SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT Exercise 1 Choose the best answer among A, B, C or D. 1. The driver as well as the passengers …… hurt in the accident. A. was B. were 2. The salt and the pepper …… put on the table. A. was B. were 3. Not only she, but also everybody …… embarrassed by his rude manner. A. is B. are 4. Two hour's study …… enough for him to prepare for a quiz. A. was B. were 5. Not only the teacher, but also the students themselves …… tired. A. was B. were 6. He was at his wit's end. His last sixpence …… spent. A. was B. were 7. She as well as we …… highly satisfied with their work. A. is B. are 8. Not only the earth but also the planets …… round the sun. A. moves B. move 9. Two thousand dollars …… wasted by him in the casino. A. was B. were 10. …… either of them ready to go there? A. Is B. Are 11. Three Comrades …… a novel by Remark. A. is B. are 12. Bread and butter …… his usual breakfast. A. is B. are 13. If either of them …… a leave now, we won't be able to finish the project. A. takes B. take 14. My aim and objective …… to make English grammar clear to everyone. A. is B. are 15. I can wait, four weeks …… not so long. A. is B. are 16. The grey and blue blanket …… washed today. A. was B. were 17. A variety of questions …… put to the lecturer. A. was B. were 18. The number of books which we have to read for the exams …… considerable. A. is B. are 19. A great number of students …… present at the conference. A. is B. are 20. The great majority of writers, painters, and architects …… talented people. A. is B. are Exercise 2 1. Nora and I …… great friends. A. am B. are 2. …… there three patients due today? A. Was B. Were 3. Laughing and giggling …… John's Granny. A. irritates B. irritate 4. Here, in the desk, of all places, …… the thermometer and the screwdriver. A. was B. were 5. Candlelight and wine …… a touch of romance to the party. A. adds B. add 6. A black and white dog …… guarding the house. A. is B. are 7. A black and a white dog …… sitting on the porch. A. is B. are 8. The Dean and Lexicology lecturer …… in the lecture theatre. A. was B. were 9. The director and the manager …… signed the contract. A. has B. have 10. The cheese and the butter …… in the shopping bag. A. is B. are 11. Whisky and soda …… his favourite drink. A. is B. are 12. For supper there …… fish and different vegetables to eat. A. was B. were 13. There …… cakes and tea for breakfast. A. was B. were 14. Cleopatra, as well as her entire retinue, …… eager to meet Caesar. A. was B. were 15. Cleopatra and her entire retinue …… eager to meet Caesar. A. was B. were 16. New York, together with all the other states, …… for President. A. votes B. vote 17. Ellen, as well as her friends, …… classical music. A. dislikes B. dislike 18. The soldiers, along with their commander, …… the bivouac area. A. enters B. enter 19. The bacon and the eggs …… in the fridge. A. is B. are 20. My cousin with his workmate …… visiting us today. A. is B. are Exercise 3 1. David and his wife …… just come. A. has B. have 2. All of the cake …… eaten. A. was B. were 3. All the candidates …… to do their best. A. promises B. promise 4. Every plant and animal …… its own ecological niche. A. has B. have 5. The committee …… agreed on many points. A. hasn't B. haven't 6. The committee …… been appointed for a second term. A. has B. have 7. After consulting, the jury …… its verdict. A. reports B. report 8. The jury still …… on many points. A. disagrees B. disagree 9. The team …… time to learn to cooperate with one another. A. needs B. need 10. The team wearing black and red …… the ball. A. controls B. control 11 . The crew …… divided the loot among themselves. A. has B. have 12. The crew …… well-trained. A. is B. are 13. The family of ducklings …… when the cat approaches. A. scatters B. scatter 14. His family now …… rather big. A. is B. are 15. All …… clear. A. is B. are 16. All …… happy. A. was B. were 17. The staff of this bank …… very competent. A. is B. are 18. Our staff …… visiting theatres, restaurants, different presentations from time to time. A. is B. are 19. The public …… and …… A. stops/ stares B. stop/ stare 20. The council …… been promising to mend the fences, doors and windows for years. A. has B. have Exercise 4 