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Agreement Rules – Quiz 1
Agreement Rules Quiz 1 (30 MCQs)
This multiple-choice question set evaluates the understanding of subject-verb agreement rules in English, including singular and plural subjects, abstract concepts, compound subjects, and collective nouns. It covers various scenarios such as masculine plural agreement, singular vs. plural subjects, and agreement with either...or constructions.
Quiz Instructions
Select an option to see the correct answer instantly.
1.
In the sentence below, select the verb or verb phrase in parentheses that agrees in number with its subject. According to this list, Giovanni and Ethan's sisters ..... coming by.
A) Will.
B) Am.
C) Is.
D) Are.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The subject of the sentence is "Giovanni and Ethan's sisters," which indicates a plural noun (sisters). Therefore, the verb must also be in its plural form to agree with the subject. The correct answer is
D) Are.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Will - Indicates future tense and does not match the subject-verb agreement rule for this sentence.
Option B:
Am - Incorrect form for plural subjects; used with singular nouns only.
Option C:
Is - Incorrect form for plural subjects; used with singular nouns only.
Option D:
Are - Correct, as it agrees in number with the plural subject "sisters."
2.
The club ..... on a president.
A) Vote.
B) Votes.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "The club ..... on a president." requires the verb to agree with its subject, which is singular ("the club"). Therefore, the correct form of the verb should also be singular. Option A) "Vote" can be used in this context as it fits grammatically and logically: "The club votes on a president."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. The club (singular subject) requires a singular verb form, which is "votes."
Option B:
Incorrect. "Votes" would be correct if the subject were plural, but "the club" is singular.
Option C:
Incorrect. This option suggests both A and B are correct, which contradicts grammatical rules for singular subjects.
Option D:
Incorrect. There is a correct answer among the options provided.
3.
The girl and her pet dog ..... under the shade.
A) Rest.
B) Rests.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "The girl and her pet dog ..... under the shade" requires a verb that agrees with both subjects, which are singular but connected by "and." In English grammar, when two singular subjects are joined by "and," they form a compound subject that is also singular. Therefore, the verb must be in its singular form to maintain subject-verb agreement.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Rest - Correct. The verb "rest" agrees with the singular compound subject "The girl and her pet dog."
Option B:
Rests - Incorrect. While this is in the correct form, it does not match the singular compound subject.
Option C:
All the above - Incorrect. Only Option A is correct.
Option D:
None of the above - Incorrect. Option A is correct.
4.
A singular subject requires a ..... verb.
A) Plural.
B) Singular.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
A singular subject requires a singular verb to maintain grammatical consistency and clarity in the sentence structure.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Plural. Incorrect, as plural subjects require plural verbs.
Option B:
Singular. Correct, as stated above.
Option C:
All the above. Incorrect, as singular subjects do not require plural verbs.
Option D:
None of the above. Incorrect, as Option B is correct.
5.
Choose the correct verb to complete the sentence.5. Either she or her friend ..... responsible for this accident.
A) Might.
B) Was.
C) Is.
D) Are.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "Either she or her friend is responsible for this accident" uses the subject "either...or," which requires a singular verb to agree with the nearest subject, in this case, "she." Therefore, "is" correctly completes the sentence.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Might - Irrelevant to agreement rules.
Option B:
Was - Incorrect verb form for singular subject.
Option C:
Is - Correct, as it agrees with the nearest singular subject "she."
Option D:
Are - Incorrect plural verb form.
6.
The doctor and her husband (take, takes) a trip to Mexico each year.
A) Take.
B) Takes.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence uses "the doctor and her husband" as the subject, which is a plural noun phrase. Therefore, the verb must also be in its plural form to maintain subject-verb agreement. The correct answer is
Option A: Take
, as it matches with the plural subject.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. "Take" is the plural form of the verb, agreeing with the plural subject.
Option B:
Incorrect. "Takes" is the singular form and does not agree with the plural subject.
