Test your English grammar skills with these 100 Subject–Verb Agreement MCQs with answers and explanations. This practice set covers important subject–verb agreement rules, including singular and plural subjects, indefinite pronouns, collective nouns, either-or/neither-nor constructions, quantities, measurements, and commonly tested grammatical patterns. Each question includes the correct answer and an explanation to help you understand the rule rather than simply memorize the answer.
Table of Contents
100 Subject–Verb Agreement MCQs with Answers & Explanations
Questions 1–25
1. The boy ___ to school every day.
A) go
B) goes
C) going
D) gone
Answer: B) goes
Analytical Explanation: “The boy” is a singular subject. In the simple present tense, a singular third-person subject takes a verb ending in -s/-es. Therefore, goes is correct.
2. The girls ___ in the garden.
A) plays
B) play
C) playing
D) is play
Answer: B) play
Analytical Explanation: “The girls” is plural, so it takes the plural verb play, not “plays.” The sentence describes a habitual action in the simple present tense.
3. My brother ___ a new bicycle.
A) have
B) having
C) has
D) had have
Answer: C) has
Analytical Explanation: “My brother” is singular. The third-person singular form of have in the present tense is has.
4. The dogs ___ loudly at night.
A) barks
B) bark
C) barking
D) is barking
Answer: B) bark
Analytical Explanation: “Dogs” is a plural subject. A plural subject takes the base form of the verb in the simple present: bark.
5. She ___ English very well.
A) speak
B) speaks
C) speaking
D) spoken
Answer: B) speaks
Analytical Explanation: “She” is a singular third-person pronoun. Therefore, the simple present verb must take -s: speaks.
6. They ___ football every Sunday.
A) plays
B) play
C) playing
D) played are
Answer: B) play
Analytical Explanation: “They” is plural, so the correct simple present verb is play. “Plays” is used with singular third-person subjects.
7. The teacher ___ mathematics.
A) teach
B) teaches
C) teaching
D) have taught
Answer: B) teaches
Analytical Explanation: “The teacher” is singular. The verb teach changes to teaches with a singular third-person subject.
8. My parents ___ in Delhi.
A) lives
B) live
C) living
D) is living
Answer: B) live
Analytical Explanation: “Parents” is plural. Therefore, the plural verb live is required.
9. The cat ___ under the table.
A) sleep
B) sleeps
C) sleeping
D) are sleeping
Answer: B) sleeps
Analytical Explanation: “The cat” is singular. In the simple present, a singular third-person subject takes sleeps.
10. Every student ___ a notebook.
A) have
B) has
C) having
D) are having
Answer: B) has
Analytical Explanation: Every is followed by a singular noun and requires a singular verb. Therefore, “Every student has” is correct.
11. Neither Ram nor Shyam ___ present today.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: With neither…nor, the verb generally agrees with the nearer subject. Here, “Shyam” is singular, so is is correct.
12. Either the teacher or the students ___ responsible.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: With either…or, the verb agrees with the subject nearest to it. “Students” is plural and therefore takes are.
13. Neither the students nor the teacher ___ ready.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: The subject nearest the verb is “teacher,” which is singular. Therefore, is is required.
14. Either John or his brothers ___ coming.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: The nearer subject is “brothers,” which is plural. Therefore, the verb must be plural: are.
15. The news ___ true.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: News ends in “-s,” but it is treated as a singular uncountable noun. Hence, the correct verb is is.
16. Mathematics ___ an interesting subject.
A) are
B) is
C) were
D) have
Answer: B) is
Analytical Explanation: “Mathematics” is the name of an academic subject and is normally treated as singular. Therefore, is is correct.
17. The furniture ___ very expensive.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: Furniture is an uncountable noun. It takes a singular verb: is.
18. The police ___ investigating the case.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: Police is normally treated as a plural collective noun when referring to police officers as a group. Therefore, are is used.
19. A pair of shoes ___ under the bed.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: The grammatical subject is “a pair,” not “shoes.” Since “pair” is singular, the verb must be is.
20. The pair of scissors ___ sharp.
A) are
B) is
C) were
D) have
Answer: B) is
Analytical Explanation: The subject is “the pair,” which is singular. Therefore, the verb is is.
21. Ten kilometers ___ a long distance to walk.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: A measurement of distance considered as one total amount takes a singular verb. Therefore, ten kilometers is correct.
22. Five hundred rupees ___ enough for this book.
A) are
B) is
C) were
D) have
Answer: B) is
Analytical Explanation: The amount of money is considered one total sum. Therefore, five hundred rupees is treated as singular here.
