Subject-verb agreement is an essential grammatical concept that can determine the coherence and clarity of a piece of writing. Therefore, as a professional, I have created an activity to help writers and editors hone their skills in subject-verb agreement.
The activity involves a series of sentences, each with a missing verb. Participants are to select the correct verb that will agree in number with the subject of the sentence. Additionally, to enhance the SEO value of this activity, I have included explanations for each answer to help readers understand the rationale behind each correct answer.
Here are ten sentences for the subject-verb agreement activity with answers:
1. The group of women ____ their way to the summit of the mountain.
Answer: The group of women make their way to the summit of the mountain.
Explanation: ‘Group’ is a singular noun, but since ‘of women’ implies a collective, it should take a plural verb ‘make’.
2. Either of the two singers ____ the song with passion and emotion.
Answer: Either of the two singers sings the song with passion and emotion.
Explanation: ‘Either’ is a singular subject, so it should take a singular verb ‘sings’.
3. The news of the new policy ____ a lot of concern among the employees.
Answer: The news of the new policy causes a lot of concern among the employees.
Explanation: ‘News’ is a singular noun and takes a singular verb ‘causes’.
4. The statistics on the website ____ that the number of visitors is increasing.
Answer: The statistics on the website show that the number of visitors is increasing.
Explanation: ‘Statistics’ is a plural noun that generally takes a plural verb, but in this case, the verb should agree with the singular noun ‘number.’ Therefore, ‘show’ is the correct verb.
5. The committee ____ its annual report to the board of directors.
Answer: The committee presents its annual report to the board of directors.
Explanation: ‘Committee’ is a singular noun and should take a singular verb ‘presents’.
6. The quality of the goods ____ a deciding factor for many customers.
Answer: The quality of the goods is a deciding factor for many customers.
Explanation: ‘Quality’ is a singular noun and should take a singular verb ‘is’.
7. Neither of the two suspects ____ in the robbery.
Answer: Neither of the two suspects was involved in the robbery.
Explanation: ‘Neither’ is a singular subject and takes a singular verb ‘was involved’.
8. The majority of the employees ____ in favor of the new policy.
Answer: The majority of the employees are in favor of the new policy.
Explanation: ‘Majority’ is a singular noun but refers to a group of people. Therefore, it should take a plural verb ‘are’.
9. The number of visitors to the museum ____ since the new exhibition opened.
Answer: The number of visitors to the museum has increased since the new exhibition opened.
Explanation: ‘Number’ is a singular noun and should take a singular verb ‘has increased’.
10. The library with its vast collection of books and resources ____ an indispensable tool for students.
Answer: The library with its vast collection of books and resources is an indispensable tool for students.
Explanation: ‘Library’ is a singular noun and should take a singular verb ‘is’.
In conclusion, activities like the one above are essential for writers, editors, and anyone wishing to develop strong grammar skills. Improving your subject-verb agreement skills is crucial for producing clear and concise writing that meets SEO standards. With consistent practice, you can master subject-verb agreement and improve your writing overall.