Option C:
Incorrect. This option suggests both verbs are correct, which is not applicable here as only one form fits the plural subject.
Option D:
Incorrect. There is a correct answer among the options provided.
7.
Which sentence uses subject-verb agreement correctly?
A) The club members meets after class.
B) The team practice after school daily.
C) A flock of geese fly over the lake.
D) The scientist looks through the microscope.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option D is correct because it follows the subject-verb agreement rule properly. "The scientist" (singular subject) agrees with the singular verb "looks."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect; "club members" (plural) should agree with a plural verb like "meet."
Option B:
Incorrect; "team" (singular) should agree with the singular verb "practices."
Option C:
Incorrect; "flock of geese" (plural) should agree with a plural verb like "fly."
Option D:
Correct; "The scientist looks" follows proper subject-verb agreement.
8.
My sister, who is very smart, (are, is) getting a scholarship.
A) Is.
B) Are.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The subject "my sister" is singular, so the verb must also be singular to maintain subject-verb agreement. Therefore, "is" is correct.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Subject "sister" is singular, requiring a singular verb "is".
Option B:
Incorrect. "Are" would be used for plural subjects.
Option C:
Incorrect. Only one option can be correct in this case.
Option D:
Incorrect. Option A is the correct answer.
9.
A singular verb ends in 's.'
A) True.
B) False.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Singular verbs do indeed end in 's' in most cases, especially for nouns ending in 's', 'x', 'ch', and 'sh'. This is a common rule in English grammar.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Singular verbs often end in 's'.
Option B:
Incorrect. Not all singular verbs end in 's'; some do not follow this pattern, such as "child" (child, children).
Option C:
Incorrect. Option A is correct.
Option D:
Incorrect. Option A is correct.
10.
There is also students who may appear alright but actually are smiling through their pain.Choose YES if the sentence is correct and NO if it is not.
A) Yes.
B) No.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "There is also students who may appear alright but actually are smiling through their pain" contains a subject-verb agreement error. The subject "students" is plural, but the verb "is" is singular. Therefore, the correct form should be "There are students." Since the given sentence is not grammatically correct according to agreement rules, Option B (No) is the correct answer.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect because the sentence has a subject-verb agreement error.
Option B:
Correct as it identifies the sentence's grammatical issue related to subject-verb agreement.
Option C:
Not applicable since only one correct answer exists for this question.
Option D:
Incorrect because there is a clear and single correct answer (B).
11.
Each student and mentor ..... (has, have) received a welcome kit.
A) Has.
B) Have.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The subject-verb agreement in this sentence requires that the verb "has" agrees with the singular subject "Each student and mentor." Since "each" is a singular quantifier, it dictates that the verb should be singular as well. Therefore, Option A ("Has") is correct.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Each subject (student and mentor) is singular, requiring a singular verb "has."
Option B:
Incorrect. The plural verb "have" does not agree with the singular subjects.
Option C:
Incorrect. This option suggests both verbs are correct, which contradicts subject-verb agreement rules.
Option D:
Incorrect. There is a correct answer among the options provided.
12.
What is the masculine plural form of 'pink'?
A) Rosee.
B) Roses.
C) Rose.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The masculine plural form of 'pink' is "roses." In English, the word "rose" can refer to both singular and plural forms when used as a general term for flowers, regardless of gender. The plural form remains "roses."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Rosee is not a correct form in English.
Option B:
Correct. Roses is the standard plural form.
Option C:
Rose is used for singular or general reference, not specifically masculine plural.
Option D:
Not applicable as "roses" is correct.
13.
A swarm of flies ..... near the fruit.
A) Is.
B) Are.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The subject "flies" is singular in meaning, referring to a swarm as a single entity. Therefore, the verb should agree with this singular meaning and use the singular form "is."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. The verb "is" agrees with the singular subject "a swarm of flies."
Option B:
Incorrect. "Are" is plural, which does not agree with the singular meaning of "a swarm of flies."
