TASK 1

Exercise 10 : subject - verb agreement

Choose the correct form of the verb – in parentheses in the following sentences.

1.    John, along with twenty friends, ( is / are ) planning a party.

John, along with twenty friends are planning a party.

2.    The picture of the soldiers ( bring / brings ) back many memories.

The picture of the soldiers brings back many memories.

3.    The quality of these recordings ( is / are ) not very good.

The quality of these recordings is not very good.

4.    If the duties of these officers ( isn’t / aren’t ) reduced, there will not be enough time to finish the project.

If the duties of these officers aren’t reduced, there will not be enough time to finish the project.

5.    The effects of cigarette smoking ( have / has ) been proven to be extremely harmful.

The effects of cigarette smoking have been proven to be extremely harmful.

6.    The use of credit cards in place of cash ( have / has ) increased rapidly in recent years.

The use of credit cards in place of cash have increased rapidly in recent years.

7.    Advertisements on television ( is / are ) becoming more competitive than ever before.

Advertisements on television are becoming more competitive than ever before.

8.    Living expenses in this country as well as in many others, ( is / are ) at an all – time high.

Living expenses in this country as well as in many others, is at an all – time high.

9.     Mr. Jones accompanied by several members of the committee ( have / has ) proposed some changes of the rules.

Mr. Jones accompanied by several members of the committee have proposed some changes of the rules.

10.              The levels of intoxication ( vary / varies ) from subject to subject.

      The levels of intoxication varies from subject to subject.

Exercise 11 : subject - verb agreement

Choose the correct form of the verb in the following sentences.

1)      Neither Bill nor Mary ( is / are ) going to the play tonight.

Neither Bill nor Mary are going to the play tonight.

2)      Anything ( is / are ) better than going to another movie tonight.

Anything is better than going to another movie tonight.

3)      Skating ( is / are ) becoming more popular every day.

Skating is becoming more popular every day.

4)      A number of reporters ( was / were ) at the conference yesterday.

A number of reporters were at the conference yesterday.

5)      Everybody who ( has / have ) a fever must go home immediately.

Everybody who has a fever must go home immediately.

6)      Your glasses ( was / were ) on the bureau last night.

Your glasses were on the bureau last night.

7)      There ( was / were ) some people at the meeting last night.

There were some people at the meeting last night.

8)      The committee ( has / have ) already reached a decision.

The committee have already reached a decision.

9)      A pair of jeans ( was / were ) in the washing machine this morning.

A pair of jeans were in the washing machine this morning.

10)   Each student ( has / have ) answered the first three questions.

 Each student has answered the first three questions.

11)   Either John or his wife ( make / makes ) breakfast each morning.

 Either John or his wife make breakfast each morning.

12)   After she had perused the material, the secretary decided that everything ( was / were ) in order.

 After she had perused the material, the secretary decided that everything was in order.

13)   The crowd at the basketball game ( was / were ) wild with excitement.

 The crowd at the basketball game were wild with excitement.

14)   A pack of wild dogs ( has / have ) frightened all the ducks away.

 A pack of wild dogs have frightened all the ducks away.

15)   The jury ( is / are ) trying to reach a decision.

 The jury are trying to reach a decision.

16)   The army ( has / have ) eliminated this section of the training test.

 The army have eliminated this section of the training test.

17)   The number of students who have with drawn from class this quarter ( is / are ) appalling.

The number of students who have with drawn from class this quarter are appalling.

18)   There ( has / have ) been to many interruptions in this class.

 There have been to many interruptions in this class. 

19)   Every elementary school teacher ( has / have ) to take this examination.

 Every elementary school teacher has to take this examination.

20)   Neither Jill nor her parents ( has / have ) seen this movie before.

 Neither Jill nor her parents have seen this movie before.