Subject – Verb AgreementDirections: Circle the correct verb in the following sentences. If you have a doubt about the correct verb, refer to the clues on the following page.

  1. The rhythm of the pounding waves is / are calming.
  2. All of the dogs in the neighborhood were / was barking.
  3. A high tax, not to mention unemployment, influence / influences votes.
  4. My friends and my mother like / likes each other.
  5. The team and the band was / were on the field.
  6. Building a good marriage and building a good log fire is / are similar in many ways.
  7. John or Doris writes / writes to us regularly.
  8. Neither Carol nor Ted is / are excluded from the meeting.
  9. Either Patty or Tom was / were asked to lead the meeting.
  10. Neither the basket nor the apples was / were expensive.
  11. Neither the apples nor the basket was / were expensive
  12. Either Maria or you was / were late for class.
  13. Either you or Maria was / were late for class.
  14. Hardest hit by the high temperatures and the drought was / were the farmers.
  15. Neither of them like / likes going to the show.
  16. Each of them has / have a good seat.
  17. Everybody in the class has / have tickets.
  18. Every silver knife, fork, and spoon has / have to be counted.
  19. Each cat and each dog has / have its own toy.
  20. The committee is / are meeting today.
  21. Ten million gallons of oil is / are a lot of oil.
  22. The jury vote / votes today.
  23. The number is / are very small.
  24. A number of students was / were absent.
  25. Ten million gallons of oil was / were spilled.
  26. The majority of us is / are in favor.
  27. Statistics is / are an interesting subject. Statistics is / are often misleading.
  28. The sheep stray / strays when the gate is left open. Sheep stray / strays when the gate is left open.