Worksheet For Subject Verb Agreement

Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement: A Comprehensive Worksheet and Guide

Subject-verb agreement, the cornerstone of grammatical correctness, often trips up even seasoned writers. This comprehensive guide provides a detailed explanation of subject-verb agreement rules, coupled with a multifaceted worksheet designed to solidify your understanding and improve your writing skills. Understanding subject-verb agreement is crucial for clear and effective communication, both in written and spoken English. This worksheet and accompanying guide will equip you with the tools to confidently tackle this grammatical concept.

Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement: The Basics

Subject-verb agreement simply means that the verb in a sentence must agree in number (singular or plural) with its subject. This seems straightforward, but complexities arise with various sentence structures and exceptions. The fundamental rule is this:

• Singular subjects take singular verbs. Example: The cat sleeps.
• Plural subjects take plural verbs. Example: The cats sleep.

However, identifying the subject and verb isn't always as simple as it sounds. Many grammatical structures can obscure the relationship between the subject and the verb, leading to errors.

Common Challenges and Exceptions in Subject-Verb Agreement

Let's explore some common scenarios that often cause confusion:

1. Intervening Phrases:

Intervening phrases or clauses placed between the subject and the verb do not affect the agreement. The verb still agrees with the subject, not the words within the phrase.

• Incorrect: The box of chocolates are delicious.

• Correct: The box of chocolates is delicious. (The subject is "box," which is singular.)

• Incorrect: The students, along with their teacher, was excited.

• Correct: The students, along with their teacher, were excited. (The subject is "students," which is plural.)

2. Compound Subjects Joined by "and":

Compound subjects joined by "and" usually take a plural verb.

• Example: My brother and sister are going to the movies.

3. Compound Subjects Joined by "or" or "nor":

When compound subjects are joined by "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

• Example: Neither the cat nor the dogs are allowed inside.
• Example: Either the dogs or the cat is allowed inside.

4. Collective Nouns:

Collective nouns (nouns referring to a group, such as team, family, committee) can be singular or plural depending on whether the group acts as a unit or as individuals.

• Example: The team is playing well. (The team acts as a unit.)
• Example: The team are arguing amongst themselves. (The team members are acting as individuals.)

5. Indefinite Pronouns:

Indefinite pronouns (pronouns that don't refer to a specific person or thing, such as someone, everyone, anybody) are usually singular.

• Example: Everyone is responsible for their own actions.

• Exceptions: Some indefinite pronouns can be singular or plural depending on context: some, any, none, all.

• Example: Some of the cake is missing.

• Example: Some of the apples are rotten.

6. Subjects with Titles or Names:

The verb agrees with the subject, not the title or name.

• Example: “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is a classic novel.

7. Inverted Sentence Structure:

In sentences where the verb comes before the subject (often in questions or sentences beginning with there), the verb still agrees with the subject.

• Example: There are many reasons for this decision.
• Example: Is there anything I can help with?

8. Amounts and Measurements:

Amounts and measurements generally take singular verbs when considered as a single unit.

• Example: Five dollars is not a lot of money.

9. Fractional Expressions:

The verb agrees with the noun following "of."

• Example: Two-thirds of the pizza was eaten.
• Example: Two-thirds of the pizzas were eaten.

Subject-Verb Agreement Worksheet: Practice Makes Perfect

This worksheet will test your understanding of subject-verb agreement. Choose the correct verb form for each sentence. The answers are provided at the end for self-checking.

Part 1: Basic Subject-Verb Agreement

1. The dog (bark, barks) loudly.
2. The cats (sleep, sleeps) all day.
3. My friend and I (go, goes) to the park.
4. The birds (sing, sings) sweetly.
5. The flowers (bloom, blooms) in the spring.

Part 2: Intervening Phrases

1. The basket of apples (is, are) ripe.
2. The students, along with their teacher, (was, were) excited about the trip.
3. The box of chocolates (is, are) a wonderful gift.
4. The team, despite their losses, (remain, remains) optimistic.
5. The singer, accompanied by her band, (perform, performs) tonight.

Part 3: Compound Subjects

1. My sister and I (walk, walks) to school every day.
2. Neither the cat nor the dogs (is, are) allowed on the furniture.
3. Either the cookies or the cake (is, are) dessert tonight.
4. Both John and Mary (like, likes) to swim.
5. Neither the teacher nor the students (was, were) aware of the problem.

Part 4: Collective Nouns

1. The family (is, are) going on vacation.
2. The team (plays, play) exceptionally well together.
3. The flock of birds (fly, flies) south for the winter.
4. The committee (disagrees, disagree) on several issues.
5. The class (is, are) preparing for the final exam.

Part 5: Indefinite Pronouns

1. Everyone (is, are) invited to the party.
2. Somebody (has, have) left their book on the table.
3. Nothing (is, are) more important than family.
4. All of the pizza (was, were) eaten.
5. Some of the students (was, were) late for class.

Part 6: Advanced Challenges

1. Ten dollars (is, are) not enough to buy that book.
2. One-third of the students (was, were) absent from school.
3. The news (is, are) always interesting.
4. Mathematics (is, are) my favorite subject.
5. The data (support, supports) our hypothesis.

Part 7: Mixed Practice

1. The flock of geese (fly, flies) overhead.
2. The jury (reach, reaches) a verdict.
3. The box of crayons (is, are) missing a red one.
4. Either the twins or their sister (is, are) coming to the party.
5. The pride of lions (hunt, hunts) together.

Answer Key:

Part 1: 1. barks, 2. sleep, 3. go, 4. sing, 5. bloom

Part 2: 1. are, 2. were, 3. is, 4. remain, 5. performs

Part 3: 1. walk, 2. are, 3. is, 4. like, 5. were

Part 4: 1. is, 2. plays, 3. fly, 4. disagrees, 5. is

Part 5: 1. is, 2. has, 3. is, 4. was, 5. were

Part 6: 1. is, 2. were, 3. is, 4. is, 5. supports

Part 7: 1. fly, 2. reaches, 3. is, 4. is, 5. hunt

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the easiest way to identify the subject of a sentence?

A: Start by identifying the verb. Then ask yourself, "Who or what is performing the action of the verb?" The answer to that question is the subject.

Q: What if I have a sentence with a linking verb (like "is," "are," "seems")?

A: With linking verbs, the subject and the subject complement (the word or phrase that describes the subject) need to agree.

Q: How can I improve my subject-verb agreement skills?

A: Practice! The more you practice identifying subjects and verbs, and applying the rules, the better you'll become. Use this worksheet and others, and pay attention to subject-verb agreement in your reading.

Q: Are there any online resources that can help me with subject-verb agreement?

A: While I cannot provide external links, a simple online search for "subject-verb agreement exercises" will provide you with many valuable resources.

Conclusion

Mastering subject-verb agreement is a vital skill for clear and effective communication. While the rules may seem complex at first, consistent practice will solidify your understanding and help you write with greater confidence and accuracy. Remember to always carefully identify the subject of your sentence before choosing your verb, paying close attention to the nuances discussed in this guide and worksheet. By diligently working through the exercises and reviewing the rules, you'll be well on your way to conquering this essential grammatical concept. Happy writing!