CBSE Class 8 English Subject Verb Agreement Worksheet

PROBLEM 1

A subject separated from the verb by an intervening prepositional phrase

agr The stories in the newspaper was well written.

agr The house in the suburbs were just what she wanted.

SOLUTION

The stories in the newspaper were well written.

The house in the suburbs was just what she wanted.

Make sure that the verb agrees with the subject of the sentence, not with the object of a preposition. The object of a preposition is never the subject. 
 

PROBLEM 2

A sentence that begins with here or there

agr Here go the duck with her ducklings.

agr There is the pencils you were looking for.

agr Here is the snapshots from our vacation to the Grand Canyon.

SOLUTION

Here goes the duck with her ducklings.

There are the pencils you were looking for.

Here are the snapshots from our vacation to the Grand Canyon.

In sentences that begin with here or there, look for the subject after the verb. Make sure that the verb agrees with the subject.

PROBLEM 3

An indefinite pronoun as the subject

agr Each of the animals have a unique way of walking.

agr Many of the movies was black and white.

agr None of the leaves is turning colors yet.

SOLUTION

Each of the animals has a unique way of walking.

Many of the movies were black and white.

None of the leaves are turning colors yet.

Some indefinite pronouns are singular, some are plural, and some can be either singular or plural. Determine whether the indefinite pronoun is singular or plural, and make the verb agree.
 

PROBLEM 4

A compound subject that is joined by and

agr The students and the teacher adores the classroom hamster.

agr The expert and best source of information are Dr. Marlin.

SOLUTION A

The students and the teacher adore the classroom hamster.

Use a plural verb if the parts of the compound subject do not belong to one unit or if they refer to different people or things.

SOLUTION B

The expert and best source of information is Dr. Marlin.

Use a singular verb if the parts of the compound subject belong to one unit or if they refer to the same person or thing.
 

PROBLEM 5

A compound subject that is joined by or or nor

agr Either Hester or Sue are supposed to pick us up.

agr Neither pepper nor spices improves the flavor of this sauce.

agr Either Caroline or Robin volunteer at the local food pantry.

agr Neither the coach nor the screaming fans agrees with the referee’s call.

SOLUTION

Either Hester or Sue is supposed to pick us up.

Neither pepper nor spices improve the flavor of this sauce.

Either Caroline or Robin volunteers at the local food pantry.

Neither the coach nor the screaming fans agree with the referee’s call.

Make the verb agree with the subject that is closer to it.
 

Subject Verb Agreement

1. A verb must agree with its subject in person and number.
The kangaroo jumps. (singular)        The kangaroos jump. (plural)
She is leaping. (singular)                 They are leaping. (plural)

2. In inverted sentences the subject follows the verb. The sentence may begin with a prepositional phrase, the word there or here, or a form of do.
Into the pond dove the children.
Does a bird have a sense of smell?
There is a squeak in that third stair.

3. Do not mistake a word in a prepositional phrase for the subject.
The glass in the window is streaked. (The singular verb is agrees with the subject, glass.)

4. A title is always singular, even if nouns in the title are plural.
Instant World Facts is a helpful reference book.

5. Subjects combined with and or both need a plural verb unless the parts are of a whole unit. When compound subjects are joined with or or nor, the verb agrees with the subject listed last.
Canterbury and Coventry have famous cathedrals.
A bagel and cream cheese is a filling snack.
Either two short stories or a novel is acceptable for your book report.

6. A verb must agree in number with an indefinite pronoun subject. Indefinite pronouns that are always singular: anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, neither, nobody, no one, nothing, one, somebody, someone, and something.
Always plural: both, few, many, others, and several
Either singular or plural: all, any, most, none, and some
Most of the snow has melted.         All of the children have eaten

Question. Joshua, with his members,_________really well.
(a) sing
(b) singing
(c) have sung
(d) sings
Answer.(d) sings

Question. Much___________been said in the news reports.
(a)were
(b) have
(c) has
(d) was
Answer.(c) has

Question. All means of communication______shut down.
(a) was
(b) has
(c) have
(d) is
Answer.(c) have

Question. The pieces of information being circulated _______ true.
(a) were
(b) was
(c) are
(d) have been
Answer.(c) are

Question. My glasses ____________ nowhere to be found.
(a) is
(b) are
(c) have
(d) has
Answer.(b) are

Question. Either of the two horses shall ____________ win the race.
(a) winning
(b) win
(c) wins
(d) won
Answer.(b) win

Question. The United States of America ___________ going to conduct elections soon.
(a) are
(b) is
(c) have
(d) has
Answer.(b) is

Question. That woman ____________vegetables.
(a) sell
(b) selling
(c) sells
(d) have sold
Answer.(c) sells

Question. Gold and silver _________ precious metals.
(a) is
(b) am
(c) are
(d) was
Answer.(c) are

Question. The orphanage________good care of its employees.
(a) take
(b) took
(c) takes
(d) taking
Answer.(c) takes

Question. The quality of the content _______ not good.
(a) was
(b) were
(c) has
(d) have
Answer.(a) was

Question. All possible means ________ been tried.
(a) are
(b) were
(c) have
(d) has
Answer.(c) have

Question. Every boy and girl _______ asked to wear black clothes.
(a) are
(b) was
(c) were
(d) have
Answer.(b) was

Question. The wages of his sin ______ death.
(a) are
(b) were
(c) have
(d) is
Answer.(d) is

Question.Time and tide _______ for none.
(a) is waiting
(b) waits
(c) waited
(d) wait
Answer.(b) waits

Question. They shall __________ soon.
(a) come
(b) comes
(c) coming
(d) came
Answer.(a) come

Question. The United States __________ a big army.
(a) are
(b) were
(c) have
(d) has
Answer.(d) has

