answers

1.      Each of the students ___ was ___ (was/were) given a certificate.
✅ "Each" is singular.

2.      The team ___ is ___ (is/are) practicing for the final match.
✅ "Team" is a collective noun treated as singular here.

3.      Neither Rahul nor his friends ___ have ___ (has/have) completed the project.
✅ Verb agrees with the nearer subject "friends" (plural).

4.      Bread and butter ___ is ___ (is/are) my favorite breakfast.
✅ Seen as one dish — singular.

5.      There ___ are ___ (is/are) several options available.
✅ Verb agrees with "options" (plural).

6.      Either Sajan or his brothers ___ are ___ (is/are) responsible.
✅ Verb agrees with "brothers" (plural).

7.      The news ___ is ___ (is/are) spreading fast.
✅ "News" is singular despite ending in -s.

8.      Ten thousand rupees ___ is ___ (is/are) enough for the trip.
✅ Amounts of money are treated as singular.

9.      A number of students ___ were ___ (was/were) late to class.
✅ "A number of" takes a plural verb.

10. The bouquet of roses ___ smells ___ (smells/smell) amazing.
✅ The subject is "bouquet" (singular).

11. The number of participants ___ is ___ (is/are) increasing daily.
✅ "The number of" takes a singular verb.

12. Neither the teacher nor the students ___ know ___ (knows/know) the answer.
✅ Verb agrees with "students" (plural).

13. Politics ___ is ___ (is/are) a controversial subject.
✅ Treated as singular.

14. Each of the twins ___ has ___ (has/have) her own room.
✅ "Each" is singular.

15. Five years ___ is ___ (is/are) a long time to wait.
✅ Time periods are singular.

16. Mathematics ___ is ___ (is/are) a difficult subject for many.
✅ Singular subject despite the -s ending.

17. Some of the water ___ was ___ (was/were) spilled on the floor.
✅ "Water" is uncountable and singular.

18. Few students ___ were ___ (was/were) absent today.
✅ "Few" is always plural.

19. Here ___ come ___ (comes/come) the winners of the contest.
✅ Verb agrees with "winners" (plural).

20. The pair of shoes ___ is ___ (is/are) under the bed.
✅ "Pair" is singular.

21. One of my friends ___ is ___ (is/are) moving to Ireland.
✅ "One" is singular.

22. Not only the manager but also the employees ___ were ___ (was/were) surprised.
✅ Verb agrees with "employees" (plural).

23. All of the cake ___ is ___ (is/are) gone.
✅ "Cake" is uncountable and singular.

24. There ___ is ___ (is/are) a pen and two books on the table.
✅ The structure focuses on the first subject ("a pen") — singular.

25. Running long distances ___ is ___ (is/are) tiring.
✅ Gerunds ("Running") are singular.