SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT

LEVEL: Elementary to Intermediate

1. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of verbs given in the brackets:

(a) He and I ----- (to have) come punctually. 

(b) Gold and silver----- (to have) I none. 

(c) The committee----- (to have) decided to start a library. 

(d) Gulliver's Travels----- (to be) an interesting book. 

(e) The virtuous----- (to be) blessed. 

(f) One of the men----- (to be) absent. 

(g) The legs of the table----- (to be) broken. 

(h) His eyes----- (to be) fixed upon Della (to be). 

(i) They----- (to be) expensive combs, she knew (to be). 

(j) The novelist and poet----- (to be) dead. 

LEVEL: Intermediate 

2. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of verbs given in the brackets:

(a) Bread and butter----- (to be)my favourite breakfast. 

(b) Rice and curry----- (to be) our common food. 

(c) Time and tide----- (to wait) for no man. 

(d) Jute, as well as cotton----- (to have) fallen in price. 

(e) Slow and steady-----(to win) the race. 

(f) The president together with all the members----- (to have) come. 

(g) Her head ---------- (sink) on his shoulder.

(h) New research claiming to have found a connection between violence on television and violence in real life ----- (to be) under progress. 

(i) The most important steps that must be taken -----  (to be) the control of population and increase in food production. 

(j) The garbage that is collected from our homes----- (to make) an excellent fuel. 

3. Correct the following:

(a) What is wanted are large houses with modern convenience. 

(b) His food was simple, his prayers long and sincere. 

(c) He never has, and never will, take such strong measures. 

(d) The new members have been enrolled, and seven resigned. 

(e) I have and will ever remain here. 

(f) The Minister has not, and probably will not, introduce the bill.

4. In each of the following sentences supply a verb in agreement with its subject : 

(a) The cost of all these articles ----- risen. 

(b) The jury -----  divided in their opinions. 

(c) No news ----- good news. 

(d) The accountant and the cashier ----- absent today.

(e) A good man and useful citizen ----- passed away. 

(f) The Gulliver’s Travels ----- written by Jonathan Swift. 

(g) Each of the suspected men ----- arrested. 

(h) A large number of men ----- present. 

(i) This state of things ----- been going on for a long time. 

(j) That he said so ----- never denied. 

5. In each of the following sentences supply a verb in agreement with its subject : 

(a) What puzzled me ----- the curious sights. 

(b) A few pencils, and not a pen----- wanted. 

(c) He as well as his friends ----- guilty. 

(d) They with their leader ----- taken prisoner. 

(e) Neither the moon nor the stars ----- visible. 

(f) You are the man who ----- guilty. 

(g) It is they who ----- done this. 

(h) The use of pesticides ----- done more harm than good. 

(i) It is existence of water on this planet of ours that ----- made it possible for us to live here. 

(j) Each boy and each girl----- given a pencil.