Subject Verb Agreement

Fill in the blanks with a verb form that agrees with the subject.

1. Time and tide ………………………. for none.

wait
waits
If two nouns together represent one idea or refer to one person or thing, the verb is singular.

2. The state of his affairs ………………………… sure to cause anxiety to his

creditors.
was
were
Here the real subject is the singular expression ‘state’.

3. My father and I ………………………… soccer.

like
likes
When two singular subjects are connected by ‘and’, the verb is plural.

4. He or his friend …………………………… the secret.

know
knows
When two singular subjects are connected by or, the verb is singular.

5. He or his friends ………………………… responsible for this.

is
are
When a singular noun and a plural noun are connected by ‘or’, the verb agrees with the
number of the noun closest to it.

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 Subject Verb Agreement

6. Neither my friends nor I …………………………….. interested in this offer.

am
are
is
When we connect two nouns with neither and nor, the verb agrees with the number and
person of the noun nearest to it.

7. Either he or you …………………………. mistaken.

is
am
are
When we connect two nouns with either and or, the verb agrees with the number and person
of the noun nearest to it.

8. Oil as well as gas ………………………… imported to India.

is
are
When we connect two subjects with as well as, the verb usually agrees with the first subject
in number and person.

9. The mother along with her children ………………………… waiting in the

lobby.
is
are
When we connect two subjects with ‘along with’, the verb agrees with the first subject in
number and person.

10. Many a man …………………………. lost his life at sea.

has
have

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 Subject Verb Agreement

We use a singular verb after the expression ‘many a man’.

11. The Pickwick Papers ……………………….. written by Charles Dickens.

was
were
The names of books and magazines are all singular.

12. None of my shirts ………………………… clean.

is
are
Either could be used here
None can be followed by a singular or plural verb.

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Answers
1. Time and tide waits for none.
2. The state of his affairs was sure to cause anxiety to his creditors.
3. My father and I like soccer.
4. He or his friend knows the secret.
5. He or his friends are responsible for this.
6. Neither my friends nor I am interested in this offer.
7. Either he or you are mistaken.
8. Oil as well as gas is imported to India.
9. The mother along with her children is waiting in the lobby.
10. Many a man has lost his life at sea.
11. The Pickwick Papers was written by Charles Dickens.
12. None of my shirts is / are clean.

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