1. Visiting relatives …… done on special occasions. A. is B. are 2. Flying planes …… dangerous. A. is B. are 3. It …… me to see so much misery in the world. A. pains B. pain 4. Walls of glass …… much modern architecture. A. characterizes B. characterize 5. In many species, the male, as well as female, …… for the offspring. A. cares B. care 6. A backpack, a canteen, and a rifle …… issued to each recruit. A. was B. were 7. Drinking and driving …… a major cause of highway fatalities. A. remains B. remain 8. Fried ham and grits …… Diane's idea of a great breakfast. A. is B. are 9. His closest friend and political ally …… his brother. A. was B. were 10. Laws, rules, or convention …… most of our everyday decisions. A. governs B. govern 11. The football team …… beginning to quarrel with one another when the manager arrived. A. was B. were 12. There …… a table, four chairs, and a sofa in the room. A. is B. are 13. The committee …… arranged a new series of programmes. A. has B. have 14. The jury …… been unable to decide upon a verdict. A. has B. have 15. He inspected each of the cars which …… in the garage. A. was B. were 16. Fiona, along with her friends, …… planning a party. A. is B. are 17. Each generation …… its own slang. A. has B. have 18. That generation …… sold their souls for money. A. has B. have 19. The crew …… experienced pilots. A. was B. were 20. This bunch …… whispering excitedly. A. was B. were Exercise 5 1. Measles still …… many Americans. A. strikes B. strike 2. A pair of jeans …… what I need to buy. A. is B. are 3. These trousers …… very good. A. is B. are 4. …… your glasses expensive? A. Is B. Are 5. There …… a lot of news in the e-mail. A. is B. are 6. The customs …… at the end of the terminal., A. is B. are 7. Where …… your linen come from? A. does B. do 8. …… furniture sold here? A. Is B. Are 9. The cattle …… in the fields now. A. is B. are 10. Diabetes …… an illness caused by too much sugar in the blood. A. is B. are 11. His earnings …… quite good. A. is B. are 12. What …… the weather like in London now? A. is B. are 13. Dice …… used in many games. A. is B. are 14. Your progress …… everybody happy. A. makes B. make 15. Work …… the best cure of all the problems. A. is B. are 16. Her clothes …… chic and …… a fortune. A. is/ costs B. are/ cost 17. Martha's poultry …… the best in the village. A. is B. are 18. How …… the wounded? A. is B. are 19. The goods …… checked regularly. A. is B. are 20. The contents of the contract …… A. has changed B. have changed Exercise 6 1. Dice …… us interesting things. A. tells B. tell 2. All the floor sweepings and potato peelings …… carried away into this particular chute. A. is B. are 3. Your hair …… fast. A. has grown B. have grown 4. Neither my roommate nor my parents …… going to vote. A. is B. are 5. Neither you nor Maria …… among the invited. A. was B. were 6. Either you or I …… wrong. A. am B. are 7. Either the defendant or the witnesses …… lying. A. is B. are 8. Of the two jobs, neither …… much appeal. A. holds B. hold 9. Neither Boris nor his sisters …… to enter University. A. plans B. plan 10. Either my mother or I …… breakfast each morning. A. makes B. make 11. Either of these buses …… past my college. A. goes B. go 12. The number of Congress members …… about 400. A. is B. are 13. An enormous number of photographs …… taken. A. was B. were 14. The number of books in this library …… great. A. is B. are 15. A number of new dictionaries …… on sale now. A. is B. are 16. Mathematics …… not always an exact science. A. is B. are 17. The mathematics (calculations) of the project …… not quite exact. A. is B. are 18. Statistics …… a course many students really dread. A. is B. are 19. The statistics of that study …… highly questionable. A. is B. are 20. A great variety of whisky …… produced in Scotland. A. is B. are Exercise 7 1. The variety of magazines on sale today …… amazing. A. is B. are 2. A great variety of children's toys …… produced in the world. A. is B. are 3. He tells me that most of Majorca …… mountains. A. is B. are 4. Most of us …… strong views on life. A. has B. have 5. Most Arabic speakers …… English. A. understands B. understand 6. The amount of students grants at this University …… considerable. A. is B. are 7. The percentage of