Subject-Verb Agreement Questions and Answers | General English Quiz

Practice these important Subject-Verb Agreement MCQs to master one of the most frequently tested areas of English grammar. The questions focus on common rules, tricky sentence structures and exam-level patterns useful for SSC, Banking, Railway, NDA and other competitive exams.

Q1. Each of the students ______ a notebook.

A. have

B. are having

C. has

D. were having

View Answer
Answer: C. has

“Each” is singular and takes a singular verb. Therefore, has is correct.

Q2. The quality of these products ______ excellent.

A. are

B. is

C. have

D. were

View Answer
Answer: B. is

The subject is “quality,” not “products.” Since “quality” is singular, the verb must be is.

Q3. A number of students ______ absent today.

A. is

B. was

C. are

D. has

View Answer
Answer: C. are

“A number of” means “several” and takes a plural verb. Hence, are is correct.

Q4. The number of applicants ______ increased this year.

A. have

B. are

C. has

D. were

View Answer
Answer: C. has

“The number” is singular, so it takes the singular verb has.

Q5. Neither of the boys ______ ready.

A. are

B. were

C. have

D. is

View Answer
Answer: D. is

“Neither” is treated as singular in standard competitive-exam grammar, so is is used.

Q6. Neither Ram nor his friends ______ coming today.

A. is

B. are

C. was

D. has

View Answer
Answer: B. are

With “neither…nor,” the verb agrees with the subject nearer to it. “Friends” is plural, so are is correct.

Q7. Either the teachers or the principal ______ responsible for this decision.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

The verb agrees with the nearer subject, “principal,” which is singular. Therefore, is is correct.

Q8. Everyone in the class ______ present.

A. are

B. were

C. have

D. is

View Answer
Answer: D. is

“Everyone” is an indefinite pronoun that takes a singular verb. Hence, is is correct.

Q9. The boys ______ playing cricket in the field.

A. is

B. are

C. was

D. has

View Answer
Answer: B. are

“Boys” is plural, so it takes the plural verb are.

Q10. Mathematics ______ an interesting subject.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

“Mathematics” ends in “-s” but is treated as singular when referring to the academic subject.

Q11. The news ______ shocking.

A. are

B. were

C. have

D. is

View Answer
Answer: D. is

“News” is grammatically singular, so it takes the singular verb is.

Q12. The police ______ investigating the case.

A. is

B. was

C. are

D. has

View Answer
Answer: C. are

“Police” is generally treated as a plural noun when referring to the police force collectively as officers. Therefore, are is used.

Q13. The cattle ______ grazing in the field.

A. is

B. are

C. has

D. was

View Answer
Answer: B. are

“Cattle” is a plural noun and takes a plural verb. Hence, are is correct.

Q14. One of my friends ______ in Mumbai.

A. live

B. are living

C. lives

D. have lived

View Answer
Answer: C. lives

The subject is “one,” which is singular. Therefore, the verb must be lives.

Q15. One of the best players ______ injured.

A. are

B. have

C. is

D. were

View Answer
Answer: C. is

The main subject is “one,” which is singular. The phrase “of the best players” does not change the number of the subject.

Q16. Every boy and girl ______ given a certificate.

A. were

B. have been

C. has been

D. are

View Answer
Answer: C. has been

When “every” modifies two or more singular nouns joined by “and,” the combination is treated as singular.

Q17. Each boy and each girl ______ a prize.

A. receive

B. receives

C. are receiving

D. have received

View Answer
Answer: B. receives

“Each” before the individual subjects makes the construction singular, so receives is correct.

Q18. The furniture in this room ______ expensive.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

“Furniture” is an uncountable noun and takes a singular verb.

Q19. The information ______ useful.

A. are

B. is

C. have

D. were

View Answer
Answer: B. is

“Information” is an uncountable noun and is treated as singular.

Q20. My brother and sister ______ coming tonight.

A. is

B. was

C. are

D. has

View Answer
Answer: C. are

Two subjects joined by “and” normally take a plural verb.

Q21. Bread and butter ______ my usual breakfast.

A. are

B. is

C. were

D. have

View Answer
Answer: B. is

Here “bread and butter” refers to one combined item or meal, so a singular verb is used.

