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Below are the answers to the Subject-Verb Agreement Practice Test 1. The incorrect
verb in each sentence is highlighted red and the correct verb in the corrected sentence
is highlighted green. An explanation follows every correction.
Correct sentence: Neither Ella nor her friends are available to assist you.
When a singular subject and a plural subject are connected by neither/nor or either/or,
the verb agrees with the subject nearest to it. In the sentence above, the plural verb are
is used because it is nearer to the plural subject friends.
3. Armand, together with his friends, are going on a camping trip tomorrow.
Correct sentence: Armand, together with his friends, is going on a camping trip
tomorrow.
Explanation: In general, phrases such as together with, along with, as well as, should be
ignored when considering the verb of the sentence. The verb should always agree with
the subject. In this sentence, Armand is the singular subject, so the singular verb is is
used.
4. Jim and Mike are going to take the Subprofessional Civil Service Examination next
month.
Explanation: No error. Jim and Mike is a plural subject, so the plural verb are is used.
5. Each of the boys play piano well.
Explanation: The pronouns each, anyone, anybody, everyone, every one, everybody are
singular and require singular verbs. In the sentence, each is singular so, the singular verb
plays must be used.
Explanation: Sentences that use either or neither (without or) always require singular
verb.
7. Ten years are such a long time to wait my love.
8. Five thousand pesos are a high price to pay for a single T-shirt.
Correct sentence: Five thousand pesos is a high price to pay for a single T-shirt.
Correct sentence: Fifty percent of the cake has disappeared after just two minutes.
Explanation: The verb used in words that indicate portions such as percent, fraction, part,
all, some, etc. depends on the noun in the “of phrase.” In the sentence above, the cake
in “of the cake” phrase is singular, therefore, the singular verb has should be used.
Correct sentence: He is one of the men who do the work without complaining.
Explanation: The pronouns who, which, and that which is the subject of the verb in the
middle of the sentence become singular or plural according to the noun directly in front of
them. In the sentence above, the noun in front of who is men which is plural, so the plural
verb do must be used.
13. The team are going to practice tomorrow for the final competition
Correct sentence: The team is going to practice tomorrow for the final competition
Explanation: Collective nouns such as team and staff may either be singular or plural
depending on their use in the sentence. In the sentence above, the team acts as a unit
and therefore requires a singular verb.
14. The committee are in disagreement whether to use the fund in a feeding program or
donate it to a hospital.
Explanation: No error. Unlike in number 13, the committee in this sentence act as
individuals and not as a unit.
15. Nina, as well as his brother and sister, is attending a birthday party.
ACTIVITY II
ACTIVITY II
Below are the answers and the explanations to the Grammar and Correct Usage
Practice Test 1. The incorrect word or phrase in the sentence is highlighted red, while
the correct word or phrase is highlighted green.
Correct Sentence: Among the three of us, I think I am the slowest runner.
Explanation: Among is used to refer to 3 or more members of the group, while between
is used to refer to two member of the group.
Correct sentence: Place the mirror on the wall to give you an illusion of bigger room.
Explanation: Allusion means “a passing or casual reference,” while illusion means
“something that deceives by producing a false or misleading impression of reality.”
9. Either James or John are going to lead the choir in the recital tommorow.
Correct sentence: Either James or John is going to lead the choir in their recital
tomorrow.
Explanation: In either or statements, the verb considers the subject after the or
statement. The subject John is singular, so the verb should be is. The correct spelling is
tomorrow.
10. The additional supplies that we need to bring are: band aids, cottons, alcohol, and
gauze.
Correct sentences: The additional supplies that we need to bring are band aids, cottons,
alcohol, and gauze. (The colon was deleted).
The additional supplies that we need to bring are the following: band aids, cottons,
alcohol, and gauze.
Explanation: The colon is used before a list of items especially after expressions like the
following and as follows. Do not use a colon before a verb or a preposition.
Correct sentence: The recently heavy flooding affected the crops of farmers.
Explanation: Affect means “to influence” while effect means “the result of some actions.”
14. Emmanuel could of passed the examinations if he had studied hard enough.
Correct sentence: Emmanuel could have passed the examinations if he studied hard
enough.
Explanation: The word “of” is not used after the verb could.
1. Paul Erdos was a mathematician who writes a lot of research papers in collaboration
with other mathematicians.
Correct Sentence: Paul Erdos was a mathematician who wrote a lot of research papers
in collaboration with other mathematicians
Explanation: The tense of the verbs in a sentence must be consistent unless there is a
reason to change. The verb was is past tense, so the verb writes must be changed to
wrote.
2. Anna lay her books on the table before opening her laptop.
Correct Sentence: Anna laid her books on the table before opening her laptop.
Explanation: Laid is the past tense of lay (to put). Note that lay is also be the past tense
of lie (to rest).
3. Please seat here, Mr. Reyes. I’ll just call the doctor.
Correct: Please sit here, Mr. Reyes. I’ll just call the doctor.
Explanation: Seat is a noun (a place on or which one sits), while sit is a verb (to rest the
body supported by the buttocks). Another correct sentence would be “Please be seated
here… ”
4. Which constellation do you see most often, Leo Minor or Pegasus?
Correct Sentence: Which constellation do you see more often, Leo Minor or Pegasus?
Explanation: Only two constellations are compared, so the more should be used. Most
is used to compare more than two things.
Explanation: The pronoun which refers only to things, while who refers to persons.
6. I am taking japanese class next semester.
Explanation: The word invent means “to be the first to make or do something,” while the
word discover means “to find or see something that already exists.”
8. Her powerful speech regarding the abolition of pork barrel really affected the
audience. (No Error)
9. We were lucky we didn’t have no earthquake this year.
Explanation: Double negative. The word didn’t is negative, so there is no need to add
no.
10. Running in the last marathon was a fun, challenging, exhausting, experience.
Correct: Running in the last marathon was a fun, challenging, exhausting experience.
(The comma before experience was omitted).
Correct Sentence: Anna, the quiz blower of the class, bagged another medal in a
declamation contest. (commas separate the quiz blower of the class)
12. I think that bolder must be removed from the street to avoid accident.
Correct Sentence: I think that boulder must be removed from the street to avoid
accident.
Explanation: Boulder means “rock,” while the noun “bold” means “courageous and
daring.”
13. The movie was censured because of its many violent scenes.
Correct Sentence: The movie was censored because of its many violent scenes.
Explanation: Censure means “to criticize strongly” while censor means “disallow.”
14. In betting a lottery you can win from one million to Php200 000 000.
Correct Sentence: In betting a lottery you can win from one million to two hundred
million pesos.
Explanation: As a general rule, rounded numbers are usually spelled out. In addition, be
consistent within a sentence. In writing large numbers, if you used symbols, use
symbols all throughout. For example, another correct sentence would be “In betting a
lottery you can win from Php 1 000 000 to two Php 200 000 000.”