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Subject-Verb Agreement: Rules and Exceptions
Practice subject-verb-agreement-syntax with 20 free MCQ questions covering english. Detailed explanations in English and Hindi, perfect for UPSC, SSC, and competitive exam preparation.
FreePrep.inSubject-Verb Agreement: Rules and Exceptions20:00
Subject-Verb Agreement: Rules and Exceptions20:00
subject-verb-agreement-syntax — Answer Key & Explanations (20 Questions)
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Attempt the quiz above first, then review every question with its correct answer and a short explanation below.
Q1.The boy ___ playing in the garden.
- A.are
- B.is✓ Correct Answer
- C.were
- D.be
Explanation: A singular subject takes a singular verb: "is".
Q2.The boys ___ playing in the garden.
- A.is
- B.are✓ Correct Answer
- C.was
- D.be
Explanation: A plural subject takes a plural verb: "are".
Q3.She ___ a doctor in this city.
- A.are
- B.am
- C.were
- D.is✓ Correct Answer
Explanation: The singular "she" takes "is".
Q4.My friends ___ waiting for me outside.
- A.is
- B.are✓ Correct Answer
- C.was
- D.has
Explanation: The plural subject "friends" needs "are".
Q5.He ___ not like coffee.
- A.do
- B.did
- C.does✓ Correct Answer
- D.done
Explanation: With a singular third-person subject in the present, use "does".
Q6.They ___ gone home already.
- A.has
- B.have✓ Correct Answer
- C.is
- D.was
Explanation: The plural "they" takes "have".
Q7.Neither of the two boys ___ present in the class.
- A.were
- B.are
- C.was✓ Correct Answer
- D.have been
Explanation: "Neither of" is treated as singular, so "was".
Q8.Each of the students ___ a separate book.
- A.have
- B.are having
- C.were
- D.has✓ Correct Answer
Explanation: "Each of" takes a singular verb: "has".
Q9.The news from the border ___ not good.
- A.are
- B.were
- C.have been
- D.is✓ Correct Answer
Explanation: "News" looks plural but is an uncountable singular noun.
Q10.Mathematics ___ my favourite subject.
- A.are
- B.is✓ Correct Answer
- C.were
- D.have been
Explanation: Names of subjects such as mathematics and physics take a singular verb, so "is".
Q11.Either he or I ___ responsible for this mistake.
- A.is
- B.are
- C.were
- D.am✓ Correct Answer
Explanation: With either/or, the verb agrees with the nearer subject, "I", so "am".
Q12.The police ___ searching for the thief.
- A.are✓ Correct Answer
- B.is
- C.was
- D.has been
Explanation: "Police" is a plural noun that takes a plural verb.
Q13.Two-thirds of the work ___ already finished.
- A.is✓ Correct Answer
- B.are
- C.were
- D.have been
Explanation: The verb agrees with "work", which is singular and uncountable.
Q14.Ten kilometres ___ a long distance to walk.
- A.are
- B.were
- C.is✓ Correct Answer
- D.have been
Explanation: A measure of distance, money or time is treated as one unit.
Q15.The number of students in our school ___ increasing every year.
- A.is✓ Correct Answer
- B.are
- C.were
- D.have been
Explanation: "The number of" takes a singular verb.
Q16.A number of students ___ absent today.
- A.were✓ Correct Answer
- B.was
- C.is
- D.has been
Explanation: "A number of" means "several" and takes a plural verb.
Q17.Not only the teacher but also the students ___ present at the function.
- A.were✓ Correct Answer
- B.was
- C.is
- D.has been
Explanation: With not only/but also, the verb agrees with the nearer subject, "students".
Q18.The principal, along with the teachers, ___ attending the meeting.
- A.are
- B.were
- C.is✓ Correct Answer
- D.have been
Explanation: "Along with" does not change the number of the subject; the verb agrees with "principal".
Q19.He is one of the boys who ___ always late.
- A.is
- B.was
- C.are✓ Correct Answer
- D.has been
Explanation: In "one of the ... who", the relative pronoun refers to the plural "boys", so "are".
Q20.Where ___ the scissors that I left on the table?
- A.is
- B.was
- C.has
- D.are✓ Correct Answer
Explanation: "Scissors" is a plural noun and takes a plural verb.