- In the drawer ___ a notebook and two pens right now.
Answer: are
The subject is the compound noun phrase "a notebook and two pens," which is plural, so the present-tense verb must be "are." The word "right now" also confirms present tense. The most tempting wrong choice is "is," because it is near "a notebook," but the subject is the whole compound, not just the nearest noun.
- The details in the final chapter of the book ______ the entire mystery.
Answer: clarify
This question tests subject-verb agreement, a fundamental grammar concept that appears frequently on the GED. When you encounter these questions, immediately identify the subject and determine whether it's singular or plural.
The subject of this sentence is "details," which is plural. Since "details" is plural, you need a verb form that agrees with a plural subject. Choice B) "clarify" is the correct plural verb form that matches "details."
Let's examine why the other options don't work. Choice A) "clarifies" is incorrect because it's the singular verb form (third person singular with the -s ending), but your subject "details" is plural. Choice C) "is clarifying" fails for the same reason—"is" is singular, creating disagreement with the plural subject "details." Choice D) "has clarified" also uses the singular helping verb "has" instead of the plural "have," making it incompatible with "details."
The sentence structure might initially confuse you because there's a prepositional phrase ("in the final chapter of the book") between the subject and verb. However, the object of a preposition never determines verb agreement—you must look back to the true subject, which is "details."
Study tip: When checking subject-verb agreement, cross out prepositional phrases to clearly see the relationship between subject and verb. Remember that subjects ending in -s are usually plural (details, books, cars), while verbs ending in -s are usually singular (clarifies, explains, helps). This opposite pattern helps you catch agreement errors quickly.
- Here ______ the documents you requested and the key to the file cabinet.
Answer: are
This question tests subject-verb agreement in sentences with inverted word order. When a sentence begins with "here" or "there," you need to identify the true subject to choose the correct verb form.
In this sentence, the word order is inverted. The normal order would be "The documents you requested and the key to the file cabinet ______ here." The true subject is "the documents you requested and the key to the file cabinet" — a compound subject joined by "and." Since compound subjects joined by "and" are plural, they require a plural verb.
Choice A) "are" is correct because it's the plural present tense form that agrees with the compound subject "documents...and key."
Choice B) "is" is wrong because it's singular, but your subject is plural. This is a common trap — students often match the verb to the nearest noun ("key") instead of recognizing the full compound subject.
Choice C) "was" is incorrect because it's both singular and past tense. The sentence needs present tense (the documents are being presented now) and plural agreement.
Choice D) "has been" fails for the same reasons as B and C — it's singular and creates an awkward, incorrect meaning in this context.
Remember this strategy: In sentences beginning with "here" or "there," mentally rearrange the sentence to normal word order to identify the true subject. Don't let inverted structure fool you into choosing the wrong verb form. Always make sure your verb agrees with the complete subject, not just the closest noun.
- Several of the original committee members ______ to attend the reunion.
Answer: plan
This question tests subject-verb agreement, a fundamental grammar concept where the verb must match the subject in number (singular or plural). When you encounter agreement questions, always identify the true subject first—it's not always the word closest to the verb.
The subject here is "Several of the original committee members." While "committee" is singular, the key word is "several," which is always plural and refers to multiple people. The prepositional phrase "of the original committee members" describes who these several people are, but "several" remains your subject. Since "several" is plural, you need a plural verb.
Option B) "plan" is correct because it's the plural form that agrees with "several."
Option A) "plans" is wrong because it's singular (third-person singular with the -s ending). This choice might tempt you if you mistakenly think "committee" is the subject, but even then, "several" makes it plural.
Option C) "has planned" is incorrect because "has" is singular. The plural form would be "have planned," but even that's unnecessary here since the sentence works fine with simple present tense.
Option D) "is planning" fails because "is" is singular. Again, the plural equivalent "are planning" would agree with the subject, but simple present tense is more natural in this context.
Remember this key strategy: In subject-verb agreement questions, ignore prepositional phrases and focus on the main subject. Words like "several," "many," "few," and "both" are always plural, regardless of what follows them.
- The collection of rare stamps and coins, which was donated to the museum, ______ now on display.
Answer: is
This question tests subject-verb agreement, specifically how to identify the true subject when it's buried in a complex sentence with multiple nouns and prepositional phrases.
To find the correct verb, you need to locate the actual subject. The sentence structure is: "The collection of rare stamps and coins, which was donated to the museum, ______ now on display." Strip away the prepositional phrase "of rare stamps and coins" and the relative clause "which was donated to the museum." What remains is: "The collection ______ now on display." The subject is "collection" — a singular noun — so you need a singular verb.
