English Grammar Test English Grammar Test Subject-Verb Agreement 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence has correct subject-verb agreement?
- Each of the boys have their own room.
- Each of the boys has his own room. (Correct answer)
- Each of the boys are having their own room.
- Each of the boys had been having their room.
Correct answer: Each of the boys has his own room.
"Each" is singular and requires a singular verb "has."
Question 2: Choose the correct sentence about "police."
- The police has arrived at the scene.
- The police have arrived at the scene. (Correct answer)
- The police is arriving at the scene.
- The police was arrived at the scene.
Correct answer: The police have arrived at the scene.
"Police" is a plural noun in American English and takes a plural verb "have."
Question 3: Which sentence is correct?
- Bread and butter are a common breakfast.
- Bread and butter is a common breakfast. (Correct answer)
- Bread and butter were a common breakfast.
- Bread and butter have been a common breakfast.
Correct answer: Bread and butter is a common breakfast.
"Bread and butter" refers to a single concept (a food combination), so it takes a singular verb.
Question 4: Select the correct sentence.
- Neither John nor his brothers is attending.
- Neither John nor his brothers are attending. (Correct answer)
- Neither John nor his brothers was attending.
- Neither John nor his brothers has attending.
Correct answer: Neither John nor his brothers are attending.
With "neither/nor," the verb agrees with the subject nearest to it ("brothers" = plural, so "are").
Question 5: Which is grammatically correct?
- Fifty percent of the pie is left. (Correct answer)
- Fifty percent of the pie are left.
- Fifty percent of the pie were left.
- Fifty percent of the pie have been left.
Correct answer: Fifty percent of the pie is left.
With fractions and percentages, the verb agrees with the noun in the "of" phrase; "pie" is singular.
Question 6: Choose the correct verb: "The committee _____ been unable to reach a decision."
- have
- has (Correct answer)
- were
- are
Correct answer: has
In American English, "committee" is a collective noun treated as singular, so "has" is used.
English Grammar Test English Grammar Test Subject-Verb Agreement 3
Which sentence has correct subject-verb agreement?