Subject–Verb Agreement Important for TEAS Reading & Grammar

 

Subject–Verb Agreement Important for TEAS Reading & Grammar

Subject–Verb Agreement means the verb must match the subject in number (singular/plural) and person (first, second, third person).

In simple words:

A singular subject takes a singular verb
A plural subject takes a plural verb

---

1. Basic Rules

(A) Singular Subject → Singular Verb

• He goes to school.
• The boy plays football.
• My mother works in a hospital.

👉 Nepali meaning:
एकवचन subject भए verb पनि एकवचन हुन्छ।

---

(B) Plural Subject → Plural Verb

• They go to school.
• The boys play football.
• My parents work in a hospital.

👉 Nepali meaning:
बहुवचन subject भए verb पनि बहुवचन हुन्छ।

---

2. Subjects joined by “and”

(A) Usually plural verb

• Ram and Sita are friends.
• Rice and curry are ready.

👉 Rule: Two subjects joined by and = plural verb

---

(B) Exception (one idea / same person)

• Bread and butter is my breakfast.
• The poet and writer is famous.

👉 If it refers to one thing or one person, use singular verb.

---

3. Subjects joined by “or / nor”

Verb agrees with nearest subject.

• Either Ram or his friends are coming.
• Neither the boys nor the teacher is present.

👉 Nepali: नजिकको subject अनुसार verb मिल्छ।

---

4. Collective Nouns

(Team, group, family, committee)

(A) Treated as singular (one unit)

• The team is winning.
• My family lives in Kathmandu.

(B) Treated as plural (members individually)

• The team are arguing among themselves.

👉 Depends on meaning: unit or individuals.

---

5. Indefinite Pronouns (always singular)

Words like:
everyone, everybody, someone, nobody, each, every, either, neither

• Everyone is ready.
• Nobody knows the answer.
• Each student has a book.

👉 Nepali: यी शब्दहरू singular मानिन्छन्।

---

6. “Each” and “Every”

Always singular verb:

• Each boy has a pen.
• Every student works hard.

---

7. Words between subject and verb

Ignore phrases in between.

• The boy with his friends is playing.
• The books on the table are new.

👉 Main subject decides verb, not extra words.

---

8. “There is / There are”

• There is a book on the table.
• There are many students in the class.

👉 Verb depends on noun after it.

---

9. Uncountable nouns (always singular)

Milk, water, honesty, information, furniture

• Milk is healthy.
• Information is useful.

---

10. Titles and names (singular)

Even if plural-looking:

• Mathematics is difficult.
• The United States is powerful.
• “Friends” is a famous TV show.

---

11. Quantifiers (a lot of, plenty of, some of)

Verb depends on noun after “of”:

• A lot of water is wasted. (uncountable)
• A lot of students are present. (countable)

---

12. Common Exam Mistakes

❌ He go to school.
✔ He goes to school.

❌ They is playing.
✔ They are playing.

❌ Each of the boys have a pen.
✔ Each of the boys has a pen.

---

Quick Exam Trick (Very Important)

1. Find the main subject

2. Ignore extra words

3. Check singular or plural

4. Match verb accordingly

---

Mini Summary

• Singular subject → singular verb
• Plural subject → plural verb
• “And” → usually plural
• “Or/Nor” → nearest subject
• Indefinite pronouns → singular
• Uncountable nouns → singular

Subject–Verb Agreement (Important for TEAS Reading & Grammar)

📌 Definition

Subject–verb agreement means:
👉 The verb must match the subject in number (singular/plural).

---

🔑 Basic Rules

1. Singular subject → Singular verb

• The student writes neatly.
• My brother plays football.

2. Plural subject → Plural verb

• The students write neatly.
• The boys play football.

---

3. “And” → Plural verb

• Ram and Sita are friends.

---

4. “Either/Neither” → Singular verb

• Neither of the answers is correct.

---

5. Indefinite pronouns → Usually singular

• Everyone is ready.
• Nobody knows the answer.

---

6. Collective nouns → Singular (usually)

• The team wins the match.

 

50 MCQs – Subject–Verb Agreement (TEAS Level)

1.

She ___ to school every day.
A. go
B. goes
C. going
D. gone

✔ Answer: B

2.