Choice A) "is" is correct because it's the singular present tense form that agrees with the singular subject "collection."
Choice B) "are" is incorrect because it's plural. Students often choose this because "stamps and coins" sounds plural, but these words are objects of the preposition "of," not the sentence subject.
Choice C) "were" is wrong because it's plural past tense, making it doubly incorrect — wrong number and wrong tense for something currently on display.
Choice D) "have been" is incorrect because "have" is plural. The past participle "been" might seem appropriate for something that started in the past and continues now, but the plural auxiliary verb "have" doesn't agree with the singular subject.
Remember: When dealing with subject-verb agreement, cross out prepositional phrases and subordinate clauses to isolate the true subject. The verb must agree with the subject, not with other nouns that appear closer to the verb.
- The politician, along with his campaign staff, ______ scheduled to attend the town hall meeting.
Answer: is
When you encounter sentences with phrases like "along with," "as well as," or "together with," you're dealing with a subject-verb agreement question that tests whether you can identify the true subject.
The key is recognizing that "along with his campaign staff" is a prepositional phrase that doesn't affect the verb. The actual subject is "the politician" — a singular noun that requires a singular verb. Since we're talking about a future event (the politician is scheduled), we need the singular present tense form "is."
Choice C ("is") correctly matches the singular subject "politician" with the appropriate singular verb form.
Choice A ("are") treats the phrase as if both the politician and staff were equal subjects, but "along with his campaign staff" is just additional information, not part of the main subject. Choice B ("were") makes the same error as A, plus uses past tense when the sentence indicates future scheduling. Choice D ("have been") also incorrectly treats the subject as plural and uses the wrong tense — "have been scheduled" suggests something that happened in the past and continues, rather than future planning.
Remember this pattern: when you see phrases beginning with "along with," "as well as," "together with," or "in addition to," mentally cross them out to find the real subject. The verb should agree only with that main subject, not with any nouns mentioned in these add-on phrases. This is a common trap on the GED that tests whether you can distinguish between the grammatical subject and additional descriptive information.
- The primary textbook, in addition to the two required novels, ______ to be purchased by the student.
Answer: needs
This question tests subject-verb agreement, a fundamental grammar concept that requires matching singular subjects with singular verbs and plural subjects with plural verbs.
The key to solving this problem is identifying the true subject of the sentence. While "the two required novels" appears near the verb, the actual subject is "the primary textbook" – a singular noun. The phrase "in addition to the two required novels" is a prepositional phrase that adds extra information but doesn't change the subject from singular to plural.
Since "textbook" is singular, you need the singular verb form "needs" (D). This creates the correct subject-verb agreement: "The primary textbook...needs to be purchased."
Looking at the wrong answers: Choice (A) "need" is the plural verb form, which would be incorrect with the singular subject "textbook." Choice (B) "are needing" uses the progressive tense inappropriately – "need" is a stative verb that doesn't typically take the -ing form, plus "are" is plural. Choice (C) "have" is also a plural verb form that doesn't agree with the singular subject.
The trap here is that phrases like "in addition to," "along with," or "as well as" can make you think the subject is plural when it's actually singular. These phrases are just additional information that doesn't affect subject-verb agreement.
Remember: Cross out prepositional phrases and extra information to identify the core subject, then match your verb accordingly. The subject closest to the verb isn't always the grammatical subject controlling the agreement.
- Which sentence contains an error in subject-verb agreement?
Answer: The rhythm and blues of the music creates a relaxing mood.
When you encounter subject-verb agreement questions, focus on identifying the complete subject and determining whether it's singular or plural. Compound subjects (two or more nouns joined by "and") typically require plural verbs, but there are important exceptions.
Let's examine each option carefully. In choice C, "The rhythm and blues of the music creates a relaxing mood," you have two distinct nouns—"rhythm" and "blues"—connected by "and." This creates a compound subject that should take a plural verb. However, the sentence uses "creates" (singular) instead of the correct "create" (plural), making this the error.
Choice A might seem wrong because "production and shipment" appears to be a compound subject, but this sentence actually works because these two concepts are being treated as a single unit or process—the combined activity of producing and shipping goods. Choice B is correct because "My best friend and confidant" refers to one person who fills both roles, so the singular verb "is" is appropriate. Choice D correctly uses the plural verb "get" with the clearly compound subject "The cat and the dog."
