Subject-verb agreement is a crucial grammatical rule that every writer should master to communicate effectively. It refers to the agreement between the subject and the verb in a sentence. The verb must match the number and person of the subject. For instance, a singular subject requires a singular verb, while a plural subject needs a plural verb. Subject-verb agreement errors can affect the clarity and credibility of your writing. This article provides several sample exercises for subject-verb agreement to help you sharpen your skills.
Exercise 1: Identify the correct verb form.
Directions: Choose the correct verb form in parentheses that agrees with the subject in each sentence.
Example: The cat (sit/sits) on the windowsill.
Answer: The cat sits on the windowsill.
1. The children (play/plays) in the park.
2. The company`s profits (has/have) increased this year.
3. The sound of the waves (calm/calms) me down.
4. The committee (meet/meets) every Wednesday.
5. Neither the teacher nor the students (is/are) happy with the arrangement.
Exercise 2: Rewrite the sentences with the correct subject-verb agreement.
Directions: Rewrite the sentences to correct the subject-verb agreement errors.
Example: The dogs barks in the yard. (The dog barks in the yard.)
1. The police officer were patrolling the streets.
2. Every morning, the flock of birds flies over the city.
3. None of the apples were ripe yet.
4. The team of expert researchers are working on a new project.
5. There is many reasons to be grateful.
Exercise 3: Identify the subject-verb agreement errors.
Directions: Identify the subject-verb agreement errors in the following sentences.
Example: Each of the students were assigned a different topic. (Each of the students was assigned a different topic.)
1. The group of friends enjoys hiking on the weekends.
2. The book that I`m reading have a surprising twist ending.
3. Here comes the bus that will take us to the city.
4. The singer, along with her band, were performing at the festival.
5. The amount of time and money that it takes to complete the project are significant.
Subject-verb agreement is an essential rule to master in writing. The above sample exercises aim to strengthen your understanding and application of this rule in different contexts. By practicing these exercises, you will be able to reduce or eliminate the subject-verb errors in your writing. Remember, clear and effective communication depends on proper subject-verb agreement.