Exercise: SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT IN ENGLISH 1

Complete each of the following sentences, making sure there is correct subject/verb agreement.

1. Neither the sister nor the brother (is/are) going to the concert.

2. Physics (is/are) fun!

3. All I had (was/were) twenty dollars.

4. Neither of the neighbors (know/knows) what happened.

5. Either John or his wife (is/are) at home.

6. The family (is/are) all sitting at the table.

7. This family (is/are) a happy one.

8. Measles (is/are) a disease.

9. These pants (is/are) too small.

10. There (is/are) too many people in this city.

11. Your passport or your driver's license (is/are) required.

12. Some of the luggage (was/were) found.

13. Everyone (know/knows) that you live in Boston.

14. All of your friends (know/knows) that you live in Boston.

15. "Friends" (were/was) a famous TV show.

16. Those flowers (needs/need) water.

17. Your commitment and your integrity (are/is) what got you the job.

18. Neither my father nor my brothers (speak/speaks) English.

19. It turns out that my old professor and my new professor (knows/know) each other well.

20. The school's ventilation system (are/is) not working properly.

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What is subject-verb agreement?

Subject-verb agreement means the subject and verb in a sentence must match in number. (singular subject → singular verb; plural subject → plural verb)

• Basic Rule
Singular vs. Plural:
She runs fast. (singular)
They run fast. (plural)

• Indefinite Pronouns:
Singular: Everyone, Somebody, Each, Nothing, etc.: singular verb
→ Everyone wants cake.
Plural: Few, Many, Several, Both: plural verb
→ Many were invited.

• Compound subjects:
Joined by "and": plural
→ Tom and Jerry are friends.

• Joined by "or" / "nor": verb agrees with the closer subject
→ Neither the teacher nor the students are ready.

• Collective nouns (team, group, family, etc.): usually singular in American English
→ The team wins every game.

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