The key distinction is recognizing when compound subjects refer to separate entities (requiring plural verbs) versus when they represent a single unit or person (taking singular verbs). Watch for context clues that indicate whether the compound subject should be treated as one unit or multiple separate things.
- Which sentence is written correctly?
Answer: Several chapters of the book are dedicated to historical context.
This question tests subject-verb agreement, specifically with indefinite pronouns and prepositional phrases. When you encounter sentences with phrases like "of the..." between the subject and verb, you need to identify the true subject to choose the correct verb form.
The correct answer is C because "several chapters" is a plural subject that correctly pairs with the plural verb "are." The phrase "of the book" is a prepositional phrase that doesn't affect the subject-verb agreement. "Several" is an indefinite pronoun that always takes plural verbs, and "chapters" confirms the plural nature.
Choice A is incorrect because "both" is always plural and requires the plural verb "need," not the singular "needs." The phrase "of the cars" doesn't change that "both" is the subject. Choice B fails because "few" is always plural and should pair with "remain," not the singular "remains." Again, "of the old traditions" is just a prepositional phrase modifying "few." Choice D makes the same error as A and B—"many" is always plural and requires "stem," not the singular "stems."
Remember this key strategy: when you see indefinite pronouns like "both," "few," "several," "many," "all," or "some," first determine whether they're singular or plural, then ignore any prepositional phrases between the subject and verb. Words like "both," "few," "several," and "many" are always plural, while "each," "every," and "either" are always singular.
- The orchestra ______ tuning their instruments individually before the concert begins.
Answer: are
This question tests subject-verb agreement with collective nouns, a common challenge on the GED. The key is determining whether the collective noun "orchestra" is acting as a unified group or as individual members.
The sentence describes orchestra members "tuning their instruments individually," which signals that the individuals within the group are performing separate actions. When a collective noun emphasizes individual actions rather than group unity, you treat it as plural and use a plural verb.
Choice C ("are") is correct because the orchestra members are acting individually, making the subject effectively plural. The word "individually" and the phrase "their instruments" both reinforce that we're focusing on the separate musicians, not the orchestra as a single entity.
Choice A ("is") treats "orchestra" as a singular collective noun, which would work if they were acting as one unit (like "The orchestra is performing tonight"), but doesn't fit the individual action described here. Choice B ("was") makes the same singular error while also unnecessarily shifting to past tense when the sentence uses present tense throughout. Choice D ("has been") creates an awkward present perfect construction that doesn't match the simple present tense of "begins" and suggests ongoing action rather than the current preparation described.
Watch for clue words like "individually," "separately," or "each" that signal when collective nouns should take plural verbs. Also look for pronouns like "their" that indicate the sentence is treating the group as individuals rather than a unit.
- The planning and execution of the event ______ careful coordination among all departments.
Answer: require
This question tests subject-verb agreement, which requires you to identify the true subject of the sentence and match it with the correct verb form.
The key is recognizing that "The planning and execution of the event" is a compound subject joined by "and." When two nouns are connected by "and," they create a plural subject that requires a plural verb. Here, both "planning" and "execution" are working together as the subject, making it plural.
Choice D) "require" is correct because it's the plural form of the verb that properly agrees with the compound subject "planning and execution."
Choice A) "requires" is wrong because it's the singular form of the verb. This is a common trap—students often focus on "event" (which is singular) instead of identifying the true subject of the sentence.
Choice B) "have required" is incorrect because while "have" is plural, this creates the present perfect tense, which isn't needed here. The sentence describes a general truth about what planning and execution do, not an action completed in the past.
Choice C) "is requiring" is wrong for two reasons: "is" is singular (should be plural), and the present progressive tense isn't appropriate for describing a general characteristic or requirement.
When tackling subject-verb agreement questions, always locate the complete subject first—ignore prepositional phrases like "of the event" that come between the subject and verb. Remember that compound subjects joined by "and" are almost always plural, even when individual parts might be singular.
- Someone from the tech support team ______ to be contacted to fix the network issue.
Answer: needs
This question tests subject-verb agreement with indefinite pronouns, a concept that frequently appears on the GED. When you see "someone," "anyone," "everyone," or similar words, remember they're singular subjects that require singular verbs, even though they might feel plural in meaning.
The correct answer is A) "needs" because "someone" is always singular. Even though "someone" refers to an unknown person from a group (the tech support team), grammatically it functions as a singular subject. Just like you'd say "someone is here" rather than "someone are here," you need the singular verb form "needs."
