Subject-Verb Agreement

For each of the following sentences, identify which verb form should fill in the blank to agree with the subject of the sentence.

For help with this exercise, see Chapter 23 of Focus on Reading and Writing.

  1. Question

    A cat and kitten _______ the same kind of purring sound.

    A.
    B.

  2. Question

    A family of cats sometimes _____ when together.

    A.
    B.

  3. Question

    However, scientists still ____ not know what causes purring.

    A.
    B.

  4. Question

    Of two theories, the flowing blood theory ____ less credibility.

    A.
    B.

  5. Question

    Blood flowing through the cat’s veins supposedly ______ a fluttering effect.

    A.
    B.

Subject-Verb Agreement 2

For each of the following sentences, select the answer choice that fills in the blank with the correct present tense form of the verb in parentheses.

For help with this exercise, see Chapter 23 of Focus on Reading and Writing.

  1. Question

    Oceans ________ three-quarters of the earth’s surface. (cover)

    A.
    B.
    C.
    D.

  2. Question

    Yet most people still ________ very little about them. (know)

    A.
    B.
    C.
    D.

  3. Question

    Even scientists constantly ________ new things about life. (discover)

    A.
    B.
    C.
    D.

  4. Question

    Sylvia Earle ___ a highly respected oceanographer. (be)

    A.
    B.
    C.
    D.

  5. Question

    She _______ a great deal of time under water. (spend)

    A.
    B.
    C.
    D.

Subject-Verb Agreement 3

For each of the following sentences, select the answer choice that fills in the blank with the correct present tense form of the verb in parentheses.

For help with this exercise, see Chapter 23 of Focus on Reading and Writing.

  1. Question

    Quilts _______ a traditional American art form. (be)

    A.
    B.
    C.
    D.

  2. Question

    A quilter _____ wonderful art objects using fabric, needles, and thread. (make)

    A.
    B.
    C.
    D.

  3. Question

    Faith Ringgold and Carter Houck _______ masterful quilts. (create)

    A.
    B.
    C.
    D.

  4. Question

    They _______ complex and colorful stories. (tell)

    A.
    B.
    C.
    D.

  5. Question

    A quilter ___ more than collect fabric scraps. (do)

    A.
    B.
    C.
    D.

Subject-Verb Agreement 4

For each of the following sentences, select the answer choice that fills in the blank with the correct present tense form of the verb in parentheses.

For help with this exercise, see Chapter 23 of Focus on Reading and Writing.

  1. Question

    Artifacts of an ancient culture often _________ from an archaeological site. (vanish)

    A.
    B.
    C.
    D.

  2. Question

    Sometimes, one of the missing objects ______ later. (appear)

    A.
    B.
    C.
    D.

  3. Question

    Unfortunately, in such cases someone ______ usually guilty of stealing the work and selling it in secret. (be)

    A.
    B.
    C.
    D.

  4. Question

    Archaeological sites in various parts of the world ______ in prominent locations. (exist)

    A.
    B.
    C.
    D.

  5. Question

    Many sites in dry climates _________ open for years at a time. (remain)

    A.
    B.
    C.
    D.