Q22. The principal, along with the teachers, ______ attending the meeting.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

The main subject is “principal.” The phrase “along with the teachers” does not affect subject-verb agreement.

Q23. The teacher, as well as the students, ______ present.

A. are

B. were

C. have

D. is

View Answer
Answer: D. is

The main subject is the singular noun “teacher.” “As well as the students” does not make the subject plural.

Q24. Neither the manager nor the workers ______ willing to compromise.

A. is

B. was

C. are

D. has

View Answer
Answer: C. are

The verb agrees with the nearer subject “workers,” which is plural.

Q25. Either the boys or their sister ______ responsible.

A. are

B. is

C. have

D. were

View Answer
Answer: B. is

The verb agrees with the nearer subject “sister,” which is singular.

Q26. Neither the teacher nor the students ______ ready.

A. is

B. was

C. are

D. has

View Answer
Answer: C. are

The nearer subject “students” is plural, so the verb is are.

Q27. Everyone ______ responsible for their own actions.

A. are

B. were

C. have

D. is

View Answer
Answer: D. is

“Everyone” is singular and therefore takes is.

Q28. Someone ______ knocking at the door.

A. are

B. is

C. have

D. were

View Answer
Answer: B. is

“Someone” is a singular indefinite pronoun and takes a singular verb.

Q29. Nobody ______ the answer.

A. know

B. knows

C. are knowing

D. have known

View Answer
Answer: B. knows

“Nobody” is singular, so the singular verb knows is required.

Q30. Everybody in the office ______ aware of the rules.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

“Everybody” is a singular indefinite pronoun and takes a singular verb.

Q31. The list of candidates ______ on the notice board.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

The subject is “list,” which is singular. “Of candidates” is only a modifying phrase.

Q32. A pair of shoes ______ under the bed.

A. are

B. is

C. have

D. were

View Answer
Answer: B. is

The subject is “pair,” which is singular. Therefore, is is correct.

Q33. Two pairs of shoes ______ missing.

A. is

B. was

C. are

D. has

View Answer
Answer: C. are

The subject “two pairs” is plural, so it takes the plural verb are.

Q34. Ten kilometres ______ a long distance to walk.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

A distance considered as one unit takes a singular verb.

Q35. Five hundred rupees ______ enough for this purchase.

A. are

B. is

C. were

D. have

View Answer
Answer: B. is

A sum of money considered as one amount takes a singular verb.

Q36. The United States ______ a developed country.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

The name of the country is treated as a singular proper noun.

Q37. The committee ______ divided in its opinion.

A. is

B. are

C. has

D. was

View Answer
Answer: B. are

When a collective noun emphasizes the individual members acting separately, a plural verb can be used. Here “divided in its opinion” emphasizes differing individual views.

Q38. The committee ______ meeting today.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

The committee is acting as a single unit, so a singular verb is appropriate.

Q39. The team ______ playing well.

A. are

B. is

C. have

D. were

View Answer
Answer: B. is

“Team” is being treated as a single unit, so the singular verb is is used.

Q40. The team members ______ discussing the issue.

A. is

B. was

C. are

D. has

View Answer
Answer: C. are

The subject is “team members,” which is plural.

Q41. There ______ a book on the table.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

In “there” constructions, the verb agrees with the real subject “a book,” which is singular.

Q42. There ______ several books on the table.

A. is

B. are

C. was

D. has

View Answer
Answer: B. are

The real subject “several books” is plural, so the verb is are.

Q43. There ______ many reasons for his failure.

A. is

B. was

C. are

D. has

View Answer
Answer: C. are

The subject “many reasons” is plural, so the plural verb are is required.

Q44. There ______ no information available.

A. are

B. is

C. were

D. have

View Answer
Answer: B. is

“Information” is an uncountable singular noun, so is is correct.

Q45. The captain and coach ______ arrived.

A. has

B. is

C. have

D. was

View Answer
Answer: C. have

Two distinct persons joined by “and” require a plural verb.

Q46. The captain and coach ______ the same person.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

When two nouns joined by “and” refer to the same person, a singular verb is used.

Q47. My friend and guide ______ arrived.

A. have

B. are

C. has

D. were

View Answer
Answer: C. has

“Friend and guide” refers to one person who is both a friend and a guide.

Q48. The poet and the philosopher ______ invited to the event.