Let's examine why the other options don't work. Choice B) "are needing" is incorrect for two reasons: "someone" requires a singular verb (not "are"), and "needing" creates an awkward progressive form that doesn't fit the context of a general statement about necessity. Choice C) "need" uses the plural verb form, which doesn't agree with the singular subject "someone." Choice D) "have needed" also uses a plural helping verb and creates an unnecessary perfect tense that changes the meaning from a current necessity to a past action.
The sentence structure "Someone from [group] needs to..." is common in workplace and academic writing. Remember this pattern: indefinite pronouns like "someone," "anyone," "everyone," and "no one" are always singular, regardless of any prepositional phrases that follow them. When you encounter these words, automatically think "singular verb" to avoid agreement errors.
- Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Answer: Neither of the proposed solutions seems adequate.
This question tests subject-verb agreement, specifically with indefinite pronouns and prepositional phrases. When you encounter sentences with words like "one," "nobody," or "neither," you need to identify the true subject and match it with the correct verb form.
The correct answer is D because "neither" is a singular indefinite pronoun that always takes a singular verb. "Neither of the proposed solutions seems adequate" correctly pairs the singular subject "neither" with the singular verb "seems." The prepositional phrase "of the proposed solutions" doesn't affect the verb choice—it's just describing what "neither" refers to.
Option A is incorrect because "one" is singular and requires the singular verb "is," not "are." The phrase "of my siblings" is a prepositional phrase that doesn't change the fact that "one" is the subject. Option B fails because "nobody" is always singular and needs the singular verb "wants," not "want." The prepositional phrase "on the team" doesn't affect this rule. Option C makes the same error as A—"something" is singular and requires "is," not "are." The phrase "in the pipes" is describing where the something is located, but it doesn't make the subject plural.
Remember this key strategy: Cross out prepositional phrases when checking subject-verb agreement. Indefinite pronouns like "one," "nobody," "something," "neither," "either," and "each" are almost always singular, regardless of what follows them in a prepositional phrase. This will help you avoid the most common trap on these questions.
- Each of the candidates, even the most experienced, ___ currently prepared to answer tough questions.
Answer: is
The subject is "Each," which is singular, so the verb must be singular. Since "currently" places the situation in the present, "is" is the correct choice. The most tempting error is "are," because the plural noun "candidates" appears nearby, but it is part of the prepositional phrase and does not determine the verb.
- Either the regional managers or the vice president ______ the final decision.
Answer: makes
This question tests subject-verb agreement with compound subjects joined by "or" or "nor." When you encounter these constructions, the verb must agree with the subject closest to it.
In "Either the regional managers or the vice president ______ the final decision," you have two potential subjects: "regional managers" (plural) and "vice president" (singular). Since "vice president" comes directly before the blank, the verb must agree with this singular subject, making "makes" the correct choice.
Choice A ("make") is incorrect because it's the plural form that would agree with "regional managers," but you must follow the proximity rule and match the nearest subject. Choice C ("are making") makes the same error as A—it's plural and also introduces progressive tense, which isn't needed here since we're talking about a general responsibility rather than an ongoing action. Choice D ("have made") is also plural and shifts to present perfect tense, suggesting completed action rather than the ongoing responsibility described in the sentence.
The correct answer is B because "makes" properly agrees with the singular "vice president" and maintains the simple present tense appropriate for describing general duties or responsibilities.
Remember this rule: with "either...or" and "neither...nor" constructions, always make the verb agree with the subject closest to it. This proximity rule overrides the usual logic you might apply to compound subjects joined by "and," which would take plural verbs.
- Each of the new hires ______ required to attend an orientation session.
Answer: is
This question tests subject-verb agreement, specifically with collective phrases that can be tricky. When you encounter sentences with phrases like "each of the..." or "one of the..." pay close attention to what the true subject is.
The subject of this sentence is "each," not "hires." Even though "new hires" is plural, the word "each" is always singular and requires a singular verb. Think of it this way: you're talking about each individual hire separately, not the group as a whole. Since "each" is singular and the sentence is in present tense (indicating a current policy or requirement), you need the singular present tense verb "is."
Choice A) "are" is incorrect because it's a plural verb form that would agree with "hires," but "hires" isn't the subject—"each" is. This is a common trap where students mistakenly match the verb to the nearest noun rather than the actual subject.
