Mini Lesson on Writing Basics: Subject-Verb Agreement
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject.
1. The dog or the cats (is, are) outside.
2. George and Tamara (doesn’t, don’t) want to see that movie.
3. The man with all the birds (live, lives) on my street.
4. The movie, including all the previews, (take, takes) about two hours to watch.
5. Either answer (is, are) acceptable.
6. (Is, Are) the news on at five or six?
7. Mathematics (is, are) John’s favorite subject.
8. The committee (debates, debate) these questions carefully.
9. The Prime Minister, along with his wife, (greets, greet) the press cordially.
10. All of the CDs, even the scratched one, (is, are) in this case.
In each sentence, write in the correct present tense form of the verb in parentheses.
1. The dead trees and peeling paint, along with the broken windows and flapping shutters, (to make)
__________ everyone believe that evil spirits haunted the deserted Sinclair house.
2. Where (to be) __________ the earrings that I left by the bathroom sink? Oh no! That stupid cat has swatted
them down the drain again!
3. Neither of those sharks circling your boogie board (to look) __________ hungry enough to bite.
4. One hundred and fifty gallons (to be) __________ the amount of liquid the average living room rug can
absorb. Rachel discovered this fact after taking a long shower when the curtain wasn't tucked inside the tub.
5. Agnes never loses a single possession. Everyone knows what belongs to her, for each pen, pencil, and
paperclip (to have) __________ a tiny flag attached with Agnes' full name on it.
6. Someone—perhaps Emmanuel or Paul— (to know) __________ the right wine to serve with earthworm
lasagna.
7. These scissors (to be) __________ so dull that I'm not sure you could slice butter with them!
8. Physics (to have) __________ proven to be Jerry's easiest subject this semester. He brings Carol, the lab
assistant, an oatmeal-raisin cookie, and, as his reward, she finishes his report.
9. The good jewelry Dad gave Sara for graduation (to cost) __________ more than the cheap leather wallet that
David got as his present for finishing high school.