For help with this exercise, see Subject-verb agreement.
Example
1 of 10
Question
undefined. From one of Aesop’s lesser-known fables (comes / come) the question “Who’s going to bell the cat?”
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comes
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come
Subject-verb agreement 3 – 1
2 of 10
Question
undefined. The fable “Belling the Cat” (describes / describe) the long battle between mice and cats.
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describes
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describe
Subject-verb agreement 3 – 2
3 of 10
Question
undefined. In the story, a committee of mice (is / are) appointed to find a way to stop the cat from killing so many mice.
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is
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are
Subject-verb agreement 3 – 3
4 of 10
Question
undefined. Everyone on the committee (tries / try) to solve the problem.
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tries
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try
Subject-verb agreement 3 – 4
5 of 10
Question
undefined. There (is / are) many committee meetings and much discussion.
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is
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are
Subject-verb agreement 3 – 5
6 of 10
Question
undefined. In the end, neither the committee nor its chairperson (is / are) able to make any good suggestions. Finally, the time comes for the committee to make its report at a public meeting. Embarrassed, the committee reports its failure.
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is
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are
Subject-verb agreement 3 – 6
7 of 10
Question
undefined. At first, there is only silence; no one wants to accept the committee’s report as the final word on the problem. Then a little pipsqueak among the mice (suggests / suggest) tying a bell on the cat.
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suggests
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suggest
Subject-verb agreement 3 – 7
8 of 10
Question
undefined. The young mouse makes quite a speech in favor of his idea. According to that mouse, statistics (shows / show) that no mice have ever been captured by a noisy cat.
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shows
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show
Subject-verb agreement 3 – 8
9 of 10
Question
undefined. The mouse points out that his solution would not cost much; a bell and a string (is / are) all the equipment needed to give the mice warning of the cat’s approach.
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is
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are
Subject-verb agreement 3 – 9
10 of 10
Question
undefined. The mouse who makes the suggestion gets a round of applause. The committee members, who (wishes / wish) that they had thought of the idea, are silent. Then a wise old mouse asks, “Who will bell the cat?” The experienced mice and the young pipsqueak are silent. It is easy to make suggestions that others have to carry out.