A. was

B. is

C. has been

D. were

View Answer
Answer: D. were

The article “the” is repeated before both nouns, indicating two different people. Therefore, a plural verb is required.

Q49. Each of these machines ______ carefully inspected.

A. were

B. have been

C. has been

D. are

View Answer
Answer: C. has been

“Each” is singular, so the singular auxiliary has is required.

Q50. Every student ______ required to carry an identity card.

A. are

B. is

C. have

D. were

View Answer
Answer: B. is

“Every student” is singular, so the singular verb is is used.

Q51. Neither answer ______ correct.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

“Neither” is singular in standard exam grammar, so it takes is.

Q52. Either of these methods ______ suitable.

A. are

B. were

C. have

D. is

View Answer
Answer: D. is

“Either” is treated as singular in standard formal grammar and takes is.

Q53. Neither of the proposals ______ acceptable.

A. are

B. is

C. have

D. were

View Answer
Answer: B. is

“Neither” is singular, so the singular verb is is used.

Q54. Much of the work ______ already completed.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

“Work” is an uncountable singular noun, so the verb is singular.

Q55. Many of the students ______ absent today.

A. is

B. was

C. are

D. has

View Answer
Answer: C. are

“Students” is plural, so the verb must be plural.

Q56. Some of the water ______ spilled.

A. have

B. are

C. has

D. were

View Answer
Answer: C. has

“Water” is uncountable and singular, so has is correct.

Q57. Some of the books ______ missing.

A. is

B. are

C. has

D. was

View Answer
Answer: B. are

The noun “books” is plural, so the verb must be are.

Q58. All the information ______ accurate.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

“Information” is an uncountable singular noun.

Q59. All the students ______ present.

A. is

B. are

C. was

D. has

View Answer
Answer: B. are

“Students” is plural, so the plural verb are is required.

Q60. More than one student ______ absent.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

“More than one” is generally followed by a singular noun and singular verb in standard exam grammar.

Q61. More than one employee ______ complained about the issue.

A. have

B. has

C. are

D. were

View Answer
Answer: B. has

The construction “more than one” generally takes a singular verb.

Q62. Many a student ______ made this mistake.

A. have

B. are

C. has

D. were

View Answer
Answer: C. has

“Many a” is followed by a singular noun and takes a singular verb.

Q63. Many a soldier ______ sacrificed his life for the country.

A. have

B. has

C. are

D. were

View Answer
Answer: B. has

The expression “many a” takes a singular verb despite its plural meaning.

Q64. The rich ______ not always happy.

A. is

B. was

C. are

D. has

View Answer
Answer: C. are

“The rich” refers to rich people as a group and therefore takes a plural verb.

Q65. The poor ______ often neglected.

A. is

B. are

C. has

D. was

View Answer
Answer: B. are

“The poor” refers to poor people collectively and takes a plural verb.

Q66. Physics ______ my favourite subject.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

“Physics,” when referring to the academic subject, is singular.

Q67. The scissors ______ on the table.

A. is

B. was

C. are

D. has

View Answer
Answer: C. are

“Scissors” is a plural-form noun and normally takes a plural verb.

Q68. A pair of scissors ______ on the table.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

The subject is “pair,” which is singular. Therefore, is is correct.

Q69. The trousers ______ too loose for me.

A. is

B. are

C. has

D. was

View Answer
Answer: B. are

“Trousers” is a plural-form noun and takes a plural verb.

Q70. A pair of trousers ______ lying on the bed.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

The subject is “pair,” which is singular.

Q71. The United Nations ______ an international organization.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

“The United Nations” is the name of a single international organization and takes a singular verb in this context.

Q72. The Arabian Nights ______ an interesting collection of stories.

A. are

B. is

C. have

D. were

View Answer
Answer: B. is

“The Arabian Nights” is the title of a single work, so it takes a singular verb.

Q73. “Gulliver’s Travels” ______ a famous book.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

A book title is treated as singular even if it contains a plural-form word.

Q74. The wages of these workers ______ low.

A. is

B. are

C. has

D. was

View Answer
Answer: B. are

“Wages” refers to amounts paid to workers and is plural in this construction.

Q75. The cost of these books ______ reasonable.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

The main subject is “cost,” which is singular. “Of these books” is only a modifying phrase.

