Select the correct verb for each of the following sentences.
The following situations can cause confusion about subject-verb agreement. Study each one, and
then answer the questions that follow.
Situation 1: Having two or more nouns that seem to be the subject.
Example: One of the people in the crowd (were/was) taking photos of the riot.
Tip: Cross out prepositional phrases (“of the people” and “in the crowd”) to find the actual
subject (“one”), and then you can select the correct verb: was.
Situation 2: When using either/or or neither/nor
Example: Either Jenna or her teammates (was/were) responsible.
Tip: Make sure the verb agrees with the noun closest to it. The correct verb is were.
Situation 3: Sentences that start with there
Example: There (was/were) a coach and coaching assistants staying in the hotel.
Tip: Look at the subject and determine if it compound or singular in sentences that start with
there. Select the noun that fits. In this case, the subject is compound, so the noun is were.
Situation 4: Recognize the singular subjects one, everyone, anyone, anybody, everybody,
none, and so on.
Example: Everyone browsing through the books (seem/seems) cheerful.
Tip: Memorize indefinite pronouns and their number. The correct verb is seems because
everyone is singular.
Exercises:
1. Either two teachers’ aides or one teacher (has/have) to monitor the test.
2. I would like a list of everybody who (is/are) coming to the party.
3. There (is/are) a dinner and a dance after tonight’s lecture.
4. A box of crayons (was/were) left in the room.
5. Living in the city during the harsh winters (were/was) difficult for Jon.
6. Anyone who has gone to public schools in the United States (know/knows) the importance of
having friends to sit with at lunch.
7. Neither the television nor the box of radios (is/are) for sale.
8. There (was/were) a good reason for my absence.
9. Reminding me about the rain in this week’s forecasts (were/was) kind of you.
10. Everyone in the building (has/have) heard the weather alert.
1. has
2. is
3. is
4. was
5. was
6. knows
7. is
8. was
9. was
10. has
You might also like to view...
Pour acheter des plats préparés, je vais aller ____________________________.
Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).
Le donne hanno ottenuto il diritto al voto dopo la seconda guerra mondiale? Vero o falso? _______________
Riguarda alla tua esperienza in Italia, rispondi alle Falsoseguenti domande della famiglia in Italia.
¡Qué ricas! Doña Hortensia and her family prepared some delicious arepas last night. Complete the following sentences with the correct form of each verb in the preterite tenseto learn about their experience. Mi esposo ____________________ (leer) la receta.
Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).
Where does Sonny take his brother and why?
What will be an ideal response?