Subject-Verb Agreement Practice Rules 1-7

Name:______Date:______Period:______

Directions: Read each sentence and circle the correct verb according to the rule.

Rule 1: When the subject of a sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by and, use a plural verb.

1. Margo and her parents (visit-visits) each other often. 2. Vern and Fred (need-needs) a ride to work. 3. A magazine and a book (was-were) lying on the floor.

Rules 2 and 3: When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by or or nor, use a singular verb. When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or pronoun joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is nearer the verb.

4. Either the cups or the glasses (are-is) in the dishwasher. 5. Neither Matt nor his brothers (was-were) at the party. 6. Either the workers or the boss (deliver-delivers) the merchandise. 7. Either Joyce or Ellen (was-were) here.

Rule 4: Doesn't is a contraction of does not and should be used only with a singular subject. Don't is a contraction of do not and should be used only with a plural subject. The exception to this rule appears in the case of the first person and second person pronouns I and you. With these pronouns, the contraction don't should be used.

8. She (doesn’t-don’t) look very well today. 9. It (doesn’t-don’t) seem so cold today. 10. They (doesn’t-don’t) think they’ll win the game tonight.

Rule 5: Do not be misled by a phrase that comes between the subject and the verb. The verb agrees with the subject, not with a noun or pronoun in the phrase.

11. Your friend (talk-talks) too much. 12. The man with the roses (look-looks) like your brother. 13. The women in the pool (swim-swims) well. 14. Bill (drive-drives) a cab. 15. The football players (run-runs) five miles every day. 16. That red-haired lady in the fur hat (live-lives) across the street. 17. He (cook-cooks) dinner for his family. 18. The boys (walk-walks) to school every day. 19. The weather on the coast (appear-appears) to be good this weekend. 20. The center on the basketball team (bounce-bounces) the ball too high. Name:______Date:______Period:______

Rule 6: The words each, each one, either, neither, everyone, everybody, anybody, anyone, nobody, somebody, someone, and no one are singular and require a singular verb.

21. Each of the girls (look-looks) good on skis. 22. Everybody (was-were) asked to remain quiet. 23. Neither of the men (is-are) here yet. 24. (Is-Are) each of the girls ready to leave? 25. Several of the sheep (is-are) sick. 26. Some members of the faculty (is-are) present. 27. Nobody in the class (has-have) the answer. 28. Each of the girls (observe-observes) all the regulations. 29. All of the milk (is-are) gone. 30. Most of the seats (was-were) taken.

Rule 7: Nouns such as civics, mathematics, dollars, measles, and news require singular verbs.

31. One hundred dollars (is-are) not a lot of money to some people. 32. Twenty minutes (is-are) the amount of time it takes me to get home from work. 33. Interesting news (is-are) what sells our paper. 34. A pound of cookies (cost-costs) about a dollar. 35. Mumps (is-are) one of the most uncomfortable diseases.