Subject-Verb Agreement - Exercise 1

Choose the correct verb in each sentence below.  Then click the "Check My Work" button to view  the correct answers.

1.  Emily and Greg (comes,  come) to my house every Friday for lunch.
2.  There (is,  are) time to watch the movie.
3.  My friends who are in the band (wants,  want) me to play a musical instrument.
4.  My father or my brothers (is,  are) coming with me to the ball game.
5.  Everyone (needs, need) time to relax.
6.  That bag of oranges (looks, look) fresh.
7.  The lacrosse team (hopes, hope) to win the tournament next week.
8.  Your trousers (needs, need) to be cleaned.
9.  Some of the books on the shelf (is, are) dusty.
10.  Even though the students like the class, a few (thinks, think) that it is too complicated.

For further information on these resources, contact

Margaret L. Benner
Director, Writing Support Program
English Department
Towson University
benner@towson.edu 

Answer Key

Subject-Verb Agreement - Exercise 1

1.  The correct answer is come.  Emily and Greg (comes, come) to my house every Friday for lunch.  Refer to Rule #3 on the subject-verb agreement page.

Your answer:  come

     

2.  The correct answer is is.  There (is, are) time to watch the movie.  Refer to Rule #5 on the subject-verb agreement page.

Your answer:  is

       

3.  The correct answer is want.  My friends who are in the band (wants, want)  me to play a musical instrument.  Refer to Rule #1 on the subject-verb agreement page.

Your answer: want

      

4.  The correct answer is are.  My father or my brothers (is, are) coming with me to play a musical instrument.  Refer to Rule #4 on the subject-verb agreement page.

Your answer:  is

     

5.  The correct answer is needs.  Everyone (needs, need) time to relax.  Refer to Rule #2 on the subject-verb agreement page.

Your answer: need

    

6.  The correct answer is looks.  That bag of oranges (looks, look) fresh.  Refer to Rule #1 on the subject-verb agreement page.

Your answer: looks

       

7.  The correct answer is hopes.  The lacrosse team (hopes, hope) to the tournament next week.  Refer to Rule #6 on the subject-verb agreement page.

Your answer:  hopes

    

8.  The correct answer is need.  Your trousers (needs, need) to be cleaned.  Refer to Rule #8 on the subject-verb agreement page.

Your answer:  need

      

9.  The correct answer is are.  Some of the books on the shelf (is, are) dusty.  Refer to Rule #2 and Rule #1.

Your answer:  are

     

10.  The correct answer is think.  Even though the students like the class, a few (thinks, think) that it is too complicated.  Refer to Rule #2 on the subject verb agreement page.

Your answer: think