Subject-Verb Agreement

Measles ______ a highly contagious and acute viral respiratory illness.

• is

• are

• was

• were

Answer explanation

Measles is the name of a disease. (Singular Subject) Hence the verb "is" is used.

The Prime Minister, together with his wife, ________ the press cordially.

• greets

• greet

Answer explanation

When there are commas separating the first noun from the second, we always only refer to the first noun to see if a singular or plural verb should be used. Since the "Prime Minister" is one person, we use the singular verb "greets".

Everyone in my family ______ durians, except me.

• were liking

• like

• likes

• are liking

Answer explanation

Everyone is an indefinite pronoun that is the subject of this sentence. Hence, the singular verb "likes" is used.

Nobody ______ what to do.

• know

• knows

• are knowing

• is knowing

Answer explanation

"Nobody" is an indefinite pronoun that is the subject of this sentence. This makes it a singular subject, which is matched by the singular verb "knows"

Bread and butter ________ a perfect combination for breakfast.

• is

• have

• are

• has

Answer explanation

'Bread and butter' is taken together as one food item. Therefore, the singular verb 'is' should be used.

The news about the students ________ wildly.

• spread

• spreads

• spreading

Answer explanation

News' is an uncountable noun. We do not ever refer to 'news' as 'new' without the 's'. Since the 'news about the students' is just one piece of information, we use the singular verb 'spreads'.

We offered them advice, but neither the girls nor the boys ______ interested in our opinions.

• were

• was

Answer explanation

In the noun phrase "Neither the girls nor the boys", "girls" and "boys" are plural nouns, hence the verb "were" is used to agree with the plural subject

Each of the signals on those two streets __ broken.

• are

• is

The cause of her troubles __ apparent.

• were

• was

Answer explanation

The head noun "cause" is singular, which matches with the singular verb "was"

The professor or the students ______________ the halls.

• walks

• walk

Answer explanation

If there are two or more subjects joined by or, the verb agrees with the part of the subject closest to it.