Q76. Neither the players nor the coach ______ ready.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

The verb agrees with the nearer subject “coach,” which is singular.

Q77. Either the manager or the employees ______ responsible.

A. is

B. are

C. was

D. has

View Answer
Answer: B. are

The nearer subject “employees” is plural, so the verb must be plural.

Q78. Not only the teacher but also the students ______ excited.

A. is

B. was

C. are

D. has

View Answer
Answer: C. are

With “not only…but also,” the verb agrees with the nearer subject “students.”

Q79. Not only the students but also the teacher ______ excited.

A. are

B. were

C. have

D. is

View Answer
Answer: D. is

The nearer subject is “teacher,” which is singular.

Q80. Every one of these books ______ useful.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

“Every one” is singular, so it takes the singular verb is.

Q81. Each of the candidates ______ submitted the form.

A. have

B. has

C. are

D. were

View Answer
Answer: B. has

“Each” is singular and therefore takes has.

Q82. The majority of the students ______ passed the examination.

A. has

B. is

C. have

D. was

View Answer
Answer: C. have

Here “majority” refers to a plural group of students, so a plural verb is appropriate.

Q83. The majority of the work ______ completed.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

“Work” is an uncountable singular noun, so the verb is singular.

Q84. A series of lectures ______ being organized.

A. are

B. is

C. have

D. were

View Answer
Answer: B. is

The subject is “series,” which is singular in “a series of lectures.”

Q85. A series of meetings ______ been scheduled.

A. have

B. are

C. has

D. were

View Answer
Answer: C. has

“A series” is singular, so the auxiliary has is required.

Q86. The number of errors in this sentence ______ very high.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

“The number” is singular, regardless of the plural noun following “of.”

Q87. A number of errors ______ been detected.

A. has

B. is

C. have

D. was

View Answer
Answer: C. have

“A number of” means “several,” so it takes a plural verb.

Q88. The pair of gloves ______ expensive.

A. are

B. were

C. have

D. is

View Answer
Answer: D. is

The subject is “pair,” which is singular.

Q89. His knowledge of mathematics ______ impressive.

A. are

B. is

C. have

D. were

View Answer
Answer: B. is

The subject is “knowledge,” which is singular.

Q90. The results of the examination ______ been announced.

A. has

B. is

C. have

D. was

View Answer
Answer: C. have

The subject “results” is plural, so the plural auxiliary have is used.

Q91. What he says ______ true.

A. are

B. were

C. have

D. is

View Answer
Answer: D. is

The clause “What he says” functions as a singular subject, so it takes is.

Q92. What we need ______ more time.

A. are

B. is

C. have

D. were

View Answer
Answer: B. is

The clause “What we need” is treated as a singular subject in this construction.

Q93. To read good books ______ a useful habit.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

An infinitive phrase functioning as the subject is treated as singular.

Q94. Reading good books ______ a useful habit.

A. are

B. is

C. have

D. were

View Answer
Answer: B. is

The gerund phrase “Reading good books” functions as a singular subject.

Q95. The list of items ______ on my desk.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

The subject is “list,” not “items.” Since “list” is singular, is is correct.

Q96. The effects of the medicine ______ noticeable.

A. is

B. are

C. has

D. was

View Answer
Answer: B. are

The subject “effects” is plural, so it takes the plural verb are.

Q97. The cause of these problems ______ unknown.

A. are

B. were

C. is

D. have

View Answer
Answer: C. is

The subject is singular “cause,” while “of these problems” is only a modifying phrase.

Q98. Neither of the two explanations ______ convincing.

A. are

B. is

C. have

D. were

View Answer
Answer: B. is

“Neither” is singular in standard competitive-exam grammar and therefore takes is.

Q99. Every man, woman and child ______ invited to the event.

A. were

B. have been

C. are

D. was

View Answer
Answer: D. was

“Every” makes the entire subject singular, so the singular verb was is used.

Q100. Neither the manager nor his assistants ______ available.

A. is

B. was

C. are

D. has

View Answer
Answer: C. are

With “neither…nor,” the verb agrees with the nearer subject. “Assistants” is plural, so are is correct.

Strong command of subject-verb agreement helps you avoid common errors in sentence correction and error-detection questions. Pay special attention to words such as each, every, either, neither, everyone, one of, a number of and the number of, as they frequently determine the correct verb form.