Question. The Principal, teachers, staff members _______discussing the event.
(a) is
(b) are
(c) were
(d) have
Answer.(b) are

Question. Our happiness or our sorrow ______ largely due to our own actions.
(a) is
(b) are
(c) were
(d) have
Answer.(a) is

Question. Neither Ramesh nor Suresh _______ the culprit.
(a) is
(b) are
(c) were
(d) have
Answer.(a) is

Question. Ten kilometres ______ a long distance.
(a) are
(b) were
(c) have
(d)is
Answer.(d) is

Question. Public speaking ___________ a skill.
(a) are
(b) have
(c) has
(d) is
Answer.(d) is

Question. Tuberculosis___________a common disease among the workers here.
(a) are
(b) is
(c) were
(d) has
Answer.(b) is

Question. Each of the innocent ones _______ released.
(a) are
(b) were
(c) have
(d) is
Answer.(d) is

Question. The thief and the lawyers ______ missing.
(a) are
(b) were
(c) have
(d) is
Answer.(a) are

Question. The Three Musketeers______written by Dumas.
(a) are
(b) were
(c) have
(d) is
Answer.(d) is

Question. That evening everyone at the party ______ stunned.
(a) are
(b) was
(c) were
(d) have
Answer.(b) was

Question. Hundred rupees______ too much for this fabric.
(a) are
(b) were
(c) have
(d) is
Answer.(d) is

Question. There ______ many views against the motion.
(a) are
(b) were
(c) have
(d) is
Answer.(a) are

Choose the right form of verb from the given options:

Question. A pair of scissors was/were taken out of the drawer.
Answer. was

Question. Measles is/are an infectious disease.
Answer. is

Question. A number of videos have/ has been deleted from the phone.
Answer. Have

Question. None of these flowers grow/ grows well inside the house.
Answer. Grows

Question. Neither of these printers work/ works properly.
Answer. Work

Question. Each of the employees is/ are going to get a trip as a gift.
Answer. Is

Question. Bread and eggs is/ are my favourite.
Answer. is

Question. One of the students were/was talking.
Answer. was

Question. The cricket team is/are headed to the nationals since winning the state finals
Answer. is

Question. Nine and nine make/ makes eighteen.
Answer. Makes

Look at the subjects below and supply the correct verb.
The first one is done for you.
E.g. The bag of apples _______ (is/are) ripe.
Answer. is

Question. The bags of apples ______ (is/are) ready for collection.
Answer. are

Question. Several of us ______ going to watch the movie.
Answer. are

Question. Neither the dog nor the cat ______ (enjoy/enjoys) being thrown into the swimming pool.
Answer. enjoys

Question. Neither the dogs nor the cat ______ (likes/like) the food.
Answer. like

Question. Everybody ______ (know/knows) the answer to that question.
Answer. knows

Question. More than 5000 bags of flour ______ (be) damaged due to flood.
Answer. are

Question. Fish and chips______ (be) usually liked by children.
Answer. is

Question. The teacher as well as her students______ (have) been here all day.
Answer. has

Question. His song (has/have) a theme which______ (be) difficult to understand.
Answer. has/is

Question. A list of names______ (have/has) been sent to you.
Answer. has

Question. Many buses______ ( is/are) owned by Bhim Joshi.
Answer. are

Question. He says that the pair of trousers______ (be) not yet dry.
Answer. is

Question. Neither Peter nor his wife______ (be) at home.
Answer. is

Question. Most of us ______ (be) happy with the result.
Answer. are

Question. Here ______ (comes/come) Patricia and her brother.
Answer.  comes

Question. One of my sisters usually______ (help/helps) me.
Answer. helps

Question. The athletes of this club ______(is/are) mostly the winners.
Answer. are

Question. Playing on harmonium and singing ______(is/are) quite easy.
Answer. is

Question. The sceneries of Mahabaleshwar ______(is/are) more beautiful than that of Darjeeling.
Answer. are

Question. These days bread and butter______(is/are) difficult to earn.
Answer. is

Circle the correct verb so that it agrees with the subject.

Question. My friend Ethan (go, goes) to the same university as me.
Answer. goes

Question. The bee (buzz, buzzes) around the flowers in the garden.
Answer. buzzes

Question. This band (play, plays) music I like.
Answer. plays

Question. The mother and son (resemble, resembles) one another.
Answer. resemble

Question. Dogs (is, are) loyal pets.
Answer. are

Question. Dogs (show, shows) more attention than cats.
Answer. show

Question.17. Most households (has, have) at least one car.
Answer. have

Question. Jason and I (is, are) always in argument over scientific matters.
Answer. are

Question. The number of students registering for the excursion (has, have) increased.
Answer. has

Question. Michael and his partner (deserve, deserves) the best.
Answer. deserves

Question. My class (like, likes) the new Physics teacher.
Answer. likes

Question. One of us (is, are) completely wrong !
Answer. is

SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT

In each of the following sentences supply a suitable verb in agreement with its subject :-

1. Simple living and high thinking ________ Gandhiji’s philosophy (were/ was).
2. It is said that beauty and brains ________ not go together. (do/does).
3. Dev and Anuj ________ going to Goa this weekend. (is/are).
4. The singer and actor, Sonu ________ awarded to trophy (were/was).
5. The singer and actor ________ wearing similar jackets (were/was).
6. The logic and reasoning of the theory ________ given below. (is/are).
7. Milk and cereals ________ the best breakfast for kids. (are/is).
8. His honesty and integrity ________ unquestionable (is/are).
9. Watching T.V. and Playing video games ________ not interest me. (does/do).
10. You and She ________ been selected for the extempore competition. (has/have).