Agreement of Subject and Verb

​Agreement of Subject and Verb

​A verb must agree with its subject in number. That is, a singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a plural verb.

The trees sway in the wind.​

​Plural:

The tree sways in the wind.

Singular:

​The number of the subject is not changed by a phrase or clause that might follow it.

The tree with dozens of coconuts sways in the wind.

​

The trees on this island sway in the wind.​

Multiple Choice

Select the correct verb:

A singe lightning bolt (is, are) capable of doing a great deal of damage.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Select the correct verb:

The peak temperature of a bolt (heats, heat) the surrounding air to over 60,000 degrees Farenheit.

• heats

• heat

Multiple Choice

Select the correct verb:

The lightning strike (create, creates) a jagged picture across the sky.

• create

• creates

Multiple Choice

Select the correct verb:

Commercial jets (is, are) seldom hit by lightning.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Select the correct verb:

If struck, they (suffer, suffers) only slight damage.

• suffer

• suffers

Multiple Choice

Select the correct verb:

Planes (has, have) special shielding to protect their electronic equipment.

• has

• have

Multiple Choice

Select the correct verb:

Rocket launches (provide, provides) the best chance to study lightning.

• provide

• provides

Multiple Choice

Select the correct verb:

Photography (is, are) another way to study lightning.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

Select the correct verb:

Scientists in many labs (think, thinks) that there is even lightning on Venus.

• think

• thinks

Multiple Choice

Select the correct verb:

A bolt of lightning from the clouds (is, are) always an awesome sight.

• is

• are