Agreement of the Verb with the Subject Exercises

Agreement of the Verb with the Subject Exercises: How to Improve Your Writing Skills

English grammar can be challenging, especially when it comes to subject-verb agreement. If you’re unsure about the correct use of verb tenses and forms, it can affect the clarity and coherence of your writing. But don`t worry, with the right exercises and practice, you can improve your skills and become more confident in your writing.

Here are some agreement of the verb with the subject exercises that can help you improve your writing skills.

1. Basic Subject-Verb Agreement Exercises

The most fundamental rule in subject-verb agreement is that a singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a plural verb. For example:

– The cat chases the mouse.

– The cats chase the mice.

Here are some exercises to test your understanding of basic subject-verb agreement:

– The dog (barks, bark) at night.

– The children (play, plays) in the park.

– The book (is, are) on the table.

– My friends (likes, like) to play soccer.

The correct answers are: barks, play, is, like.

2. Indefinite Pronouns Exercises

Indefinite pronouns are those that do not refer to a specific person or thing, such as: everyone, anyone, someone, nobody, nothing, something, etc. In subject-verb agreement, these pronouns can be tricky because some are singular and some are plural. For example:

– Everyone knows their name. (incorrect)

– Everyone knows his or her name. (correct)

Here are some exercises to test your understanding of indefinite pronouns:

– Everyone (has, have) the right to speak their mind.

– Someone (was, were) knocking at the door.

– Neither of the candidates (has, have) a lot of experience.

– Each of the students (has, have) their own laptop.

The correct answers are: has, was, has, has.

3. Subject-Verb Agreement in Compound Subjects

When two or more subjects are joined by “and”, the verb should be plural. For example:

– The cat and the dog chase the mouse.

Here are some exercises to test your understanding of compound subjects:

– The pen and the book (is, are) on the table.

– My sister and I (enjoy, enjoys) hiking.

– The pizza and the salad (taste, tastes) delicious.

– My mother and my father (are, is) coming to visit me.

The correct answers are: are, enjoy, taste, are.

4. Subject-Verb Agreement with Collective Nouns

A collective noun refers to a group of individuals, such as: team, family, audience, class, etc. In subject-verb agreement, these nouns can be singular or plural depending on the context. For example:

– The team is playing well. (singular)

– The team are arguing with each other. (plural)

Here are some exercises to test your understanding of collective nouns:

– The family (is, are) going on vacation next week.

– The audience (was, were) clapping loudly.

– The class (is, are) discussing the new project.

– The committee (has, have) made their decision.

The correct answers are: is, were, is, has.

Conclusion

Mastering subject-verb agreement is crucial for effective communication in writing. By practicing these exercises, you can improve your grammar skills and avoid common mistakes. Remember, accuracy and clarity are essential in writing, and subject-verb agreement is one of the basic components of grammar that can help you achieve that.