Subject And Verb Agreement Worksheet With Answers

Subject and Verb Agreement Worksheet with Answers: A Comprehensive Guide

Mastering subject-verb agreement is crucial for writing clear and grammatically correct sentences. This comprehensive guide provides a subject and verb agreement worksheet with answers, covering various scenarios and complexities to solidify your understanding. We'll explore different types of subjects, tricky exceptions, and common pitfalls to help you confidently tackle any subject-verb agreement challenge.

Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement refers to the grammatical rule that requires a verb to match its subject in number (singular or plural). A singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb. Seems simple, right? However, many complexities arise, especially with intervening phrases, compound subjects, and collective nouns.

Example:

• Singular: The dog barks loudly. (Singular subject "dog" takes singular verb "barks")
• Plural: The dogs bark loudly. (Plural subject "dogs" takes plural verb "bark")

Common Challenges in Subject-Verb Agreement

Let's delve into some common areas where subject-verb agreement can become tricky:

1. Intervening Phrases

Phrases placed between the subject and the verb don't affect the agreement. Identify the true subject and ignore the intervening phrases.

Example:

• The cat, along with its kittens, sleeps soundly. (Subject is "cat," a singular noun)
• The books, including the novels and textbooks, are on the shelf. (Subject is "books," a plural noun)

2. Compound Subjects

Compound subjects joined by "and" generally take a plural verb. However, exceptions arise when the compound subject refers to a single unit or when the subjects are considered singular and interchangeable.

Examples:

• Plural: My brother and sister are going to the movies.
• Singular: Peanut butter and jelly is my favorite sandwich. (Refers to a single entity)
• Singular: Bread and butter was all she ate for breakfast. (Interchangeable and singular in context)

3. Collective Nouns

Collective nouns (team, family, group) can be singular or plural depending on the context. If referring to the group as a single unit, use a singular verb. If referring to individual members, use a plural verb.

Examples:

• Singular: The team plays well together. (Team as a unit)
• Plural: The team are arguing amongst themselves. (Individual team members)

4. Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns (someone, anyone, everybody) are always singular and take singular verbs.

Examples:

• Singular: Everyone is invited to the party.
• Singular: Somebody has taken my pen.

5. Subjects with Phrases Beginning with "Each," "Every," or "No"

These phrases are always singular and take singular verbs.

Examples:

• Singular: Each of the students needs a textbook.
• Singular: Every cat has its own quirks.

6. Inverted Sentence Structure

In sentences with inverted structures (e.g., questions), the verb still agrees with the subject.

Examples:

• Singular: There is a book on the table. (Subject "book" is singular)
• Plural: There are many books on the table. (Subject "books" is plural)

7. Amounts, Measurements, and Fractions

The verb agrees with the noun following "of" in phrases expressing amounts, measurements, or fractions.

Examples:

• Singular: One-third of the pizza is left.
• Plural: Two-thirds of the students are absent.

Subject-Verb Agreement Worksheet

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

Instructions: Choose the correct verb form in parentheses to complete each sentence.

1. The dog (bark, barks) loudly at the mailman.
2. My friends and I (go, goes) to the beach every summer.
3. The team (is, are) celebrating their victory.
4. Each student (has, have) a unique learning style.
5. Neither of the twins (want, wants) to go to the party.
6. The flock of birds (fly, flies) south for the winter.
7. Somebody (has, have) left their phone in the classroom.
8. The box of chocolates (is, are) almost empty.
9. The committee (has, have) reached a decision.
10. A variety of flowers (bloom, blooms) in the garden.
11. Everyone (is, are) excited about the upcoming concert.
12. Neither the teacher nor the students (understand, understands) the instructions.
13. The majority of the voters (support, supports) the new policy.
14. Ten percent of the students (is, are) absent today.
15. My family (is, are) going on a vacation next month.
16. The news (is, are) always exciting.
17. The number of errors (is, are) surprisingly low.
18. A group of protesters (march, marches) down the street.
19. The audience (was, were) completely captivated by the performance.
20. None of the answers (is, are) correct.

Subject-Verb Agreement Worksheet Answers

1. barks
2. go
3. is
4. has
5. wants
6. flies
7. has
8. is
9. has
10. bloom
11. is
12. understand
13. support
14. are
15. is
16. is
17. is
18. marches
19. was
20. are

Advanced Subject-Verb Agreement Scenarios

Let's explore some more advanced and nuanced situations that can challenge even experienced writers:

1. Collective Nouns with Emphasis on Individuals

As mentioned before, the treatment of collective nouns depends on the context. If the emphasis is on the individual members acting independently, a plural verb is appropriate.

Example: The jury are divided in their opinions.

2. "Either/Or" and "Neither/Nor" Constructions

With "either/or" and "neither/nor," the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

Examples:

• Either the dog or the cats are making that noise.
• Neither the cats nor the dog is making that noise.

3. Parenthetical Expressions

Parenthetical expressions (phrases set off by commas) do not affect subject-verb agreement.

Example: The students, along with their teacher, are going on a field trip.

4. Expressions of Quantity

When using expressions of quantity (e.g., "a number of," "a lot of," "plenty of"), the verb agrees with the noun that follows the preposition "of."

Examples:

• A number of students were absent.
• A lot of work has been completed.

Tips for Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement

• Identify the subject: Carefully identify the subject of the sentence. This is often the noun or pronoun performing the action.
• Ignore intervening phrases: Disregard phrases and clauses that come between the subject and the verb.
• Consider the context: Pay attention to whether the subject is singular or plural and whether the context calls for a singular or plural verb (collective nouns).
• Practice: Consistent practice is key to mastering subject-verb agreement. Work through additional worksheets and exercises to reinforce your understanding.
• Review the rules: Regularly review the different rules and exceptions to subject-verb agreement to avoid common mistakes.
• Read extensively: Reading widely exposes you to a diverse range of sentence structures and strengthens your grammatical intuition.

This comprehensive guide and accompanying worksheet should equip you with the knowledge and practice necessary to confidently handle subject-verb agreement in your writing. Remember, consistent practice is the key to mastering this essential grammatical concept. Good luck!