23. Bread and butter ___ my usual breakfast.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: “Bread and butter” refers to one combined meal in this sentence. Therefore, it takes the singular verb is.
24. The captain, along with his players, ___ arriving today.
A) are
B) is
C) were
D) have
Answer: B) is
Analytical Explanation: Expressions such as along with, “together with,” and “as well as” do not change the number of the main subject. The main subject is “captain,” which is singular.
25. The students, as well as the teacher, ___ excited.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: The main subject is “students,” which is plural. The phrase “as well as the teacher” is additional information and does not change the subject number.
Questions 26–50
26. Everyone ___ responsible for his or her actions.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: Everyone is grammatically singular even though it refers to many people. Therefore, it takes is.
27. Someone ___ knocking at the door.
A) are
B) is
C) were
D) have
Answer: B) is
Analytical Explanation: Someone is a singular indefinite pronoun. Hence, it takes the singular verb is.
28. Nobody ___ the answer.
A) know
B) knows
C) knowing
D) have known
Answer: B) knows
Analytical Explanation: Nobody is singular. Therefore, the third-person singular form knows is required.
29. Each of the boys ___ a prize.
A) receive
B) receives
C) receiving
D) have received
Answer: B) receives
Analytical Explanation: The word each is singular. Even though “boys” is plural, the verb agrees with “each,” so receives is correct.
30. Every one of these books ___ useful.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: Every one is singular. Therefore, the correct verb is is.
31. Neither of the answers ___ correct.
A) are
B) is
C) were
D) have
Answer: B) is
Analytical Explanation: Neither is grammatically singular in this construction. Therefore, it takes is.
32. Both of the children ___ happy.
A) is
B) was
C) are
D) has
Answer: C) are
Analytical Explanation: Both refers to two people and is plural. Therefore, it takes are.
33. Many students ___ absent today.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: “Students” is plural, and many indicates more than one. Hence, are is correct.
34. Much of the work ___ completed.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: Work is an uncountable noun. “Much of the work” therefore takes the singular verb is.
35. A number of students ___ absent.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: The expression a number of + plural noun means “several” and takes a plural verb. Hence, are is correct.
36. The number of students ___ increasing.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: The number of refers to one numerical total and is singular. Therefore, the correct verb is is.
37. One of my friends ___ in Mumbai.
A) live
B) lives
C) living
D) are living
Answer: B) lives
Analytical Explanation: The real subject is one, not “friends.” Since “one” is singular, the verb must be lives.
38. One of the boys ___ broken the window.
A) have
B) has
C) are
D) were
Answer: B) has
Analytical Explanation: “One” is the subject and is singular. Therefore, the present perfect form must be has broken.
39. Neither of them ___ willing to help.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: Neither is treated as singular in this construction. Therefore, is is correct.
40. Each of the players ___ a uniform.
A) have
B) has
C) are having
D) were
Answer: B) has
Analytical Explanation: Each is singular, so it requires the singular verb has.
41. The quality of these products ___ excellent.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: The subject is quality, not “products.” “Quality” is singular, so the correct verb is is.
42. The students in this class ___ very intelligent.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: The main subject is “students,” which is plural. The phrase “in this class” does not affect subject-verb agreement.
43. The list of names ___ on the desk.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: The subject is list, which is singular. “Of names” is only a prepositional phrase and does not control the verb.
44. The books on the table ___ mine.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: “Books” is plural, so the plural verb are is required.
45. The cost of these shoes ___ too high.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: The subject is cost, which is singular. “Of these shoes” only describes the cost.
46. My family ___ going on a trip.
A) are
B) is
C) were
D) have
Answer: B) is
Analytical Explanation: Here, “family” is treated as one collective unit. Therefore, is is used.
47. The committee ___ made its decision.
A) have
B) has
C) are
D) were
Answer: B) has
Analytical Explanation: The committee is treated as a single unit in this sentence. Therefore, the singular auxiliary has is appropriate.
48. The team ___ playing well today.
A) are
B) is
C) were
D) have
Answer: B) is
Analytical Explanation: “Team” is being treated as one unit, so the singular verb is is used.
49. The audience ___ enjoying the show.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: The source treats “audience” here as referring to the individual members of the group, so the plural verb are is selected.
50. The class ___ divided into two groups.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: “Class” is treated as one collective unit in this sentence. Therefore, is is correct.
