Sign in Subscribe
By Jacob M in Speed-Review —

Subject Verb Agreement

Speed Review Game

Subject Verb Agreement
[ { "title": "Subject-Verb Agreement Speed Run", "questions": [ { "category": "Basic Agreement", "question": "She ____ to the store every Saturday.", "options": ["walks", "walk", "walking", "walked"], "answer": "walks", "explanation": "With singular subjects like 'She', use the verb ending in -s." }, { "category": "Basic Agreement", "question": "They ____ playing soccer right now.", "options": ["are", "is", "am", "be"], "answer": "are", "explanation": "With plural subjects like 'They', use 'are'." }, { "category": "Basic Agreement", "question": "My brother ____ have a car.", "options": ["doesn't", "don't", "isn't", "aren't"], "answer": "doesn't", "explanation": "For singular subjects (My brother), use 'doesn't' for negatives." }, { "category": "Compound Subjects", "question": "Salt and pepper ____ on the table.", "options": ["are", "is", "was", "be"], "answer": "are", "explanation": "Two subjects joined by 'and' (Salt and pepper) are plural." }, { "category": "Indefinite Pronouns", "question": "Everyone ____ excited for the party.", "options": ["is", "are", "were", "have"], "answer": "is", "explanation": "'Everyone' is singular, so it takes the singular verb 'is'." }, { "category": "Basic Agreement", "question": "The dog ____ loudly at night.", "options": ["barks", "bark", "barking", "barked"], "answer": "barks", "explanation": "The subject 'dog' is singular, so add -s to the verb." }, { "category": "Basic Agreement", "question": "We ____ going to the movies tonight.", "options": ["are", "is", "am", "be"], "answer": "are", "explanation": "'We' is a plural subject and requires 'are'." }, { "category": "Intervening Phrases", "question": "The box of chocolates ____ on the shelf.", "options": ["is", "are", "were", "have"], "answer": "is", "explanation": "The subject is 'box' (singular), not 'chocolates'. So, use 'is'." }, { "category": "There is / There are", "question": "There ____ many people in the park.", "options": ["are", "is", "was", "be"], "answer": "are", "explanation": "'People' is plural, so we use 'There are'." }, { "category": "Basic Agreement", "question": "He ____ English very well.", "options": ["speaks", "speak", "speaking", "spoken"], "answer": "speaks", "explanation": "He is singular (3rd person), so the verb needs an -s." }, { "category": "Basic Agreement", "question": "I ____ a student at this school.", "options": ["am", "is", "are", "be"], "answer": "am", "explanation": "The subject 'I' always pairs with 'am'." }, { "category": "Negatives", "question": "You ____ look happy today.", "options": ["don't", "doesn't", "isn't", "aren't"], "answer": "don't", "explanation": "'You' takes 'do not' or 'don't'." }, { "category": "Indefinite Pronouns", "question": "Somebody ____ left their bag here.", "options": ["has", "have", "is", "are"], "answer": "has", "explanation": "'Somebody' is singular, so use 'has'." }, { "category": "Compound Subjects", "question": "My mom and dad ____ dinner together.", "options": ["eat", "eats", "eating", "eaten"], "answer": "eat", "explanation": "Two people (mom and dad) make a plural subject, so use the base verb 'eat'." }, { "category": "Basic Agreement", "question": "The cat ____ on the sofa.", "options": ["sleeps", "sleep", "sleeping", "slept"], "answer": "sleeps", "explanation": "The singular subject 'cat' requires the verb 'sleeps'." }, { "category": "There is / There are", "question": "There ____ a book on the desk.", "options": ["is", "are", "were", "have"], "answer": "is", "explanation": "'A book' is singular, so we use 'There is'." }, { "category": "Basic Agreement", "question": "The students ____ to the teacher.", "options": ["listen", "listens", "listening", "listened"], "answer": "listen", "explanation": "'Students' is plural, so use the base form 'listen'." }, { "category": "Questions", "question": "____ she like ice cream?", "options": ["Does", "Do", "Is", "Are"], "answer": "Does", "explanation": "For questions with 'she', start with 'Does'." }, { "category": "Intervening Phrases", "question": "The key to the doors ____ in my pocket.", "options": ["is", "are", "were", "have"], "answer": "is", "explanation": "The subject is 'key' (singular), not 'doors'. Use 'is'." }, { "category": "Either / Or", "question": "Either John or his friends ____ coming.", "options": ["are", "is", "was", "be"], "answer": "are", "explanation": "With 'or', the verb agrees with the closer subject ('friends' is plural)." }, { "category": "Basic Agreement", "question": "Sarah ____ her homework every day.", "options": ["does", "do", "doing", "done"], "answer": "does", "explanation": "Sarah is singular, so she 'does' homework." }, { "category": "Basic Agreement", "question": "Birds ____ in the sky.", "options": ["fly", "flies", "flying", "flew"], "answer": "fly", "explanation": "'Birds' is plural, so use the base verb 'fly'." }, { "category": "Collective Nouns", "question": "The team ____ winning the game.", "options": ["is", "are", "have", "am"], "answer": "is", "explanation": "In American English, collective nouns like 'team' usually take a singular verb." }, { "category": "Questions", "question": "Where ____ your parents live?", "options": ["do", "does", "is", "are"], "answer": "do", "explanation": "'Parents' is plural, so use 'do' in the question." }, { "category": "Quantifiers", "question": "All of the cake ____ gone.", "options": ["is", "are", "were", "have"], "answer": "is", "explanation": "'Cake' is uncountable/singular here, so 'is' is correct." } ] } ]

1. THE GOLDEN RULE (3rd Person)

Match the verb to the noun count.

  • SINGULAR (He / She / It / The Dog)
    • Rule: The verb needs an -S.
    • [Icon: Single Person] -> is / has / does / walks
    • Example: She sleeps. The cat is hungry.
  • PLURAL (We / They / The Dogs)
    • Rule: The verb has NO -S (Base form).
    • [Icon: Group of People] -> are / have / do / walk
    • Example: They sleep. The cats are hungry.

2. THE EXCEPTIONS: "I" & "YOU"

  • "I" (First Person)
    • Rule: Always takes am (be verb) or the base verb.
    • Example: I am a student. I play soccer.
  • "YOU" (Second Person)
    • Rule: Always treated as PLURAL.
    • Example: You are nice. You don't look tired.

3. COMPOUND SUBJECTS (And vs. Or)

  • Joined by "AND" (+)
    • Rule: "A and B" together equal a PLURAL subject.
    • Example: Mom and Dad eat dinner.
  • Joined by "OR / NOR" (<->)
    • Rule: The verb agrees with the CLOSEST subject.
    • Example: Either John or his friends are coming.

4. TRICKY SINGULARS

  • Indefinite Pronouns
    • Rule: Words ending in -one, -body, or -thing are always SINGULAR.
    • Example: Everyone is happy. Somebody has the answer.
  • Collective Nouns
    • Rule: Groups acting as one unit are usually SINGULAR. (Team, Family, Class).
    • Example: The team is winning the game.

5. DON'T GET DISTRACTED!

  • Intervening Phrases
    • Rule: Ignore phrases that come between the subject and the verb. Find the main noun.
    • Example: The box [of chocolates] is on the shelf. (The subject is box, not chocolates).

6. "THERE IS" vs. "THERE ARE"

  • Look Ahead
    • Rule: The subject comes after the verb.
    • Example (Singular): There is a book.
    • Example (Plural): There are many people.
Previous

Present Simple VS Present Continuous

 Next

The Path of Marigolds

You might also like...