Option C:
Incorrect. This option suggests both verbs are correct, which contradicts the rules of subject-verb agreement.
Option D:
Incorrect. There is a correct answer among the options provided.
14.
Fill in the blank:The focus of the interviews ..... nine purposively selected participants. (Use the correct form of the verb to agree with the subject.)
A) Were.
B) Are.
C) Is.
D) Was.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The subject of the sentence is "the focus," which is singular, so the verb must also be singular. Therefore, "Was" correctly agrees with the subject and is the correct choice.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Were - Incorrect as it does not agree with a singular subject.
Option B:
Are - Incorrect as it does not agree with a singular subject.
Option C:
Is - While this is singular, the focus of interviews is typically considered an abstract concept treated as singular but often uses "Was" in past tense for emphasis or formality.
Option D:
Was - Correct as it agrees with a singular subject and fits the context well.
15.
Cats and dogs (do, does) not get along.
A) Do.
B) Does.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The subject-verb agreement rule in this sentence requires the verb "do" to be conjugated in its plural form because the subject "cats and dogs" is a compound subject referring to multiple entities. Therefore, Option A ("Do") is correct.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. The subject "cats and dogs" is plural, so the verb must be conjugated in its plural form.
Option B:
Incorrect. "Does" is singular and does not agree with the plural subject.
Option C:
Incorrect. This option suggests both verbs are correct, which they are not; only one is appropriate for this sentence structure.
Option D:
Incorrect. The correct answer is provided in Option A.
16.
Nouns like scissors and jeans are considered .....
A) Singular.
B) Plural.
C) Both singular and plural.
D) Neither singular nor plural.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Nouns like scissors and jeans are considered
plural
. These nouns refer to a pair of objects, even though they may describe a single item (like a pair of jeans), and thus require plural verbs and agreement in most grammatical contexts.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Singular - Incorrect. Scissors and jeans are not singular nouns.
Option B:
Plural - Correct. These nouns always take plural forms and agree with plural verbs.
Option C:
Both singular and plural - Incorrect. While they can describe a single item, their grammatical form is inherently plural.
Option D:
Neither singular nor plural - Incorrect. They clearly follow the rules for plural nouns in English grammar.
17.
Nobody ..... the trouble I've seen.
A) Knows.
B) Know.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "Nobody knows the trouble I've seen." requires a verb that agrees with the subject "nobody," which is singular. Therefore, the correct form of the verb should be in its third-person singular present tense, which is "knows."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. "Knows" is the appropriate verb form for a singular subject.
Option B:
Incorrect. "Know" does not agree with the singular subject "nobody."
Option C:
Incorrect. This option includes an incorrect answer and "all," which doesn't fit grammatically or logically in this context.
Option D:
Incorrect. There is a correct answer among the options provided.
18.
Mickey and Minnie ..... fast.
A) Runs.
B) Run.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "Mickey and Minnie run fast." requires the verb to agree with its subject in number. Since "Mickey and Minnie" is a plural subject, the verb must also be in its plural form, which is "run."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Runs - Incorrect; singular verb for plural subject.
Option B:
Run - Correct; plural verb matches plural subject.
Option C:
All the above - Incorrect; only "run" is correct.
Option D:
None of the above - Incorrect; "run" is the correct answer.
19.
Our teachers, as well as the principal, ..... in the program.
A) Dance.
B) Dances.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The subject-verb agreement rule applies here. "Our teachers, as well as the principal," is a case where a singular noun (the principal) follows a plural noun (teachers). In such cases, the verb agrees with the nearest subject, which in this instance is "principal." Therefore, the correct form of the verb is singular: "dances."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. "Dance" is the singular verb form that matches the singular noun "principal."
Option B:
Incorrect. "Dances" would be correct, but it should agree with "principal," not "teachers."
Option C:
Incorrect. This option includes both A and B, which are incorrect for the given context.
