Exercises on Subject and Verb Agreement with Answers

As a copy editor, one of the most common mistakes I come across in writing is subject-verb disagreement. This occurs when the subject and verb in a sentence do not agree in number, leading to awkward and incorrect sentences that can be difficult to read and understand. Luckily, there are a variety of exercises you can do to master subject-verb agreement. In this article, I will provide some of the best exercises on subject-verb agreement along with answers to help you strengthen your writing skills.

Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Verb

In this exercise, you will be given a sentence with a subject-verb disagreement. Your task is to choose the correct form of the verb to make the sentence agree in number.

Example: The dogs (barks, bark) loudly at night.

Answer: The dogs bark loudly at night.

1. The book (has, have) many typos.

Answer: The book has many typos.

2. The group of students (is, are) excited for the field trip.

Answer: The group of students is excited for the field trip.

3. One of the apples (is, are) rotten.

Answer: One of the apples is rotten.

4. My friends (enjoy, enjoys) watching movies on weekends.

Answer: My friends enjoy watching movies on weekends.

5. The new employees (needs, need) to complete the training program.

Answer: The new employees need to complete the training program.

Exercise 2: Identify the Correct Subject-Verb Pair

In this exercise, you will be given a sentence with multiple subjects and verbs. Your task is to identify the correct subject-verb pair that agrees in number.

Example: The cat and the dog (chase, chases) each other in the yard.

Answer: The cat and the dog chase each other in the yard.

1. The teacher and the students (discuss, discusses) the novel in class.

Answer: The teacher and the students discuss the novel in class.

2. My brother or his friends (are, is) coming over later.

Answer: My brother or his friends is coming over later.

3. Neither the book nor the movie (is, are) very good.

Answer: Neither the book nor the movie is very good.

4. The trip to the beach and the picnic in the park (sounds, sound) like fun.

Answer: The trip to the beach and the picnic in the park sound like fun.

5. The art exhibit, along with the live music performance, (attracts, attract) a large crowd.

Answer: The art exhibit, along with the live music performance, attracts a large crowd.

Exercise 3: Rewrite the Sentence

In this exercise, you will be given a sentence with a subject-verb disagreement. Your task is to rewrite the sentence with the correct subject-verb agreement.

Example: The group of people was waiting for the bus.

Answer: The group of people were waiting for the bus.

1. The pair of shoes fit perfectly.

Answer: The pair of shoes fits perfectly.

2. The committee are meeting today to discuss the plan.

Answer: The committee is meeting today to discuss the plan.

3. The collection of paintings are on display at the museum.

Answer: The collection of paintings is on display at the museum.

4. The list of requirements for the job seem overwhelming.

Answer: The list of requirements for the job seems overwhelming.

5. The crowd at the concert were cheering loudly.

Answer: The crowd at the concert was cheering loudly.

By practicing these exercises regularly, you can improve your writing skills and avoid subject-verb disagreement in your writing. Remember to always check for subject-verb agreement when editing your work, and don`t be afraid to ask a friend or colleague to review your writing for any errors. With these exercises and a little practice, you`ll be a subject-verb agreement pro in no time!