young voters …… risen. A. has B. have 8. A percentage of the work …… finished. A. is B. are 9. A percentage of the reports …… finished. A. is B. are 10. Sixty percent of the students …… working. A. is B. are 11. Sixty percent of the work force …… absent. A. is B. are 12. A (The) majority of teachers at our school …… women. A. is B. are 13. That is what …… me. A. interests B. interest 14. …… the children we live for. A. It is B. They are 15. …… they who organized all this. A. It was B. They were 16. The ten minutes …… up. A. is B. are 17. Two plus two …… four. A. is B. are 18. Two metres …… not enough for such a dress. A. is B. are 19. Twenty years …… nothing in comparison with eternity. A. is B. are 20. …… they, not you, who are at fault. A. It's B. They're Exercise 8 1. Twenty five dollars …… the price of the return ticket. A. is B. are 2. "Seven Days" …… a very popular magazine. A. is B. are 3. Just look! The lazybones …… sleeping again! A. is B. are 4. "Gulliver's Travels" …… my favourite book when I was a kid. A. was B. were 5. What a butter-fingers Tom …… A. is B. are 6. The Netherlands …… a beautiful country. A. is B. are 7. …… summons from the local police station. A. It was a B. They were 8. Broadcasting House …… the headquarters of the BBC. A. is B. are 9. Ten kilograms …… a lot to lose in one month. A. is B. are 10. Five minutes …… given to each speaker. A. is B. are 11. Half of her fortune …… in jewels. A. is B. are 12. Half of her jewels …… stolen. A. is B. are 13. Half of the cake …… eaten. A. is B. are 14. Half of the pies …… eaten. A. is B. are 15. Statistics …… a very important science in the life of any society. A. is B. are 16. Recent statistics on birthrate in this country …… not very encouraging. A. is B. are 17. All of the money …… gone. A. is B. are 18. All of the books …… lost. A. is B. are 19. The number of homeless people …… great. A. is B. are 20. A number of women now …… against the new trends in fashion. A. is B. are KEY - SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT Exercise 1 Choose the best answer among A, B, C or D. 1. The driver as well as the passengers …… hurt in the accident. A. was B. were 2. The salt and the pepper …… put on the table. A. was B. were 3. Not only she, but also everybody …… embarrassed by his rude manner. A. is B. are 4. Two hour's study …… enough for him to prepare for a quiz. A. was B. were 5. Not only the teacher, but also the students themselves …… tired. A. was B. were 6. He was at his wit's end. His last sixpence …… spent. A. was B. were 7. She as well as we …… highly satisfied with their work. A. is B. are 8. Not only the earth but also the planets …… round the sun. A. moves B. move 9. Two thousand dollars …… wasted by him in the casino. A. was B. were 10. …… either of them ready to go there? A. Is B. Are 11. Three Comrades …… a novel by Remark. A. is B. are 12. Bread and butter …… his usual breakfast. A. is B. are 13. If either of them …… a leave now, we won't be able to finish the project. A. takes B. take 14. My aim and objective …… to make English grammar clear to everyone. A. is B. are 15. I can wait, four weeks …… not so long. A. is B. are 16. The grey and blue blanket …… washed today. A. was B. were 17. A variety of questions …… put to the lecturer. A. was B. were 18. The number of books which we have to read for the exams …… considerable. A. is B. are 19. A great number of students …… present at the conference. A. is B. are 20. The great majority of writers, painters, and architects …… talented people. A. is B. are Exercise 2 1. Nora and I …… great friends. A. am B. are 2. …… there three patients due today? A. Was B. Were 3. Laughing and giggling …… John's Granny. A. irritates B. irritate 4. Here, in the desk, of all places, …… the thermometer and the screwdriver. A. was B. were 5. Candlelight and wine …… a touch of romance to the party. A. adds B. add 6. A black and white dog …… guarding the house. A. is B. are 7. A black and a white dog …… sitting on the porch. A. is B. are 8. The Dean and Lexicology lecturer …… in the lecture theatre. A. was B. were 9. The director and the manager …… signed the contract. A. has B. have 10. The cheese and the butter …… in the shopping bag. A. is B. are 11. Whisky and soda …… his