Option D:
Incorrect. There is a correct answer among the options provided.
20.
The family ..... each doing a different chore.
A) Is.
B) Are.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The subject "family" is a collective noun, which can be treated as singular or plural depending on the context. However, in this sentence, it refers to multiple family members performing different chores, indicating a plural meaning. Therefore, the verb should agree with the plural subject and use the plural form "are."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Is - Incorrect; does not match the plural subject.
Option B:
Are - Correct; matches the plural subject.
Option C:
All the above - Incorrect; only "are" is correct.
Option D:
None of the above - Incorrect; "are" is correct.
21.
Roel and Marissa ..... the cake.
A) Taste.
B) Tastes.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The subject-verb agreement rule requires that the verb form matches the subject in number (singular or plural). In this sentence, "Roel and Marissa" is a compound subject indicating two people, so it should be followed by a plural verb. Therefore, "Taste" (Option A) is correct as it uses the plural form of the verb.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. Uses plural verb "taste" to agree with plural subject "Roel and Marissa."
Option B:
Incorrect. "Tastes" is singular, does not match the plural subject.
Option C:
Incorrect. Both A and B are correct; only one option can be chosen.
Option D:
Incorrect. There is a correct answer among the options provided.
22.
Every one of those books (is/are) fiction.
A) Is.
B) Are.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The subject-verb agreement in this sentence requires that the verb "is" agrees with the singular subject "Every one of those books." The phrase "every one" is treated as a singular unit, making the correct form "is."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. "Is" matches the singular nature implied by "Every one."
Option B:
Incorrect. "Are" would be used for plural subjects.
Option C:
Incorrect. This option suggests both verbs are correct, which is not applicable here due to the singular subject.
Option D:
Incorrect. There is a correct answer among the options provided.
23.
What is the masculine plural form of 'white'?
A) Blanches.
B) Blanc.
C) Blanche.
D) Blancs.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The masculine plural form of 'white' in English is
Blancs
. This follows the standard French grammatical rule for forming plurals from masculine singular nouns, where an 's' is added to the end. The other options are incorrect because:
- Blanches: Feminine plural
- Blanc: Masculine singular
- Blanche: Feminine singular
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect as it suggests a feminine plural form.
Option B:
Incorrect as it is the masculine singular form.
Option C:
Incorrect as it is the feminine singular form.
Option D:
Correct as it follows the French grammatical rule for forming masculine plurals from nouns ending in 'c'.
24.
Rabbits and turtles ..... grass.
A) Eats.
B) Eat.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "Rabbits and turtles eat grass" requires a verb that agrees with the plural subject "rabbits and turtles." The correct form is "eat," which matches the plural subjects, making option B) Eat the correct answer.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Eats - Incorrect as it does not agree with the plural subject.
Option B:
Eat - Correct as it agrees with the plural subject "rabbits and turtles."
Option C:
All the above - Incorrect as only "Eat" is correct.
Option D:
None of the above - Incorrect as "Eat" is the correct answer.
25.
Our parents always (remind, reminds) us to drink plenty of water on hot days.
A) Remind.
B) Reminds.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The verb "remind" is used in its base form because it is followed by an object clause introduced by "us to drink plenty of water." In such constructions, the main verb agrees with the subject in number and person. Here, "our parents" is plural, so the verb should also be in its plural form "remind."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. The verb "remind" is used in its base form to agree with the plural subject "parents."
Option B:
Incorrect. "Reminds" would be correct if the subject were singular, but here it is plural.
Option C:
Incorrect. Only one option can be correct for this sentence structure.
Option D:
Incorrect. The correct answer exists among the given options.
26.
Organizations like Endeavor Charter School or Tito's Taco Palace are considered ..... and should be replace by a ..... pronoun.
A) Singular, singular.
B) Singular, plural.
C) Plural, singular.
D) Plural, plural.
