SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT QUESTIONS PART2

After each sentence select the verb form that will best fit in the blank. The explanation
will describe the process of arriving at the correct choice for that sentence. If you choose
the correct response, it might still be a good idea to consult the explanation, to see if your
understanding of the verb choice is the same as ours.

1. Carlos is the only one of those students who __________ lived up to the potential
described in the yearbook.
has
have

Responses:
The 'w ho' refers, in this case, to 'the only one,' w hich is singular.

2. The International Club, as well as the Choral Society and the Rowing Club,
__________ to submit a new constitution.
need
needs

Responses:
The subject here is 'The International Club,' w hich is singular. The modifying
phrase that comes after 'as w ell as' modifies the subject but does not
compound it as the w ord 'and' w ould do.

3. One of my best friends _____________ an extra on Seinfeld this week.

are
is

Responses:
The subject of this sentence is 'one,' w hich is, of course, singular. Don't let
the intervening prepositional phrase (w ith its plural 'friends') fool you.
4. Not only the students but also their instructor ________ been called to the principal's
office.
have
has

Responses:
With paired conjunctions such as either ... or and not only ... but also, the
subject closer to the verb -- in this case, the singular 'instructor' -- determines
w hether the verb w ill be singular or plural.

5. Most of the milk _____ gone bad. Six gallons of milk _______ still in the refrigerator.
has ---- are
have ---- is

Responses:
'Most' is not a countable noun here (you can't count 'the milk' in the first
sentence), so the verb must be singular. You can count the gallons of milk,
though, so the subject in the second sentence is plural.

6. Each and every student and instructor in this building __________ for a new facility by
next year.
hope
hopes

Responses:
The subject of the verb is 'each and every,' w hich is singular: the correct
verb choice, then, is 'hopes.'

7. The students and instructors each ________for a new facility by next year.
hopes
hope
Responses:
When 'each' or 'every' comes after the compound subject, a plural verb --
'hope' -- is appropriate.

8. Rice and beans, my favorite dish, __________ me of my native Puerto Rico.

remind
reminds

Responses:
'Rice and beans' is one dish, so w e need a singular verb to agree w ith it.

9. A large number of voters still ___________ along straight-party lines.

votes
vote

Responses:
'Number' is a collective noun, but the elements w ithin the collective noun, the
voters, are acting separately in this case (w e hope!), so the verb should be
plural: 'vote.'

10. Four years _______ a long time to spend away from your friends and family.
are
is

Responses:
The quantity of 'four years' here is meant to be taken as a w hole, as one
quantity, so the verb should be singular.

11. Politics __________ sometimes a dirty business.

are
 is

Responses:
'Politics,' in this case, is one thing, so w e need a singular verb.

12. To an outsider, the economics of this country ________ to be in disarray.

seem
seems

Responses:
'Economics,' in this case, means any number of aspects of or facts about the
country's financial health, so w e need a plural verb. When the w ord
'economics' refers to the course or the discipline, it is singular.