Pagaralan ng mabuti ang Subject- Verb Agreement

Malaking bahagi ng civil service exam ay susubukin kung gaano ka kaalam sa Subject-Verb Agreement

Quick Overview of Subject-Verb Agreement

 

1. A singular subject takes a singular verb.

Example: “The cat runs fast.”

2. A plural subject takes a plural verb.

Example: “The cats run fast.”

3. When subjects are joined by “and,” the verb is plural.

Example: “Ted and Mary are going to the movies.”

4. When subjects are joined by “or” or “nor,” the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

Example: “Either the teacher or the students have to clean the classroom.”


5. Singular indefinite pronouns (e.g., anyone, everyone, each) take singular verbs.

Example: “Everyone knows the rules.”

6.  Plural indefinite pronouns (e.g., few, many) take plural verbs.

Example: “Many are called, but few are chosen.”

7. Some indefinite pronouns can be singular or plural depending on the context (e.g., all, some).

Example: “All of the cake is gone.” / “All of the cakes are gone.”

8. Collective nouns (e.g., team, committee) are usually singular when referring to the group as a whole.

Example: “The team wins the match.”

9. They can be plural if referring to individuals within the group.

Example: “The team are arguing among themselves.”

10. When the subject is an expression of quantity (e.g., a lot of, a number of), the verb agrees with the noun in the expression.

Example: “A lot of the pie is left.” / “A lot of the pies are left.”
Titles and Names:

11. Titles of books, movies, and other works are singular even if they are in plural form.

Example: “The Chronicles of Narnia is a popular series.”

12. Ignore any intervening words or phrases between the subject and the verb.

Example: “The box of chocolates is on the table.”

13. “There” and “here” subjects: The verb agrees with the real subject after it.

Example: “There is a book on the table.” / “There are books on the table.”

14. “Each” and “every” subjects are singular.

Example: “Each student is required to submit their work.”

15.  Words like “news,” “mathematics,” and “economics” are singular.

Example: “The news is on at six.”

Practice Test on Subject-Verb Agreement (Civil Service Exam)

DIRECTIONS: Choose the correct verb in these sentences.

1.The teacher (explain, explains) the lesson clearly.

Answer: explains

Explanation: “The teacher” is a singular subject, so it requires a singular verb.

2. Many students (participates, participate) in after-school activities.

Answer: participate

Explanation: “Many students” is a plural subject, necessitating a plural verb.

3.  Either my mother or my father (drives, drive) me to school.

Answer: drives

Explanation: When using “either/or” or “neither/nor,” the verb agrees with the nearer subject, which in this case is “my father,” a singular noun.

4. The children (likes, like) going to the zoo.

Answer: like

Explanation: “The children” is a plural subject, so it takes a plural verb.

5. Everyone (want, wants) to go on vacation.

Answer: wants

Explanation: “Everyone” is a singular indefinite pronoun, so it requires a singular verb.

6. Neither of the solutions (seem, seems) effective.

Answer: seems

Explanation: “Neither” is singular, and it takes a singular verb even when followed by a plural noun.

7. The group of tourists (was, were) walking through the museum.

Answer: was

Explanation: “The group” is a collective noun that is treated as a singular entity when the group acts as a unit.

8. This news (is, are) too good to be true.

Answer: is

Explanation: “News,” despite ending in -s, is a singular noun and takes a singular verb.

9. My glasses (was, were) on the table.

Answer: were

Explanation: “Glasses” refers to a pair, which is treated as plural.

10. Each of the players (has, have) a jersey.

Answer: has

Explanation: “Each” is a singular indefinite pronoun that implies every single one out of a group, requiring a singular verb.

11. The committee (has, have) made its decision.

Answer: has

Explanation: “The committee” is a collective noun treated as singular when it acts as a unit.

12. Neither the manager nor the employees (is, are) satisfied with the new policy.

Answer: are

Explanation: The verb agrees with the nearer subject, “the employees,” which is plural.

13. Each of the books (was, were) carefully wrapped.

Answer: was

Explanation: “Each” is singular, so it takes a singular verb, even though “books” is plural.

14. The data (suggests, suggest) that the new drug is effective.

Answer: suggest

Explanation: “Data” is plural, so it takes a plural verb.

15. A number of students (has, have) volunteered for the event.

Answer: have

Explanation: “A number of” is treated as plural, so it takes a plural verb.

16. The jury (deliberates, deliberate) for several hours before reaching a verdict.

Answer: deliberates

Explanation: “The jury” is a collective noun treated as singular when referring to the group as a unit.

17. Neither the president nor the vice presidents (was, were) able to attend the meeting.

Answer: were

Explanation: The verb agrees with the nearer subject, “the vice presidents,” which is plural.

18. The team (wins, win) when everyone works together.

Answer: wins

Explanation: “The team” is a collective noun treated as singular when referring to the group as a unit.

19. Mathematics (is, are) a difficult subject for many students.

Answer: is

Explanation: “Mathematics” is singular despite ending in -s, so it takes a singular verb.

20. Neither of the solutions (solve, solves) the problem completely.

Answer: solves

Explanation: “Neither” is singular, so it takes a singular verb, even when followed by a plural noun.

21. The committee, along with its members, (meets, meet) every Thursday.

Answer: meets

Explanation: The main subject “committee” is singular, and the phrase “along with its members” does not affect the verb form.

22. Neither the coach nor the players (was, were) ready for the game.

Answer: were

Explanation: The verb agrees with the nearer subject, “the players,” which is plural.

23. The number of applications (has, have) increased this year.

Answer: has

Explanation: “The number of” is treated as singular, so it takes a singular verb.

24. A high percentage of the population (believes, believe) in climate change.

Answer: believes

Explanation: “A high percentage of the population” is treated as a singular entity because it refers to one large group.

25. The majority of the evidence (points, point) to the suspect’s guilt.

Answer: points

Explanation: “The majority of the evidence” is treated as singular, so it takes a singular verb.

26. Either the teacher or the students (has, have) to arrange the chairs.

Answer: have

Explanation: The verb agrees with the nearer subject, “the students,” which is plural.

27. The orchestra (performs, perform) twice a year.

Answer: performs

Explanation: “The orchestra” is a collective noun treated as singular when referring to the group as a unit.

28. Every one of the team members (is, are) expected to attend the meeting.

Answer: is

Explanation: “Every one” is singular, so it takes a singular verb.

29. Either of the solutions (works, work) for this problem.

Answer: works

Explanation: “Either” is singular, so it takes a singular verb.

30. The faculty, as well as the students, (was, were) pleased with the new library.

Answer: was

Explanation: The main subject “faculty” is singular, and the phrase “as well as the students” does not affect the verb form.