Questions 51–75
51. The United States ___ a powerful country.
A) are
B) is
C) were
D) have
Answer: B) is
Analytical Explanation: Although “United States” contains a plural-looking noun, it is the name of one country and takes a singular verb: is.
52. The Arabian Nights ___ an interesting book.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: “The Arabian Nights” is the title of one work. Titles of books and similar works are generally treated as singular.
53. Physics ___ difficult for some students.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: Physics is the name of an academic subject and is normally treated as singular.
54. Economics ___ an important subject.
A) are
B) is
C) were
D) have
Answer: B) is
Analytical Explanation: Economics, when referring to the academic subject, takes a singular verb: is.
55. The cattle ___ grazing in the field.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: Cattle is a plural noun and normally takes a plural verb. Therefore, are is correct.
56. The scissors ___ on the table.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: Scissors is normally treated as a plural-only noun. Therefore, the plural verb are is used.
57. My trousers ___ dirty.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: Trousers is a plural-only noun, so it requires the plural verb are.
58. The information ___ useful.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: Information is an uncountable noun and therefore takes a singular verb: is.
59. The advice ___ valuable.
A) are
B) is
C) were
D) have
Answer: B) is
Analytical Explanation: Advice is an uncountable noun. Therefore, we use the singular verb is.
60. There ___ a book on the table.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: The noun immediately following the verb is singular: “a book.” Therefore, is is required.
61. There ___ many books on the table.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: “Many books” is plural. Therefore, the verb must be plural: are.
62. There ___ a pen and two pencils in the box.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: The source uses is because the first noun following the verb is singular: “a pen.” This construction is commonly treated using proximity agreement in such examples.
63. Here ___ the keys you were looking for.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: “Keys” is plural, so the verb must be are: “Here are the keys.”
64. There ___ several reasons for his decision.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: “Several reasons” is plural. Therefore, are agrees with the plural subject.
65. Neither the manager nor the workers ___ satisfied.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: With neither…nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject. “Workers” is plural, so are is correct.
66. Neither the workers nor the manager ___ satisfied.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: The nearer subject is “manager,” which is singular. Therefore, the correct verb is is.
67. Either the boys or their sister ___ responsible.
A) are
B) is
C) were
D) have
Answer: B) is
Analytical Explanation: The nearest subject is “sister,” which is singular. Therefore, is is required.
68. Either the sister or the boys ___ responsible.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: The nearer subject is “boys,” which is plural. Therefore, the verb is are.
69. Not only the teacher but also the students ___ ready.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: With not only…but also, the verb agrees with the nearer subject. “Students” is plural, so are is correct.
70. Not only the students but also the teacher ___ ready.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: The nearer subject is “teacher,” which is singular. Hence, is is correct.
71. Rahul and his friend ___ playing cricket.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: Two subjects joined by and normally form a plural subject. Therefore, are is used.
72. Tom and Jerry ___ famous cartoon characters.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: “Tom and Jerry” refers to two characters. Therefore, the plural verb are is required.
73. My father and mother ___ teachers.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: “Father and mother” are two separate people joined by and, making a plural subject. Therefore, are is correct.
74. Rice and curry ___ my favorite meal.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: “Rice and curry” is treated as one combined meal in this sentence. Therefore, the singular verb is is used.
75. Slow and steady ___ the race.
A) win
B) wins
C) winning
D) have won
Answer: B) wins
Analytical Explanation: This is a fixed proverb: “Slow and steady wins the race.” The expression is treated as a single idea, so wins is used.
Questions 76–100
76. Honesty and hard work ___ important qualities.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: “Honesty” and “hard work” refer to two separate qualities and are joined by and. Therefore, the plural verb are is required.
77. Time and tide ___ for no one.
A) wait
B) waits
C) waiting
D) has waited
Answer: A) wait
Analytical Explanation: “Time and tide” contains two coordinated subjects. Therefore, the plural verb wait is used in this proverb.
78. The manager and owner ___ arrived.
A) has
B) have
C) is
D) was
Answer: B) have
Analytical Explanation: “Manager and owner” refers to two people and is joined by and. Therefore, the plural auxiliary have is correct.
79. The owner and manager ___ arrived.
A) have
B) are
C) has
D) were
Answer: C) has
Analytical Explanation: In the source, “owner and manager” is interpreted as referring to one person who has both roles. Therefore, the singular auxiliary has is used.
80. My friend, along with his parents, ___ visiting us.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: The main subject is “my friend,” which is singular. “Along with his parents” is an additional phrase and does not change the subject number.