Choice B) "were" is wrong for two reasons: it's plural (agreeing with "hires" instead of "each") and it's past tense, which doesn't fit the context of stating a current requirement.
Choice D) "have been" is also incorrect because "have" is plural. While "have been" could work temporally (showing something that started in the past and continues), the plural form doesn't agree with the singular subject "each."
Remember this pattern: "Each of the [plural noun]" always takes a singular verb, regardless of how many items follow "of the." Focus on "each," not what comes after.
- The news from the international conference ______ encouraging for future collaborations.
Answer: was
This question tests subject-verb agreement, specifically with collective nouns that can be tricky to identify. When you encounter sentences where the subject and verb seem mismatched, look carefully at what the true subject is and whether it's singular or plural.
The subject of this sentence is "news," not "conference." Although "news" might seem plural because it ends in 's', it's actually a singular noun that always takes singular verbs. Think of other similar words like "mathematics" or "physics" - they end in 's' but are singular concepts. Since "news" is singular, you need the singular past tense verb "was."
Let's examine why the other options don't work: Choice (A) "were" is the plural past tense form, which doesn't agree with the singular subject "news." Choice (B) "are" is plural present tense, creating the same agreement problem plus an incorrect tense since we're discussing news from a conference that already happened. Choice (D) "have been" is also plural (the singular would be "has been") and creates an awkward construction that doesn't fit the sentence's meaning.
The phrase "from the international conference" is just a prepositional phrase describing which news we're talking about - it doesn't affect the verb agreement.
Study tip: When checking subject-verb agreement, mentally cross out prepositional phrases between the subject and verb. This helps you focus on the true subject. Also, remember that "news" is always singular, despite its appearance.
- The news about the election results ___ currently delayed until the next day.
Answer: is
The subject is "news," which is singular even though it ends in s, and the prepositional phrase "about the election results" does not change that. Since "currently" signals the present tense, the singular verb "is" fits: the news is delayed. The most tempting wrong answer is "are," chosen because "results" is plural, but the subject is "news," not "results."
- Several local businesses ______ to sponsor the annual city festival.
Answer: have agreed
This question tests subject-verb agreement, one of the most important grammar concepts on the GED. When you encounter sentences with subjects and verbs separated by other words, always identify the true subject first before choosing your verb form.
The subject of this sentence is "Several local businesses," which is plural. The phrase "local businesses" requires a plural verb form. Since this sentence describes a completed action (the businesses have already agreed to sponsor), you need the present perfect tense with a plural auxiliary verb.
Choice C) "have agreed" is correct because "have" is the plural auxiliary verb that agrees with the plural subject "businesses," and "agreed" shows the completed action.
Choice A) "agrees" is wrong because this is a singular present tense verb, but your subject "businesses" is plural. Choice B) "has agreed" uses the singular auxiliary verb "has," which doesn't match the plural subject. This is a common trap—students sometimes focus on the word "several" and mistakenly think it requires a singular verb. Choice D) "is agreeing" also uses a singular auxiliary verb "is" and suggests ongoing action rather than completed action, making it incorrect for both grammatical and contextual reasons.
Remember this key strategy: Always locate the main subject of the sentence (ignore prepositional phrases and other modifiers), determine if it's singular or plural, then match your verb accordingly. The word "several" always indicates plural, so it will always require plural verbs.
- Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?
Answer: Neither the supervisor nor the employees know the new password.
When you encounter subject-verb agreement questions with compound subjects joined by "either...or" or "neither...nor," the verb must agree with the subject closest to it. This rule often trips up test-takers who try to make the verb agree with both subjects.
Let's examine why option B is correct: "Neither the supervisor nor the employees know the new password." The subjects are "supervisor" (singular) and "employees" (plural), connected by "neither...nor." Since "employees" is closest to the verb, we use the plural verb "know." This follows the proximity rule perfectly.
Now for the incorrect choices: Option A uses "need" (plural) but should use "needs" (singular) because "computer" is the closer subject to the verb. Option C incorrectly uses "Do" (plural) when it should be "Does" (singular) since "cooks" is closer, but the sentence structure is awkward—it should read "Do the server or the cooks know..." Option D uses "was" (singular) but should use "were" (plural) because "players" is the subject closest to the verb.
The key strategy here is to always identify which subject is closest to the verb in "either...or" and "neither...nor" constructions. Ignore the first subject completely when determining verb agreement. Also, watch out for questions that place the further subject in a more prominent position—this is designed to confuse you. Focus on proximity, not which subject seems more important in the sentence.
