Subject-verb agreement is one of the most important grammatical rules in English. It states that the subject and the verb in a sentence must agree in number. In other words, if the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural as well.

One of the most common errors in subject-verb agreement is when the subject and verb are separated by other words or phrases. This often happens with prepositional phrases, which can make it more difficult to identify the subject and the verb. However, it is still important to ensure that the subject and verb agree, even if they are separated by other words.

To help you practice subject-verb agreement, we have provided some sentences with blanks that you can fill in with the correct words. Remember to identify the subject and ensure that the verb agrees with it in number.

Example 1:

Neither of the boys ________ interested in sports.

Answer: is

Explanation: The subject here is „Neither of the boys,“ which is singular. Therefore, the verb must be singular as well. „Is“ is the correct verb.

Example 2:

The pack of dogs ________ on the lawn.

Answer: is

Explanation: The subject here is „pack,“ which is singular. Even though the sentence contains the plural noun „dogs,“ it is still a singular subject because it refers to one group of dogs. Therefore, the verb must be singular as well. „Is“ is the correct verb.

Example 3:

Each of the students ________ their own computer.

Answer: has

Explanation: The subject here is „each,“ which is singular. Even though the sentence contains the plural noun „students,“ each student is considered individually. Therefore, the verb must be singular as well. „Has“ is the correct verb.

Example 4:

The book, along with its sequel, ________ become popular among young adults.

Answer: has

Explanation: The subject here is „book,“ which is singular. Even though the sentence contains the phrase „along with its sequel,“ it is still a singular subject because it refers to one book. Therefore, the verb must be singular as well. „Has“ is the correct verb.

By practicing subject-verb agreement, you can improve your writing and ensure that your sentences are grammatically correct. Remember to always identify the subject and ensure that the verb agrees with it in number, even if they are separated by other words or phrases.