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
“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
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
“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
“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
“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
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
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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
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
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
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
“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
“Furniture” is an uncountable noun and takes a singular verb.
Q19. The information ______ useful.
A. are
B. is
C. have
D. were
View Answer
“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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
“Everyone” is singular and therefore takes is.
Q28. Someone ______ knocking at the door.
A. are
B. is
C. have
D. were
View Answer
“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
“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
“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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
“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
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
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
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
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
“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
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
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
“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
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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
“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
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
“Information” is an uncountable singular noun.
Q59. All the students ______ present.
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. has
View Answer
“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
“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
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
“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
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
“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
“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
“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
“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
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
“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
The subject is “pair,” which is singular.
Q71. The United Nations ______ an international organization.
A. are
B. were
C. is
D. have
View Answer
“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
“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
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
“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
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
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
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
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
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
“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
“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
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
“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
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
“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
“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
“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
The subject is “pair,” which is singular.
Q89. His knowledge of mathematics ______ impressive.
A. are
B. is
C. have
D. were
View Answer
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
“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
“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
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.
General English Topics
Explore important General English topics and practice questions for competitive exams.
- English Grammar Questions
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- Active and Passive Voice Questions
- Direct and Indirect Speech Questions
- Fill in the Blanks Questions
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- Antonyms Questions
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