Grammar Tips: Subject-Verb Agreement

General Rule:  

Make subjects and verbs agree.  Singular subjects agree with singular verbs; plural subjects agree with plural verbs. 

For example: 

•     The girl (singular subject) laughs (singular verb). 
•     The girls (plural subject) laugh (plural verb). 

Test Your Skills!

Circle the correct answer: 

1. The blue stain on the sheets (comes, come) from the blue jeans I washed with them. 
2. There (was, were) many applicants for the position. 
3. None of the suspects (have, has) confessed. 
4. Everyone (need, needs) to turn in papers by Friday. 
5. The dog and the cats (begs, beg) to go outside. 
6. The dog, together with the cats, (begs, beg) to go outside. 
7. The nurses or Dr. Brown usually (takes, take) the night shift. 
8. Neither Mrs. Simpson nor her students (agree, agrees) with the decision.

Answers

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