81. The principal, together with the teachers, ___ attending the meeting.
A) are
B) is
C) were
D) have
Answer: B) is
Analytical Explanation: The main subject is “principal.” The phrase “together with the teachers” does not make the main subject plural. Hence, is is correct.
82. The players, accompanied by their coach, ___ arrived.
A) has
B) have
C) is
D) was
Answer: B) have
Analytical Explanation: The main subject is “players,” which is plural. “Accompanied by their coach” is only an additional phrase. Therefore, have is correct.
83. Each boy and girl ___ given a certificate.
A) were
B) have
C) was
D) are
Answer: C) was
Analytical Explanation: Each makes the construction singular. Therefore, the singular verb was is required.
84. Every man, woman, and child ___ evacuated.
A) were
B) was
C) have
D) are
Answer: B) was
Analytical Explanation: Every makes the subjects individually singular. Therefore, the singular verb was is used.
85. No student ___ allowed to leave early.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: “No student” refers to not a single student and is grammatically singular. Therefore, is is correct.
86. No students ___ allowed to leave early.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: “Students” is plural. Therefore, no students requires the plural verb are.
87. More than one student ___ absent today.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: Despite its meaning, the expression more than one + singular noun generally takes a singular verb. Therefore, is is correct.
88. More than two students ___ absent today.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: “More than two students” is clearly plural, so the plural verb are is required.
89. Many a student ___ made this mistake.
A) have
B) has
C) are
D) were
Answer: B) has
Analytical Explanation: The expression many a + singular noun takes a singular verb. Therefore, has is correct.
90. Many a flower ___ in the garden.
A) bloom
B) blooms
C) are blooming
D) have bloomed
Answer: B) blooms
Analytical Explanation: Many a flower has a singular grammatical structure. Therefore, the singular verb blooms is required.
91. Every boy and every girl ___ a book.
A) have
B) has
C) are having
D) were
Answer: B) has
Analytical Explanation: “Every” is repeated before each subject, making each one singular. Therefore, the correct verb is has.
92. Neither John nor his friends ___ available.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: With neither…nor, the verb agrees with the nearer subject. “Friends” is plural, so are is correct.
93. Either my brother or my parents ___ coming to pick me up.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: The nearer subject is “parents,” which is plural. Therefore, the verb must be are.
94. The news about the accident ___ shocking.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: News is treated as a singular noun despite ending in “-s.” Therefore, is is correct.
95. A bouquet of roses ___ on the table.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: The subject is bouquet, not “roses.” Since “bouquet” is singular, the verb must be is.
96. The bunch of grapes ___ fresh.
A) are
B) is
C) were
D) have
Answer: B) is
Analytical Explanation: The grammatical subject is bunch, which is singular. “Of grapes” only describes the bunch. Therefore, is is correct.
97. The members of the committee ___ discussing the issue.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: The subject is “members,” which is plural. The phrase “of the committee” does not change the number of the subject. Therefore, are is correct.
98. What he says ___ not always true.
A) are
B) were
C) is
D) have
Answer: C) is
Analytical Explanation: The entire clause “What he says” functions as a singular subject. Therefore, it takes the singular verb is.
99. What they need ___ more time.
A) are
B) is
C) were
D) have
Answer: B) is
Analytical Explanation: The clause “What they need” represents one thing or requirement: “more time.” Therefore, the singular verb is is used.
100. The rich ___ not always happy.
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has
Answer: B) are
Analytical Explanation: The rich refers to rich people as a group. Adjectives preceded by the can function as plural nouns referring to a group of people. Therefore, are is correct.
Key Subject–Verb Agreement Rules Covered
- Singular subject → singular verb
Example: The boy goes. - Plural subject → plural verb
Example: The boys go. - Every, each, everyone, someone, nobody, neither → singular verb
Example: Everyone is ready. - A number of + plural noun → plural verb
Example: A number of students are absent. - The number of + plural noun → singular verb
Example: The number of students is increasing. - Either…or / neither…nor → verb generally agrees with the nearer subject.
- Along with, together with, as well as → do not change the number of the main subject.
- Collective nouns can take singular or plural verbs depending on whether the group is viewed as a unit or as individuals.
- Uncountable nouns such as information, advice, furniture and work normally take singular verbs.
- Plural-only nouns such as scissors, trousers and cattle take plural verbs.
- Measurements and amounts may take a singular verb when treated as one total amount.
- Many a + singular noun → singular verb.
- More than one + singular noun → generally singular verb.
- A title or name of a single work → singular verb.
- A phrase such as “what he says” can function as one singular subject.