favourite drink. A. is B. are 12. For supper there …… fish and different vegetables to eat. A. was B. were 13. There …… cakes and tea for breakfast. A. was B. were 14. Cleopatra, as well as her entire retinue, …… eager to meet Caesar. A. was B. were 15. Cleopatra and her entire retinue …… eager to meet Caesar. A. was B. were 16. New York, together with all the other states, …… for President. A. votes B. vote 17. Ellen, as well as her friends, …… classical music. A. dislikes B. dislike 18. The soldiers, along with their commander, …… the bivouac area. A. enters B. enter 19. The bacon and the eggs …… in the fridge. A. is B. are 20. My cousin with his workmate …… visiting us today. A. is B. are Exercise 3 1. David and his wife …… just come. A. has B. have 2. All of the cake …… eaten. A. was B. were 3. All the candidates …… to do their best. A. promises B. promise 4. Every plant and animal …… its own ecological niche. A. has B. have 5. The committee …… agreed on many points. A. hasn't B. haven't 6. The committee …… been appointed for a second term. A. has B. have 7. After consulting, the jury …… its verdict. A. reports B. report 8. The jury still …… on many points. A. disagrees B. disagree 9. The team …… time to learn to cooperate with one another. A. needs B. need 10. The team wearing black and red …… the ball. A. controls B. control 11 . The crew …… divided the loot among themselves. A. has B. have 12. The crew …… well-trained. A. is B. are 13. The family of ducklings …… when the cat approaches. A. scatters B. scatter 14. His family now …… rather big. A. is B. are 15. All …… clear. A. is B. are 16. All …… happy. A. was B. were 17. The staff of this bank …… very competent. A. is B. are 18. Our staff …… visiting theatres, restaurants, different presentations from time to time. A. is B. are 19. The public …… and …… A. stops/ stares B. stop/ stare 20. The council …… been promising to mend the fences, doors and windows for years. A. has B. have Exercise 4 1. Visiting relatives …… done on special occasions. A. is B. are 2. Flying planes …… dangerous. A. is B. are 3. It …… me to see so much misery in the world. A. pains B. pain 4. Walls of glass …… much modern architecture. A. characterizes B. characterize 5. In many species, the male, as well as female, …… for the offspring. A. cares B. care 6. A backpack, a canteen, and a rifle …… issued to each recruit. A. was B. were 7. Drinking and driving …… a major cause of highway fatalities. A. remains B. remain 8. Fried ham and grits …… Diane's idea of a great breakfast. A. is B. are 9. His closest friend and political ally …… his brother. A. was B. were 10. Laws, rules, or convention …… most of our everyday decisions. A. governs B. govern 11. The football team …… beginning to quarrel with one another when the manager arrived. A. was B. were 12. There …… a table, four chairs, and a sofa in the room. A. is B. are 13. The committee …… arranged a new series of programmes. A. has B. have 14. The jury …… been unable to decide upon a verdict. A. has B. have 15. He inspected each of the cars which …… in the garage. A. was B. were 16. Fiona, along with her friends, …… planning a party. A. is B. are 17. Each generation …… its own slang. A. has B. have 18. That generation …… sold their souls for money. A. has B. have 19. The crew …… experienced pilots. A. was B. were 20. This bunch …… whispering excitedly. A. was B. were Exercise 5 1. Measles still …… many Americans. A. strikes B. strike 2. A pair of jeans …… what I need to buy. A. is B. are 3. These trousers …… very good. A. is B. are 4. …… your glasses expensive? A. Is B. Are 5. There …… a lot of news in the e-mail. A. is B. are 6. The customs …… at the end of the terminal. A. is B. are 7. Where …… your linen come from? A. does B. do 8. …… furniture sold here? A. Is B. Are 9. The cattle …… in the fields now. A. is B. are 10. Diabetes …… an illness caused by too much sugar in the blood. A. is B. are 11. His earnings …… quite good. A. is B. are 12. What …… the weather like in London now? A. is B. are 13. Dice …… used in many games. A. is B. are 14. Your progress …… everybody happy. A. makes B. make 15. Work …… the best cure of all the problems. A. is B. are 16. Her clothes …… chic and …… a fortune. A. is/ costs B. are/ cost 17. Martha's poultry …… the best in the village. A. is B. are 18. How …… the wounded? A. is B. are 19. The goods …… checked regularly. A. is B. are 20. The contents of the contract …… A. has changed B. have changed Exercise 6 1. Dice …… us interesting things. A. tells B. tell 2. All the floor sweepings and potato peelings …… carried away into this particular chute. A. is B. are 3. Your hair …… fast. A. has grown B. have grown 4. Neither my roommate nor my parents …… going to vote. A. is B. are 5. Neither you nor Maria …… among the invited. A. was B. were 6. Either you or I …… wrong. A. am B. are 7. Either the defendant or the witnesses …… lying. A. is B. are 8. Of the two jobs, neither …… much appeal. A. holds B. hold 9. Neither Boris nor his sisters …… to enter University. A. plans B. plan 10. Either my mother or I …… breakfast each morning. A. makes B. make 11. Either of these buses …… past my college. A. goes B. go 12. The number of Congress members …… about 400. A. is B. are 13. An enormous number of photographs …… taken. A. was B. were 14. The number of books in this library …… great. A. is B. are 15. A number of new dictionaries …… on sale now. A. is B. are 16. Mathematics …… not always an exact science. A. is B. are 17. The mathematics (calculations) of the project …… not quite exact. A. is B. are 18. Statistics …… a course many students really dread. A. is B. are 19. The statistics of that study …… highly questionable. A. is B. are 20. A great variety of whisky …… produced in Scotland. A. is B. are Exercise 7 1. The variety of magazines on sale today …… amazing. A. is B. are 2. A great variety of children's toys …… produced in the world. A. is B. are 3. He tells me that most of Majorca …… mountains. A. is B. are 4. Most of us …… strong views on life. A. has B. have 5. Most Arabic speakers …… English. A. understands B. understand 6. The amount of students grants at this University …… considerable. A. is B. are 7. The percentage of young voters …… risen. A. has B. have 8. A percentage of the work …… finished. A. is B. are 9. A percentage of the reports …… finished. A. is B. are 10. Sixty percent of the students …… working. A. is B. are 11. Sixty percent of the work force …… absent. A. is B. are 12. A (The) majority of teachers at our school …… women. A. is B. are 13. That is what …… me. A. interests B. interest 14. …… the children we live for. A. It is B. They are 15. …… they who organized all this. A. It was B. They were 16. The ten minutes …… up. A. is B. are 17. Two plus two …… four. A. is B. are 18. Two metres …… not enough for such a dress. A. is B. are 19. Twenty years …… nothing in comparison with eternity. A. is B. are 20. …… they, not you, who are at fault. A. It's B. They're Exercise 8 1. Twenty five dollars …… the price of the return ticket. A. is B. are 2. "Seven Days" …… a very popular magazine. A. is B. are 3. Just look! The lazybones …… sleeping again! A. is B. are 4. "Gulliver's Travels" …… my favourite book when I was a kid. A. was B. were 5. What a butter-fingers Tom …… A. is B. are 6. The Netherlands …… a beautiful country. A. is B. are 7. …… summons from the local police station. A. It was a B. They were 8. Broadcasting House …… the headquarters of the BBC. A. is B. are 9. Ten kilograms …… a lot to lose in one month. A. is B. are 10. Five minutes …… given to each speaker. A. is B. are 11. Half of her fortune …… in jewels. A. is B. are 12. Half of her jewels …… stolen. A. is B. are 13. Half of the cake …… eaten. A. is B. are 14. Half of the pies …… eaten. A. is B. are 15. Statistics …… a very important science in the life of any society. A. is B. are 16. Recent statistics on birthrate in this country …… not very encouraging. A. is B. are 17. All of the money …… gone. A. is B. are 18. All of the books …… lost. A. is B. are 19. The number of homeless people …… great. A. is B. are 20. A number of women now …… against the new trends in fashion. A. is B. are . but also the students themselves …… tired. A. was B. were 6. He was at his wit&apos ;s end. His last sixpence …… spent. A. was B. were 7. She as well as we. 4. Most of us …… strong views on life. A. has B. have 5. Most Arabic speakers …… English. A. understands B. understand 6. The amount of students grants at