Formative Assessment: Subject-Verb Agreement

Choose the correct verb form:

Neither the teacher nor the students _____ ready for the exam.

• is

• are

• was

• be

Answer explanation

With "neither...nor" (correlative conjunctions), the verb agrees with the noun closest to it. Here, "students" is plural and closest to the verb, so we use "are."

Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb in parentheses:

"The committee ___​ ___ (a)   ​ (b)   reached its final decision after three hours of discussion."​

Answer explanation

Collective nouns like "committee," "team," or "family" take a singular verb when the group acts as a single unit.

Decide if the following sentence is grammatically correct:

Each of the players have signed the contract.

• True
• False

Answer explanation

The sentence is incorrect.

"Each" is a singular indefinite pronoun and always takes a singular verb.

The correct sentence is: "Each of the players has signed the contract."

Select the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement below:

• One of my friends are coming to the party.

• One of my friends is coming to the party.

• One of my friends were coming to the party.

• One of my friends be coming to the party.

Answer explanation

In the structure "one of + plural noun," the subject is "one" (singular), not "friends." Therefore, the verb must be singular: "is coming."

Fill in the blanks with the correct verb forms:

Not only the manager but also the employees ​ _______ (a)   ​ (b)   surprised by the announcement. The news _____ (c)   (d)   unexpected.

Answer explanation

• First blank: were — With "not only...but also," the verb agrees with the closest subject ("employees" = plural).

• Second blank: was — "News" is an uncountable noun that appears plural but is grammatically singular.