A

1. Subject-Verb Agreement:
Idefinite Pronouns

2. Indefinite pronouns such as
anybody, anyone, each, either,
everybody, everyone, everything,
neither, none, no one, one,
somebody, someone, and
something take singular verbs.

3. Each of the students
(is, are) assigned to
report on a
Philippine epic.

4. Each of the students is
assigned to report on a
Philippine epic.

5. Somebody (is, are)
supposed to report on
the epic Biag ni
Lam-Ang today.

6. Somebody is supposed to
report on the epic Biag ni Lam-
Ang today.

7. *However, indefinite
pronouns like few, many,
and several require plural
verbs.

8. Many of the students
(want, wants) to stage a
play based on a Filipino
epic.

9. Many of the students want
to stage a play based on a
Filipino epic.

10. Several actually
(aspire, aspires) to write
the scipt as soon as they
get the go-sinal from
their teacher.

11. Several actually aspire to
write the scipt as soon as
they get the go-sinal from
their teacher.

12. For expressions introduced by all,
some, most, or none, the verb must
be plural when the object of the “of
phrase” is a plural count noun.
If the object of the “of phrase” is
a mass noun or noncount noun, the
verb must be singular.

13. All of the money for the
costumes (has, have)
been collected.

14. All of the money for
the costumes has
been collected.

15. All of the grade seven
students (is, are) going
to see the play.

16. All of the grade seven
students are going to
see the play.

17. None of the water
(is, are) gone.

18. None of the water
is gone.

19. Exercise: Identify the correct
form of verb.
1. Everyone (has, have) done
his homework.
Everyone has done his
homework.

20. 2. Each of the students (is, are)
responsible for doing his or
her work in the library.
Each of the students is
responsible for doing his or
her work in the library.

21. 3. Some of this cake
(belong, belongs) to
Patricia.
Some of this cake belongs to
Patricia.

22. 3. Most of the hospitals
(remain, remains) open on
weekends.
Most of the hospitals remain
open on weekends.

23. 4. Several of the apples
(has, have) rotted.
Several of the apples
have rotted.

24. 5. One of the professors
(is, are) still in the
classroom.
One of the professors is still in
the classroom

25. Subject-Verb Agreement:
Compound Subjects

26. When subjects are joined by and,
they are counted as more than
one subject; thus the plural verb
form should be used.

27. My sister and my best
friend (know, knows)
me better than
anyone.

28. My sister and my best friend know
me better than anyone.

29. His daughter and his
son (want, wants)
him to move in
Florida.

30. His daughter and his son want
him to move in Florida.

31. However, when parts of the
subject refer to only one
person or thing. it takes a
singular verb.

32. My sister and best
friend (know,
knows) me better
than anyone.

33. My sister and best friend knows
me better than anyone.

34. Spaghetti and
meatballs (is, are)
Sam's favorite dish.

35. Spaghetti and meatballs is
Sam's favorite dish.

36. The restaurant's chef
and owner (make,
makes) good fajitas.

37. The restaurant's chef and owner makes
good fajitas.

38. Fish and chips (is, are) a
popular dish in England,
but is no longer served
wrapped in newspaper.

39. Fish and chips is a
popular dish in England,
but is no longer served
wrapped in newspaper.

40. For compound subjects
joined by or, nor, either... or,
neither... nor, and not only...
but also, the verb agrees
with the subject nearer to it.

41. Not only Molly and her
mother, but also
Herman, their dog, (was,
were) very angry when
Paulo came to their
house.

42. Not only Molly and her
mother, but also
Herman, their dog, was
very angry when Paulo
came to their house.

43. Either Ms. Mercado or
the students (use, uses)
the classroom computer
on a regular basis.

44. Either Ms. Mercado or
the students use the
classroom computer on
a regular basis.

45. Her sister or her parents
(plan, plans) to visit her
nextweek.

46. Her sister or her parents
plan to visit her
nextweek.

47. Exercise: Identify the correct
form of verb.
1. The piano or the tables (has,
have) to go.
The piano or the tables
have to go.

48. 2. Every plate and glass (look,
looks) new.
Every plate and glass looks
new.

49. 3. Neither the pillows nor the
blanket (look, looks) good in
this room.
Neither the pillows nor the
blanket looks good in this
room.

50. 4. Potato chips and cup
cakes (is, are) bad for you.
Potato chips and cup cakes
are bad for you.

51. Exercise: Circle the subject of
each sentence and underline
the verb that agrees with it.
1. Macaroni and cheese (is, are) my
favorite merienda.
2. The rose and the cadena de amor
(has, have) been used as motifs in
Emilia's mats.

52. 3. Aside from the mats, sweets
and fruits (was, were) brought
home by Mr. Angeles.
4. Coffee and tea (is, are) served
in the morning wedding
reception.
5. Mr. Angeles' thoughts and
actions (show, shows) us that he
still has not moved on from the
death of his children.