Thirty multiple choice questions on subject-verb agreement, the second topic in the Grammar track. Three previous year questions from the real AAI ATC papers are included in Section C, with an answer key at the end.
30questions
35 minsuggested time
3verified PYQs
MCQformat throughout
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Before you begin
Formulas you will need
Key formulas
A prepositional phrase (of the boys, along with, as well as) never controls the verb Always singular: each, every, neither, either, one of, news, mathematics, a sum of money, a distance Always plural: scissors, trousers, spectacles · a number of is plural but the number of is singular With either…or and neither…nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject
How to use this worksheet. Cross out every prepositional phrase before choosing the verb — the quality of the mangoes leaves just quality, which is singular. And in error-spotting questions, check every verb in the sentence, not only the first.
Section A · Level 1
The basic rule and singular-looking subjects
Ten questions. Find the real subject before you look at the verb.
Q1
A singular subject takes a:
The verb must agree in number with its subject. This is the whole of the topic in one line.
Q2
Choose the correct sentence.
Boys is plural, so it takes the plural verb play. Remember that in the present tense the -s ending belongs to the singular verb, the opposite of the noun.
Q3
Fill in the blank. Neither of the answers ______ correct.
Neither is singular and takes is, however plural the noun after of may look.
Q4
Fill in the blank. Each of the students ______ a book.
Each is always singular, so it takes has.
Q5
Fill in the blank. One of my friends ______ a doctor.
The subject is one, not friends. The phrase of my friends merely describes it, so the verb is is.
Q6
Fill in the blank. The news ______ shocking.
News looks plural but is a singular uncountable noun, so it takes is.
Q7
Fill in the blank. Mathematics ______ my favourite subject.
Subject names ending in -ics, such as mathematics, physics and economics, are singular.
Q8
Fill in the blank. The scissors ______ on the table.
Nouns naming two-part tools — scissors, trousers, spectacles — take a plural verb.
Q9
Fill in the blank. Ten kilometres ______ a long distance to walk.
A measurement treated as a single amount takes a singular verb, so it is is.
Q10
Fill in the blank. The committee ______ divided in its opinion.
A collective noun acting as one body takes a singular verb. If the members were acting individually, a plural verb would be possible.
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Section B · Level 2
Either-or, collective nouns and intervening phrases
Ten questions. Prepositional phrases never control the verb.
Q11
Fill in the blank. Either the teacher or the students ______ mistaken.
With either … or the verb agrees with the nearer subject, which here is the plural students.
Q12
Fill in the blank. Neither the students nor the teacher ______ present.
Again the verb follows the nearer subject, and teacher is singular. Compare this with the previous question — only the order has changed.
Q13
Fill in the blank. The quality of the mangoes ______ poor.
The subject is quality, which is singular. Of the mangoes is a prepositional phrase and never controls the verb.
Q14
Fill in the blank. A number of students ______ absent today.
A number of means many and takes a plural verb. But the number of is singular — the article changes everything.
Q15
Fill in the blank. The number of applicants ______ increasing.
The number is a single quantity, so it takes is. This is the exact counterpart of the previous question.
Q16
Fill in the blank. Bread and butter ______ my usual breakfast.
Two nouns naming a single combined idea take a singular verb.
Q17
Fill in the blank. My friend, along with his brothers, ______ coming.
Phrases such as along with, as well as and together with do not add to the subject, so the verb stays singular.
Q18
Fill in the blank. Not only the manager but also the clerks ______ responsible.
With not only … but also, the verb agrees with the nearer subject, here the plural clerks.
Q19
Fill in the blank. There ______ many reasons for his failure.
In a there sentence the real subject follows the verb. Here it is the plural reasons.
Q20
Fill in the blank. Every boy and every girl ______ been informed.
Every makes each part singular, so even joined by and the subject takes has.
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Section C · Previous year questions and error correction
Straight from the AAI ATC papers, plus error spotting
Ten questions. Three are real previous year questions.
Q21PYQ 2021 · Shift 3
Select the grammatically correct sentence.
Two agreements must both be right. 100 books is plural so it needs were, which rules out option 3. And each one is singular so it needs was, which rules out options 2 and 4. Only the first sentence gets both correct — a reminder to check every verb in the sentence, not just the first.
Q22PYQ 2021 · Shift 2
The following sentence has been divided into parts. Select the part that contains the error. Nature have its own way / of teaching us through different life experiences / that may seem unwelcome / but eventually cure us.
Nature is a singular subject, so it must be Nature has. The remaining parts are correct. In error-spotting questions the verb is the first place to look.
Q23PYQ 2021 · Shift 2
The following sentence has been divided into parts. Select the part that contains the error. The King tried his best to groom his foolish son / to prepare him for his future role, / but the young prince only go / from bad to worse.
The subject the young prince is singular and the sentence is in the past, so it should be went. Notice that the surrounding verbs are past tense, which fixes both the number and the tense.
Q24
Spot the error. The list of items are on the desk.
The subject is list, which is singular, so it should be is. The plural items sits inside a prepositional phrase and is a deliberate distraction.
Q25
Spot the error. Each of the boys have submitted their form.
Each is singular, so it must be has.
Q26
Choose the correct sentence.
The verb agrees with the nearer subject I, which takes am.
Q27
Fill in the blank. The jury ______ unable to reach a verdict.
Treated as a single body the jury takes a singular verb, so was.
Q28
Fill in the blank. Twenty rupees ______ not a large sum.
A sum of money is one amount, so the verb is singular.
Q29
Choose the correct sentence.
Names of subjects ending in -ics take singular verbs.
Q30
Fill in the blank. Neither of the two answers ______ acceptable.
Neither means not one, so it is singular and takes is.
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Answer key
Answers
Check only after you have attempted every question. Tap any question above to see the full explanation.
All thirty questions with the formula sheet printed on the front page and ruled working space for your circuit reductions. Print it, solve it, keep it.
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