Subject Verb Agreement 1. The long and the short of the matter …………………………..

www.englishgrammar.org that we have been betrayed.

Fill in the blanks with a verb form that agrees with the subject. Is are
1. The state of affairs …………………….. sure to cause her The verb must be singular when two or more subjects together
anxiety. express one idea.
Is are have 2. The chairman and the secretary
Here the subject is the singular noun state. …………………………………. present.
2. A writer and a speaker ……………………………. in that Was . were
house. The verb must be plural when two or more singular subjects
Live lives are connected by and.
When you connect two singular subjects with and, they 3. No nook or corner ……………………………… left
become plural and are followed by a unexplored.
plural verb. Was. were
3. The introduction of reforms ………………………… greatly The verb must be singular when two or more singular subjects
opposed by the aristocracy. are connected by or.
Was were 4. Neither Sam nor his brother ……………………………..
Here the subject is the singular noun introduction; hence we present there.
use the singular verb. Was were
4. Time and tide ……………………………. for none. The verb must be singular when two or more singular subjects
Wait waits are connected by neither/nor.
When two singular nouns together express one idea, the 5. Does anyone …………………………… where Celia lives?
following verb is singular. Know .knows
5. Bread and butter ………………………….. served for The infinitive does not take the marker –s after do, does or did.
breakfast. 6. ……………………………… she in love with somebody else?
Was were Is Are Does
When two singular nouns together express one idea, the 7. He and I ……………………………. birds of the same
following verb is singular. feather.
6. The horse and carriage ………………………… waiting at the Is am are
door. When two singular subjects are connected by and, the verb
Is are have must be singular.
When two singular nouns together express one idea, the 8. Everybody …………………………….. frustrated by the
following verb is singular. delay.
7. Slow and steady ……………………….. the race. Was were
Win wins We use a singular verb after everybody.
When two singular nouns together express one idea, the 9. Tell the children to raise their …………………………….
following verb is singular. Hand hands
8. …………………………… she know what she is doing? We usually use a plural noun after a plural possessive.
Does Do 10. Many people lost their …………………………… in the
We use does here because the subject is the singular pronoun accident.
she. Lives life
9. She ……………………………. one project when she started 11. Neither the minister nor his secretary
working on the next. ………………………………. able to give a satisfactory
hardly finished .had hardly finished. has hardly explanation.
finished Was were
We use the past perfect for the earlier of two past actions. 12. A good knowledge of at least three languages
10. I ………………………………. since morning and I was …………………………… essential for this job.
getting tired. Is are
have been working . had been working Here the actual subject is the singular noun knowledge.
.have worked Subject-Verb Agreement
11. Each man and each woman ………………………. a vote. Fill in the blanks with a verb form that agrees with the subject.
Has . have 1. The orator and philosopher ………………….. dead.
We use a singular verb after each. Is are
12. Every child …………………………. love. Here the article is used only once and hence both nouns refer
Need . needs to the same person. Therefore, we need a singular verb here.
We use a singular verb after each and every. 2. The artist and the poet …………………….. arrived.
Has have
Here the article the is used before both the nouns and hence 3. A dictionary and an atlas …………………… missing from
they refer to different people. the library.
Therefore, we use a plural verb here. Is are
3. The long and the short of the matter 4. The leader as well as his brothers ………………… to the
………………………..that we cannot continue like this. same tribe.
Is are Belong belongs
When two subjects together express one idea, the verb is 5. Cats and dogs ……………….…….. not get along.
usually singular in number. Do does
4. Every man and woman …………………………. a vote. 6. The brothers as well as their sister …………………… ..
Has have good at their studies.
When singular subjects are preceded by each or every, the Is are
verb is usually singular. 7. The students accompanied by their teacher ………………….
5. Neither Peter nor Harry ………………………… passed the gone on a picnic.
exam. Has have
Has have 8. A lot of houses ………………… collapsed in the storm.
Two or more singular subjects connected by neither … nor Has have
take a singular verb. 9. The children as well as their mother ………………….
6. No nook or corner …………………………. left unexplored. missing.
Was were Is are
Two or more singular subjects connected by or takes a 10. A large sum of money ………………… stolen.
singular verb. Was were
7. Either John or Sam ……………………….. to quit. Subject verb agreement worksheet
Has have Complete the following sentences using a verb form that
Two or more singular subjects connected by either…or… take agrees with the subject.
a singular verb. 1. My father joined the cavalry because he ……………….
8. Either you or I ………………………. mistaken. horses.
Am are is a) love b) loves c) loved
When the subjects joined by or or nor are of different persons, 2. Bears often ………………… in caves.
the verb agrees in person with the subject nearest to it. a) hibernate b) hibernated c) hibernates
9. He is not to blame, nor ……………………… you. 3. His caustic remarks ……………….. our sentiments.
Is are have a) hurt b) hurted c) hurts
