Basic rules of subject-verb agreement

The verb has to agree with the subject in number and person. That means if the subject is singular, the verb should be singular. Likewise a plural verb should be used with a plural subject.

In English, the plural of most nouns is formed by just adding -s to the singular. However, some nouns that end in -s are singular. Examples are: science, physics, mathematics, statistics, politics, gymnastics, and athletics.

Some nouns have the same plural and singular forms. Examples are: series, means, species, headquarters etc.

Collective nouns can be used with either plural or singular verbs.

Worksheet 1

Fill in the blanks with a verb form that agrees with the subject.

1. ……………………. you done your homework?

a) Are

b) Have

c) Has

d) Did

Answer: have

2. Where ………………………. they been all this while?

a) have

b) are

c) is

d) has

Answer: have

3. James and Alice …………………………. close friends.

a) is

b) are

c) have

d) had

Answer: are

4. She ……………………. never apologized to anyone.

a) was

b) has

c) have

d) does

Answer: has

5. He ………………………… not know the answer.

a) does

b) do

c) has

d) have

Answer: does

6. My father …………………………. tea every morning.

a) drink

b) drinks

c) drinked

d) drinking

Answer: drinks

7. All of my friends …………………………. been invited to my party.

a) are

b) have

c) has

d) were

Answer: have

8. He ………………………. no moral right to criticize me.

a) has

b) was

c) have

d) does

Answer: has

9. He ……………………….. always wanted to be a scientist.

a) has

b) was

c) is

d) have

Answer: has

10. Neither James nor his wife ………………………… there.

a) was

b) were

c) has

d) have

Answer: was

11. Either you or he ……………………… wrong.

a) are

b) is

c) am

d) were

Answer: is

12. The tongs ……………………….. by the fireplace.

a) are

b) is

c) have

d) do

Answer: are

13. Twenty years ……………………….. is a long time.

a) is

b) are

c) has

d) have

Answer: is

14. Each winner ………………………….. given a prize.

a) was

b) were

c) has

d) have

Answer: was

15. Much ………………………. been written about World War II.

a) has

b) have

c) was

d) were

Answer: has

Worksheet 2

Fill in the blanks with a verb form that agrees with the subject.

1. ……………………………. you want to meet the manager?

a) Do

b) Have

c) Are

d) Has

Answer: Do

2. Does she ……………………………. what she is doing?

a) understands

b) understand

c) understood

d) understanding

Answer: understand

3. I didn’t ……………………………. him yesterday.

a) met

b) meet

c) meets

d) meeting

Answer: meet

4. That ………………………….. matter.

a) hasn’t

b) isn’t

c) doesn’t

d) don’t

Answer: doesn’t

5. A woman without man ……………………………… like a fish without a bicycle.

a) is

b) are

c) has

d) have

Answer: is

6. Every living creature ……………………………… capable of suffering.

a) is

b) are

c) have

d) were

Answer: is

7. He ………………………….. everyone with respect.

a) treats

b) treat

c) treating

d) treates

Answer: treats

8. Working long hours …………………………………… the health of employees.

a) affect

b) affects

c) affecting

d) has affect

Answer: affects

9. Who are those girls who ………………………………… talking to your sister?

a) is

b) are

c) have

d) was

Answer: are

10. He who ……………………………. hard will eventually succeed.

a) work

b) works

c) working

d) worked

Answer: works

11. He …………………………………. to be disturbed while he is working.

a) hasn’t liked

b) doesn’t like

c) didn’t like

d) don’t like

Answer: doesn’t like

12. I still remember the day I first ……………………………. him.

a) meet

b) met

c) had met

d) have met

Answer: met

13. Much effort ………………………………. required to learn a foreign language.

a) is

b) are

c) has

d) had

Answer: is

14. Some fools ……………………………… left the door open.

a) has

b) have

c) are

d) was

Answer: have

15. Nobody ………………………………… there to help him.

a) was

b) were

c) has

d) have

Answer: was