Subject-Verb Agreement — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Choose the correct verb: "The dog and the cat ___ in the yard."
A) plays
B) play
C) is playing
D) has played
The plural subject 'The students' takes the base-form verb 'play' without an -s ending.
2. Which sentence uses was or were correctly?
A) The girls was at the library.
B) He were my best friend last year.
C) The cookies were in the oven.
D) They was running late for class.
The plural subject 'The cookies' correctly pairs with the plural past-tense linking verb 'were.'
3. Choose the correct verb: "Nobody ___ the answer to that riddle."
A) know
B) are knowing
C) knows
D) were knowing
The indefinite pronoun 'Everyone' is always singular, so the verb takes the singular form 'knows' with the -s ending.
4. Which sentence has correct subject-verb agreement?
A) The sheep is grazing in the meadow.
B) The sheep has runs away from us.
C) The sheep were eats the grass.
D) The sheep be sleeping right now.
When 'sheep' refers to one animal, it takes the singular linking verb 'is.' Sheep is the same word for singular and plural.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. My brother and I walk to the park after school.
The compound subject 'My brother and I' is plural, so the verb uses the base form 'walk' without an -s ending.
2. The news is on television every evening at six.
The subject 'The news' is singular even though it ends in -s, so the linking verb takes the singular form 'is.'
3. Several birds have nests in our backyard tree.
The subject 'Several birds' is plural, so the verb takes the plural form 'have' instead of 'has.'
4. Either Mom or Dad picks us up from practice.
With 'either...or,' the verb agrees with the nearest subject 'Dad,' which is singular, so the verb is 'picks.'
5. The children were excited about the school play.
The subject 'The children' is plural, so the past-tense linking verb takes the plural form 'were.'