Subject-Verb Agreement
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Choose either a or b to reflect the correct verb choice in each of the following sentences.
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Question 1 of 10
1. Question
There (a) has (b) have been a steady increase in hate crimes in the city.
Correct
The verb has must agree with the “true” subject of the sentence: the noun increase.
Incorrect
The verb has must agree with the “true” subject of the sentence: the noun increase.
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Question 2 of 10
2. Question
The news media (a) is (b) are under attack again
Correct
The word media is a plural subject and requires a plural verb. Media is the plural of medium.
Incorrect
The word media is a plural subject and requires a plural verb. Media is the plural of medium.
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Question 3 of 10
3. Question
Half of the emergency supplies (a) is (b) are missing.
Correct
When the subject of a sentence is a fraction or a word such as half, part, plenty or rest, the intended number is suggested by the object of the preposition that follows it. Because supplies is a plural noun, it requires a plural verb.
Incorrect
When the subject of a sentence is a fraction or a word such as half, part, plenty or rest, the intended number is suggested by the object of the preposition that follows it. Because supplies is a plural noun, it requires a plural verb.
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Question 4 of 10
4. Question
Neither the camera nor its lenses (a) was (b) were stolen in the robbery.
Correct
When using neither… nor in a compound-subject sentence, the subject closer to the verb determines the number of the verb. Lenses is a plural subject that requires a plural verb.
Incorrect
When using neither… nor in a compound-subject sentence, the subject closer to the verb determines the number of the verb. Lenses is a plural subject that requires a plural verb.
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Question 5 of 10
5. Question
The media (a) has (b) have arrived at the press conference.
Correct
Media is a plural subject that requires a plural form of the verb.
Incorrect
Media is a plural subject that requires a plural form of the verb.
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Question 6 of 10
6. Question
The number of unemployed teenagers (a) rise (b) rises sharply every summer.
Correct
When used as the subject of a sentence, the number always takes a singular verb.
Incorrect
When used as the subject of a sentence, the number always takes a singular verb.
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Question 7 of 10
7. Question
A number of items (a) has (b) have been stolen.
Correct
When used as the subject of a sentence a number always takes a plural verb.
Incorrect
When used as the subject of a sentence a number always takes a plural verb.
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Question 8 of 10
8. Question
A blackbird, as well as three starlings, (a) is (b) are nesting in the tree.
Correct
The subject blackbird is singular and requires a singular verb. The parenthetical phrase ,as well as three starlings, does not determine the number of the verb.
Incorrect
The subject blackbird is singular and requires a singular verb. The parenthetical phrase ,as well as three starlings, does not determine the number of the verb.
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Question 9 of 10
9. Question
Each of the brothers (a) has (b) have a special talent.
Correct
When used as the subject of the sentence, each always takes a singular verb.
Incorrect
When used as the subject of the sentence, each always takes a singular verb.
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Question 10 of 10
10. Question
He is one of the best rebounders who (a) has (b) have ever played in the NBA.
Correct
This one is tricky, and you can’t “sound” it out. The pronoun (who) and its verb (have) are plural because the antecedent (rebounders) is plural. In other words, there have been several “best rebounders.”
Here’s an exception: “He is the only one of the players who has scored.” In this case, “the only one” limits the number of players to just one; so the pronoun (who) and its verb (has) are singular.
Incorrect
This one is tricky, and you can’t “sound” it out. The pronoun (who) and its verb (have) are plural because the antecedent (rebounders) is plural. In other words, there have been several “best rebounders.”
Here’s an exception: “He is the only one of the players who has scored.” In this case, “the only one” limits the number of players to just one; so the pronoun (who) and its verb (has) are singular.