E) None of these.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The subject "organizations" is singular, thus requiring a singular pronoun for agreement. The correct answer uses "Singular, singular."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct - Subject and pronoun are both singular.
Option B:
Incorrect - Subject is singular but pronoun would be plural.
Option C:
Incorrect - Both subject and pronoun are plural, which does not agree.
Option D:
Incorrect - Both subject and pronoun are plural, which does not agree.
Option E:
Incorrect - There is a correct answer among the options provided.
27.
The committee members and the class officers (eats, eat) snacks after organizing events.Which rule is used here?
A) Rule #2.
B) Rule #3.
C) Rule #4.
D) Rule #6.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "The committee members and the class officers (eats, eat) snacks after organizing events" uses a plural subject ("committee members and class officers") followed by a verb that should agree with it in number. Since both parts of the subject are plural, the correct verb form is "eat". Therefore, Option B (Rule #3) is correct because it addresses subject-verb agreement for plural subjects.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect; Rule #2 typically covers singular subjects.
Option B:
Correct; Rule #3 covers plural subjects agreeing with plural verbs.
Option C:
Incorrect; Rule #4 usually deals with collective nouns.
Option D:
Incorrect; Rule #6 might pertain to other aspects of grammar, not subject-verb agreement.
28.
(What's the subject of this sentence?)The players and their coach (is, are) holding a press conference.
A) Players.
B) Coach.
C) Players and their coach.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The subject of the sentence is "players and their coach" because it is the noun phrase that the verb "holding" agrees with. The plural verb "are holding" indicates that both subjects (players and coach) are treated as a single unit performing the action together.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect - "Players" alone does not encompass the full subject including the coach.
Option B:
Incorrect - "Coach" alone is incomplete and misses the players.
Option C:
Correct - "Players and their coach" is the complete subject performing the action.
Option D:
Incorrect - There is a correct answer among the options provided.
29.
That little girl ..... (draw, draws) beautiful pictures.
A) Draw.
B) Draws.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The sentence "That little girl draws beautiful pictures." uses the third-person singular present tense form of the verb "to draw," which is "draws." This matches with the subject "that little girl," ensuring proper subject-verb agreement. The correct answer, therefore, is
B) Draws.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect as it uses the base form of the verb without the -s ending needed for third-person singular subjects.
Option B:
Correct as "draws" is the proper form for the subject "that little girl."
Option C:
Incorrect as both A and B are correct, but only one option can be chosen.
Option D:
Incorrect as there is a correct answer among the options provided.
30.
His jeans ..... bought from the store nearby.
A) Are.
B) Is.
C) All the above.
D) None of the above.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The subject of the sentence is "jeans," which is a plural noun. Therefore, the verb must also be in its plural form to agree with the subject. The correct verb form for a plural subject is "are."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. "Are" agrees with the plural subject "jeans."
Option B:
Incorrect. "Is" does not agree with the plural subject "jeans."
Option C:
Incorrect. "All the above" is not applicable since only Option A is correct.
Option D:
Incorrect. There is a correct answer among the options provided.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is subject-verb agreement?
Subject-verb agreement refers to the matching of a sentence's subject with its verb in terms of number (singular or plural) and person. This ensures grammatical correctness and clarity.
Why is singular subject-verb agreement important?
Singular subject-verb agreement is crucial because it maintains the proper form of verbs to match their subjects, which helps in conveying clear and accurate meaning in sentences.
How do you handle masculine plural agreement?
Masculine plural agreement involves using verbs that agree with a plural subject, even if the subject is male. For example, "The boys play" demonstrates this rule.
What are some common mistakes in subject-verb agreement?
Common mistakes include failing to match singular subjects with plural verbs or vice versa, and incorrectly using collective nouns that can be either singular or plural depending on the context.
How does subject-verb agreement apply in complex sentences?
In complex sentences, subject-verb agreement still applies by ensuring that each clause has a subject and verb that agree. This includes understanding how to handle compound subjects and clauses.