When the subjects joined by or or nor are of different persons, 4. Cowboys ……………….. herds of beef cattle.
the verb agrees in person with the subject nearest to it. a) tend b) tended c) tends
10. You and he ………………………… birds of the same 5. Her laughter was so catching we all …………….. in.
feather. a) join b) joins c) joined
Is are 6. The social services department …………… specialists for
When two singular pronouns are connected by and, the verb is each welfare category.
plural. a) has b) have
11. My father and I ………………………. lived here for many 7. The doting husband ……………… to his wife’s every wish.
years. a) cater b) caters
Has have 8. The politician made a categorical denial of the charges that
When two nouns are connected by and, the verb is plural. he ……………… bribes.
12. Neither praise nor censure ………………………. to bother a) has taken b) had taken
him. 9. Let him who is without sin, ……………. the first stone.
Seem seems a) cast b) casts c) casted
Two or more singular subjects connected by neither … nor
take a singular verb. Subject verb agreement worksheet
Fill in the blanks with appropriate forms of verb. Choose the
Subject verb agreement exercise answers from the options given in the brackets.
Combine the following sentences using an appropriate form of 1. One of my friends ..................... .. gone to France.
the verb given in the brackets. Has have
1. Man and woman ………………… complementary to each 2. Each of the boys ..................... . given a present.
other. Was were
Is are 3. Neither of the contestants ..................... .. able to win a
2. Plenty of mangoes and bananas ………………… available decisive victory.
in this season. Was were
Is are 4. Oil and water ..................... .. not mix.
Does do 6. No nook or corner was left unexplored.
5. He and I ..................... .. at Oxford together. 7. Either John or Sam has to quit.
Was were 8. Either you or I am mistaken.
6. Slow and steady ....................... the race. 9. He is not to blame, nor are you.
Win wins 10. You and he are birds of the same feather.
7. Neither Peter nor James ....................... any right to the 11. My father and I have lived here for many years.
property. 12. Neither praise nor censure seems to bother him.
Has have
8. No prize or medal ………………….. given to the boy, though Answers
he stood first in the examination. 1. Man and woman are complementary to each other.
Was were 2. Plenty of mangoes and bananas are available in this
9. Either Mary or Alice ..................... responsible for this. season.
Is are 3. A dictionary and an atlas are missing from the library.
10. Neither the Minister nor his colleagues .....................…… 4. The leader as well as his brothers belongs to the same tribe.
given any explanation for this. 5. Cats and dogs do not get along.
Has have 6. The brothers as well as their sister are good at their studies.
7. The students accompanied by their teacher have gone on a
Answers picnic.
1. The state of affairs is sure to cause her anxiety. 8. A lot of houses have collapsed in the storm.
2. A writer and a speaker live in that house. 9. The children as well as their mother are missing.
3. The introduction of reforms was greatly opposed by the 10. A large sum of money was stolen.
aristocracy. Answers
4. Time and tide waits for none. 1. My father joined the cavalry because he loved horses.
5. Bread and butter was served for breakfast. 2. Bears often hibernate in caves.
6. The horse and carriage is waiting at the door. 3. His caustic remarks hurt our sentiments.
7. Slow and steady wins the race. 4. Cowboys tend herds of beef cattle.
8. Does she know what she is doing? 5. Her laughter was so catching we all joined in.
9. She had hardly finished one project when she started Subject verb agreement worksheet
working on the next. www.englishgrammar.org
10. I had been working since morning and I was getting tired. 6. The social services department has specialists for each
11. Each man and each woman has a vote. welfare category.
12. Every child needs love 7. The doting husband caters to his wife’s every wish.
8. The politician made a categorical denial of the charges that
Answers he had taken bribes.
The long and the short of the matter is that we have been 9. Let him who is without sin, cast the first stone.
betrayed.
The chairman and the secretary were present. Answers
No nook or corner was left unexplored. 1. One of my friends has gone to France.
Neither Sam nor his brother was present there. 2. Each of the boys was given a present.
Does anyone know where Celia lives? 3. Neither of the contestants was able to win a decisive victory.
Is she in love with somebody else? 4. Oil and water do not mix.
He and I are birds of the same feather. 5. He and I were at Oxford together.
Everybody was frustrated by the delay. 6. Slow and steady wins the race.
Tell the children to raise their hands. 7. Neither Peter nor James has any right to the property.
Many people lost their lives in the accident. 8. No prize or medal was given to the boy, though he stood
Neither the minister nor his secretary was able to give a first in the examination.
satisfactory explanation. 9. Either Mary or Alice is responsible for this.
A good knowledge of at least three languages is essential for 10. Neither the Minister nor his colleagues have given an
this job. explanation for this.

Answers
1. The orator and philosopher is dead.
2. The artist and the poet have arrived.
3. The long and the short of the matter is that we cannot
continue like this.
4. Every man and woman has a vote.
5. Neither Peter nor Harry has passed the exam.