Subject-verb agreement exercises are an essential part of any intermediate English language learner`s curriculum. Understanding how to properly match a subject and verb in a sentence is critical for effective communication and clear writing.
Here are five subject-verb agreement exercises intermediate learners can use to strengthen their skills and improve their written and spoken communication:
Exercise 1: Singular and Plural Subjects
Directions: Identify the subject of each sentence and choose the correct form of the verb to match it.
1. The cats (is/are) sleeping on the couch.
2. My sister and I (enjoy/enjoys) playing tennis.
3. The dog (barks/bark) at the mailman every day.
4. The book on the shelf (belongs/belong) to my friend.
5. The team of doctors (work/works) together to save lives.
Exercise 2: Indefinite Pronouns
Directions: Choose the correct form of the verb to match the indefinite pronoun in each sentence.
1. Everyone (is/are) invited to the party.
2. Someone (has/have) left their keys on the table.
3. Either the dog or the cat (is/are) responsible for knocking over the vase.
4. Nobody (know/knows) the answer to that question.
5. Several of the students (has/have) already turned in their assignments.
Exercise 3: Compound Subjects
Directions: Identify the compound subject in each sentence and choose the correct form of the verb to match.
1. Jack and Jill (enjoy/enjoys) hiking in the mountains.
2. My mom and dad (has/have) been married for 30 years.
3. The apple and the pear (is/are) both fruits.
4. The cat and the dog (sleep/sleeps) in the same bed.
5. The pizza and the salad (taste/tastes) delicious.
Exercise 4: Special Cases
Directions: Choose the correct form of the verb to match the subject in each sentence, even if the subject is not standard.
1. The news (is/are) always bad these days.
2. The group of students (is/are) excited for the field trip.
3. The committee (has/have) made a decision.
4. The majority of the voters (has/have) spoken.
5. The herd of buffalo (is/are) grazing in the field.
Exercise 5: Verb Tense
Directions: Choose the correct form of the verb to match the tense of the sentence.
1. The teacher (teach/taught) us yesterday.
2. The sun (sets/set) in the west.
3. The choir (sing/sang) at the concert last night.
4. The baby (cry/cried) all night long.
5. The restaurant (serve/served) delicious food.
In conclusion, mastering subject-verb agreement is essential for intermediate English language learners. These exercises should help learners understand how to use proper subject-verb agreement in a variety of contexts. By practicing these exercises, intermediate learners will be able to communicate more effectively in both written and spoken English.