1.
What would the correct subject-verb concord be: "One of my dogs ___ old."?
Correct Answer
A. Is
Explanation
The phrase "One of my dogs" highlights the selection of a single dog from a group. Here, "one" is the subject, and it is singular. Therefore, the verb must also be singular to agree with it. The construction "one of" is always followed by a plural noun ("dogs"), but the verb agreement is always with "one," which is singular, hence "is" is used. This grammatical rule ensures clarity in specifying that the statement applies to just one member of a group.
2.
What would the correct subject-verb concord be: "Mathematics ____ my favorite subject."?
Correct Answer
A. Is
Explanation
The noun "Mathematics" might confuse some due to its plural ending. However, it is treated as a singular noun in the context of academic subjects. This rule applies to several academic subjects that end in 's' but are considered singular, such as economics, physics, and politics. Thus, the verb "is" correctly matches the singular subject, which is standard for stating preferences or facts about one’s academic interests.
3.
What would the correct subject-verb concord be: "Some of the students _____ angry because they did not pass."?
Correct Answer
B. Were
Explanation
The phrase "some of the students" suggests a plural subject, despite the singular form of "some." Here, "students" determines the plurality of the subject, guiding the verb choice. The verb "were" is the plural past form of "to be," matching the plural noun. This example highlights how quantifiers like "some" can influence verb agreement based on whether they imply one or multiple items or people.
4.
What would the correct subject-verb concord be: "There ____ the president."?
Correct Answer
A. Goes
Explanation
In English grammar, subject-verb concord (or agreement) means that the verb must agree with its subject in number. In other words, if the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural. In this case, the subject is "president," which is singular. Therefore, the verb must also be singular. The singular form of the verb "go" in the present tense is "goes."
5.
What would the correct subject-verb concord be: "The boy with his friends ____ chocolate at the supermarket."?
Correct Answer
A. Buys
Explanation
The subject of the sentence is "The boy," which is singular.
The phrase "with his friends" is a prepositional phrase and does not affect the number of the subject.
Therefore, the verb should agree with the singular subject "The boy."
So, the correct sentence is: "The boy with his friends buys chocolate at the supermarket."
6.
What would the correct subject-verb concord be: "The teacher's clothes ____ out of fashion."?
Correct Answer
B. Were
Explanation
"Clothes" is inherently a plural noun; there is no singular form. Thus, the verb "were" is used to indicate that something was true in the past, aligning with the plural noun "clothes." This structure is essential for describing states or conditions pertaining to multiple items.
7.
What would the correct subject-verb concord be: "McDonald's ____ an American fast food restaurant."?
Correct Answer
A. Is
Explanation
"McDonald's," referring to the company, is a singular noun. Despite ending in 's', it represents a single entity or brand, requiring the singular form "is" to describe its identity or characteristic. This distinction is crucial in business or brand names, which often appear plural but are grammatically singular.
8.
What would the correct subject-verb concord be: "My friends ____ a lot of junk food."?
Correct Answer
B. Eat
Explanation
"Friends" is a straightforward plural subject, and "eat" is the base form of the verb used with plural subjects in the present tense. This sentence reflects routine or habitual actions, where the simple present tense is appropriate for describing regular behaviors.
9.
What would the correct subject-verb concord be: "The United States _____ bordered by Canada and Mexico."?
Correct Answer
A. Is
Explanation
Although "The United States" sounds plural, it refers to a single country and is therefore treated as a singular noun in grammar. The verb "is" reflects this singular treatment, which is standard for geographical names that represent collective entities.
10.
What would the correct subject-verb concord be: "There ____ a lot of money under the sofa."?
Correct Answer
A. Is
Explanation
"A lot of money" might sound plural, but "money" is an uncountable noun and is always treated as singular in English. Therefore, the verb "is" is used to indicate presence or existence. This example underscores the difference between countable and uncountable nouns in determining verb agreement.
11.
Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?
Correct Answer
B. My friends and I are going to the movies.
Explanation
The sentence "My friends and I are going to the movies" has a plural subject, "my friends and I." Plural subjects require a plural verb form to ensure subject-verb agreement. The verb "are going" is the correct plural form to match the plural subject. The other sentences have mismatches between the subject and verb, making them grammatically incorrect.
12.
Identify the sentence with an error in subject-verb agreement.
Correct Answer
C. The team captain, along with the other players, are excited for the game.
Explanation
When the phrase "along with" is used, it does not create a compound subject. The true subject is "captain," which is singular. Therefore, the verb should be singular ("is"). The other options demonstrate correct agreement: a) "each" is singular, b) "neither...nor" requires agreement with the closest subject ("students"), and d) distances are treated as singular.
13.
Which sentence uses the correct verb form?
Correct Answer
B. Neither of the options seem appealing.
Explanation
Indefinite pronouns like "neither" are usually singular and require a singular verb ("seems"). The other options have incorrect agreement: a) "everyone" is singular, c) "jury" is a collective noun treated as singular in American English, and d) "family" is a collective noun treated as singular when referring to the unit as a whole.
14.
Choose the correct sentence.
Correct Answer
C. The United States is a large and diverse country.
Explanation
Some nouns that appear plural are actually singular. "The United States" is a singular entity and takes a singular verb ("is"). The other options have incorrect agreement: a) "news" is singular, b) subjects like "mathematics" are treated as singular, and d) "politics," while referring to many aspects, is treated as a singular subject.
15.
Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement with a compound subject?
Correct Answer
C. Neither the rain nor the snow stop the mail carrier.
Explanation
In a compound subject joined by "neither...nor," the verb agrees with the closest subject. Here, "snow" is singular, so the verb "stops" is also singular. In option A, "chases" should be "chase" because "cat and dog" form a plural subject. In option B, "is" is correct, but the sentence structure makes it misleading. In option D, "is" should be "are" because "baking cookies and decorating the house" form a plural subject. Therefore, option C is the best choice, as it correctly follows subject-verb agreement rules.