The dogs in the yard ___ loudly at night.
A. bark
B. barks
C. is barking
D. barked

✔ Answer: D

3.

Neither of the students ___ present today.
A. is
B. are
C. were
D. have

✔ Answer: A

4.

The children ___ playing outside.
A. is
B. was
C. are
D. has

✔ Answer: C

5.

Everyone in the class ___ ready for the exam.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have

✔ Answer: B

6.

The committee ___ agreed to the proposal.
A. have
B. are
C. were
D. has

✔ Answer: A

7.

Either Ram or Shyam ___ coming today.
A. is
B. are
C. were
D. have

✔ Answer: D

8.

The news reports ___ accurate.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. have

✔ Answer: C

9.

The team ___ winning the match.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have

✔ Answer: A

10.

Each of the students ___ a notebook.
A. have
B. has
C. are
D. were

✔ Answer: D

---

11.

The books on the table ___ new.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. has

✔ Answer: B

12.

She and I ___ best friends.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. have

✔ Answer: C

13.

The crowd ___ cheering loudly.
A. is
B. are
C. were
D. have

✔ Answer: D

14.

The water in the bottle ___ cold.
A. are
B. were
C. is
D. have

✔ Answer: A

15.

Neither boys nor girls ___ late.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. have

✔ Answer: C

16.

The teacher ___ explaining the lesson.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have

✔ Answer: B

17.

The apples ___ fresh and sweet.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. has

✔ Answer: D

18.

One of the boys ___ missing.
A. is
B. are
C. were
D. have

✔ Answer: A

19.

The information ___ very useful.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have

✔ Answer: C

20.

My friends ___ coming tomorrow.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. have

✔ Answer: B

---

21.

The police ___ investigating the case.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. have

✔ Answer: D

22.

Either of the answers ___ correct.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have

✔ Answer: C

23.

The family ___ going on vacation.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. have

✔ Answer: A

24.

Each of the players ___ a medal.
A. have
B. has
C. are
D. were

✔ Answer: B

25.

The crowd of people ___ noisy.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have

✔ Answer: D

26.

The dogs and cats ___ playing together.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. have

✔ Answer: A

27.

The furniture in the room ___ expensive.
A. is
B. are
C. were
D. have

✔ Answer: C

28.

The birds ___ flying south.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. has

✔ Answer: B

29.

Each student in the class ___ hardworking.
A. have
B. has
C. are
D. were

✔ Answer: D

30.

The class ___ silent during the test.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. have

✔ Answer: C

---

31.

Neither of them ___ guilty.
A. is
B. are
C. were
D. have

✔ Answer: A

32.

The students in the hall ___ listening carefully.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. have

✔ Answer: B

33.

The group of boys ___ singing.
A. is
B. are
C. were
D. have

✔ Answer: C

34.

The news from radio ___ shocking.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. have

✔ Answer: D

35.

The dog ___ sleeping under the tree.
A. are
B. is
C. were
D. have

✔ Answer: A

36.

The apples in the basket ___ ripe.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. have

✔ Answer: B

37.

One of the books ___ missing.
A. is
B. are
C. were
D. have

✔ Answer: C

38.

The committee ___ divided in opinion.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. have

✔ Answer: D

39.

Everybody in the room ___ quiet.
A. is
B. are
C. were
D. have

✔ Answer: A

40.

The children in the park ___ laughing.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. have

✔ Answer: B

---

41.

Neither answer ___ acceptable.
A. is
B. are
C. were
D. have

✔ Answer: C

42.

The bag of apples ___ heavy.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. have

✔ Answer: D

43.

She ___ a brilliant student.
A. is
B. are
C. were
D. have

✔ Answer: A

44.

The glasses on the shelf ___ broken.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. have

✔ Answer: B

45.

My brother and sister ___ at home.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. have

✔ Answer: C

46.

The news reports ___ reliable.
A. is
B. are
C. were
D. have

✔ Answer: D

47.

The children in the school ___ happy.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. have

✔ Answer: A

48.

Each of the answers ___ wrong.
A. is
B. are
C. were
D. have

✔ Answer: B

49.

The group of students ___ on a trip.
A. is
B. are
C. were
D. have

✔ Answer: C

50.

The dogs in the yard ___ barking loudly.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. have

✔ Answer: D