Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement

For each sentence, choose the correct present tense form of the verb in parentheses, depending on whether the sentence’s subject is singular or plural.

For help with this exercise, see section 21a of Foundations First, Fifth Edition.

  1. Question

    A new study _______________ some interesting facts about the mistakes business writers make. (show)

    		A.
    		B.
    Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement: For each sentence, choose the correct present tense form of the verb in parentheses, depending on whether the sentence’s subject is singular or plural. - A new study _______________ some interesting facts about the mistakes business writers make. (show)

  2. Question

    The researchers learned that the best-paid executives _______________ to be the sloppiest writers. (tend)

    		A.
    		B.
    Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement: For each sentence, choose the correct present tense form of the verb in parentheses, depending on whether the sentence’s subject is singular or plural. - The researchers learned that the best-paid executives _______________ to be the sloppiest writers. (tend)

  3. Question

    Their emails _______________ more spelling and grammar errors than other workers’ communications do. (contain)

    		A.
    		B.
    Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement: For each sentence, choose the correct present tense form of the verb in parentheses, depending on whether the sentence’s subject is singular or plural. - Their emails _______________ more spelling and grammar errors than other workers’ communications do. (contain)

  4. Question

    Perhaps an executive _______________ to show that he or she is too busy and important to proofread. (want)

    		A.
    		B.
    Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement: For each sentence, choose the correct present tense form of the verb in parentheses, depending on whether the sentence’s subject is singular or plural. - Perhaps an executive _______________ to show that he or she is too busy and important to proofread. (want)

  5. Question

    Perhaps corporate chiefs _______________ their assistants to make any necessary changes. (expect)

    		A.
    		B.
    Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement: For each sentence, choose the correct present tense form of the verb in parentheses, depending on whether the sentence’s subject is singular or plural. - Perhaps corporate chiefs _______________ their assistants to make any necessary changes. (expect)

  6. Question

    On the other hand, middle managers _______________the most jargon. (use)

    		A.
    		B.
    Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement: For each sentence, choose the correct present tense form of the verb in parentheses, depending on whether the sentence’s subject is singular or plural. - On the other hand, middle managers _______________the most jargon. (use)

  7. Question

    Apparently, the average middle manager _______________ that longer, wordier messages can attract attention. (feel)

    		A.
    		B.
    Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement: For each sentence, choose the correct present tense form of the verb in parentheses, depending on whether the sentence’s subject is singular or plural. - Apparently, the average middle manager _______________ that longer, wordier messages can attract attention. (feel)

  8. Question

    By writing such messages, a midlevel executive ______________ to move up to the next level. (hope)

    		A.
    		B.
    Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement: For each sentence, choose the correct present tense form of the verb in parentheses, depending on whether the sentence’s subject is singular or plural. - By writing such messages, a midlevel executive ______________ to move up to the next level. (hope)

  9. Question

    Presumably, he or she then _______________ to misspell words and make grammatical errors like the big bosses do. But students taking business courses should not neglect their English classes just yet. (start)

    		A.
    		B.
    Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement: For each sentence, choose the correct present tense form of the verb in parentheses, depending on whether the sentence’s subject is singular or plural. - Presumably, he or she then _______________ to misspell words and make grammatical errors like the big bosses do. But students taking business courses should not neglect their English classes just yet. (start)

  10. Question

    To get hired in corporate America in the first place, job applicants _______________ good writing skills. (need)

    		A.
    		B.
    Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement: For each sentence, choose the correct present tense form of the verb in parentheses, depending on whether the sentence’s subject is singular or plural. - To get hired in corporate America in the first place, job applicants _______________ good writing skills. (need)