) have – The subject of the sentence is both.
(12) understands – The subject of the sentence is anyone.
(13) gives – The subject of the sentence is my neighbour.
(14) works – The subject of the sentence is Sanjav.
(15) go – The subject of the sentence is many.
Subject and verb agreement can become quite difficult if there are prepositional phrases or adverbials after the grammatical subject of a sentence.
Be sure to ignore the nouns in the prepositional phrases, and make the main verb agree in number to the grammatical subject of the sentence.
The verb form you use will depend on whether your grammatical subject is singular or plural.
Here is an example of a sentence containing a singular grammatical subject:
Example: The girl in my class on arts and crafts is very good at drawing.
The grammatical subject of this sentence is girl, not class, arts or crafts.
The phrases in my class and on arts and crafts are prepositional phrases that identify the class and its subject matter.
Here is an example of a sentence containing a plural grammatical subject.
Example: Many voters in the county in the north of England refuse to vote for the new candidate.
The grammatical subject of the previous sentence is voters, which is a plural noun.
The other nouns are in prepositional phrases that describe the location of the voting constituency.
A sentence that has a grammatical subject with the word and is plural when it refers to more than one thing.
Example: My mother and father met each other when they were only 14 years old.
When and refers to the same person, the subject is singular.
Example: My best friend and confidant has decided to move away.
In the sentence above, best friend and confidant are the roles played by a single person.
Be careful with sentences that have either/or and neither/nor.
Example: (singular) Either he or his assistant is responsible for the payroll.
Example: (plural) Neither the students nor the teachers agree with the proposal.
Indefinite pronouns are usually singular.
These are singular: everyone, each one, someone, somebody, no one, nobody, anyone, anybody
Example: Nobody knows how much stress I have right now.
However, these are plural: few, many, several, both, all, some
Example: Few drive a car attentively.
If you connect information inside a sentence in commas, the subject of the sentence is the thing mentioned before the first comma.
Example: Mr Smith, accompanied by his wife, was in attendance at the event.
The subject of the sentence above is Mr. Smith, which is singular.
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