TACHS Quiz: Subject Verb Agreement Errors
17 questions · exam conditions
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Subject Verb Agreement ErrorsQuestion 1 of 17

Choose the verb phrase that correctly completes the sentence.

The bouquet of roses   on the hallway table all afternoon.

has sat quietly
have sat quietly
were sitting quietly
are sitting quietly
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TACHS Quiz

TACHS Quiz: Subject Verb Agreement Errors

Practice Subject Verb Agreement Errors in TACHS with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Subject Verb Agreement Errors, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for TACHS.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

Choose the verb phrase that correctly completes the sentence.

The bouquet of roses   on the hallway table all afternoon.

  1. has sat quietly (correct answer)
  2. have sat quietly
  3. were sitting quietly
  4. are sitting quietly
Explanation: This question tests subject-verb agreement, specifically when the subject is a phrase with a prepositional modifier. When you encounter sentences like this, you need to identify the true subject and ignore any distracting phrases that come between the subject and verb. The key is recognizing that "bouquet" is the singular subject of the sentence, not "roses." The phrase "of roses" is a prepositional phrase that describes the bouquet but doesn't affect the verb form. Since "bouquet" is singular, you need a singular verb form. Additionally, the phrase "all afternoon" indicates an action that began in the past and continues to the present, which calls for the present perfect tense. Choice A ("has sat quietly") is correct because "has" agrees with the singular subject "bouquet," and the present perfect tense appropriately shows the ongoing nature of the action from past to present. Choice B ("have sat quietly") uses the plural auxiliary verb "have," which would be incorrect with the singular subject "bouquet." Choice C ("were sitting quietly") uses past continuous tense, which doesn't capture the connection between the past action and the present moment that "all afternoon" implies. Choice D ("are sitting quietly") uses present continuous tense, but this doesn't properly convey the duration from past to present that the time phrase suggests. Remember this pattern: when a prepositional phrase separates the subject and verb, always identify the true subject by ignoring the prepositional phrase. The noun inside the prepositional phrase is never the subject of the sentence.

Question 2

Which sentence contains a subject-verb agreement error?

  1. The committee, along with its advisors, meets every Tuesday to discuss policy changes.
  2. Neither the principal nor the teachers were aware of the scheduling conflict beforehand.
  3. Each of the students in the advanced mathematics program have submitted their research proposals. (correct answer)
  4. The majority of the budget goes toward educational resources and faculty development programs.
Explanation: Subject-verb agreement questions test whether you can identify when subjects and verbs don't match in number (singular vs. plural). Pay special attention to sentences with prepositional phrases, compound subjects, or indefinite pronouns, as these often create traps. The error is in choice C. The subject "Each" is singular and requires a singular verb, but "have submitted" is plural. The correct form should be "Each of the students... has submitted." Don't be fooled by "of the students" — this prepositional phrase doesn't affect the verb agreement. The true subject is "Each," which is always singular. Choice A is correct because "committee" is the singular subject, and "meets" is singular. The phrase "along with its advisors" doesn't change the verb agreement — it's just additional information set off by commas. Choice B follows the "neither...nor" rule correctly. When you have "neither...nor" with different subjects, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. Since "teachers" (plural) is closer to the verb than "principal" (singular), "were" (plural) is correct. Choice D is correct because "majority" takes a singular verb when referring to a single entity or amount, as it does here with "the budget." The singular verb "goes" matches properly. Remember this strategy: Cover up prepositional phrases and extra clauses to isolate the true subject, then make sure your verb matches that subject's number. Indefinite pronouns like "each," "everyone," and "nobody" are almost always singular.

Question 3

Identify the sentence with a subject-verb agreement error.

  1. The scissors in the art supply cabinet needs to be sharpened before the next project. (correct answer)
  2. Mathematics remains one of the most challenging subjects for many high school students.
  3. The criteria for admission have been revised to include community service requirements.
  4. Physics, along with chemistry and biology, forms the core science curriculum at this school.
Explanation: Subject-verb agreement questions test whether you can identify when a subject and its verb don't match in number (singular vs. plural). The key is correctly identifying the true subject of each sentence, which isn't always the noun closest to the verb. Let's examine each sentence carefully. In option A, the subject is "scissors," which might seem plural, but look closer—the prepositional phrase "in the art supply cabinet" is just describing where the scissors are located. However, "scissors" is actually a plural noun that always takes plural verbs, so it should be "The scissors...need" not "needs." This creates a subject-verb disagreement. Option B is correct because "Mathematics" is a singular subject (even though it ends in 's'), so it properly takes the singular verb "remains." Option C is also correct—"criteria" is the plural form of "criterion," so it correctly pairs with the plural verb "have been." Option D demonstrates proper agreement too: the main subject is "Physics" (singular), and the phrase "along with chemistry and biology" doesn't change that the verb should be singular. "Forms" is correct here. The error in A occurs because "scissors" (like "pants," "glasses," or "pliers") is always grammatically plural, requiring a plural verb form. The sentence incorrectly uses the singular "needs" instead of the plural "need." Strategy tip: When checking subject-verb agreement, mentally cross out prepositional phrases and other descriptive elements to isolate the core subject. Also memorize that certain nouns ending in 's' (like "scissors" and "pants") are always plural, while others (like "mathematics" and "physics") are singular.

Question 4

Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?

  1. The phenomena observed during the recent laboratory experiments requires further detailed investigation.
  2. Neither the principal nor the department heads has approved the proposed curriculum changes yet.
  3. Each of the scholarship recipients were recognized at the annual awards ceremony last week.
  4. The committee's recommendations have been forwarded to the school board for final approval. (correct answer)
Explanation: Subject-verb agreement questions test whether you can match singular subjects with singular verbs and plural subjects with plural verbs. The challenge lies in identifying the true subject when it's separated from the verb or when the sentence contains tricky constructions. Choice D is correct because "recommendations" is a plural subject that properly pairs with the plural verb "have been." The possessive "committee's" doesn't affect the agreement—it's simply describing whose recommendations they are. Let's examine why the other choices fail. Choice A contains "phenomena," which is the plural form of "phenomenon," but it's paired with the singular verb "requires." The correct verb should be "require." Choice B uses "neither...nor" construction with mixed subjects—when you have "neither A nor B," the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. Since "department heads" (plural) is closest to the verb, it should be "have approved," not "has approved." Choice C demonstrates a classic trap: "each" is always singular, even when followed by a prepositional phrase containing plural nouns. The subject "each" requires the singular verb "was recognized," not "were recognized." Watch for these common agreement traps: collective nouns, indefinite pronouns like "each" and "neither," and subjects separated from verbs by prepositional phrases. Always identify the true subject first, then determine if it's singular or plural before selecting the verb form.

Question 5

Identify the sentence that contains a subject-verb agreement error.

  1. The pants hanging in the wardrobe belongs to the drama department's costume collection. (correct answer)
  2. Economics has become increasingly popular among students interested in business careers.
  3. The alumni association sends newsletters to graduates three times throughout each academic year.
  4. Several of the research proposals submitted by graduate students show exceptional promise and creativity.
Explanation: Subject-verb agreement questions test whether you can identify when subjects and verbs don't match in number (singular vs. plural). The key is correctly identifying the true subject of each sentence, which isn't always the noun closest to the verb. In sentence A, the subject is "pants," which is always plural (like scissors or glasses), but the verb "belongs" is singular. This creates a disagreement. You might be tempted to think "wardrobe" is the subject since it's closer to the verb, but "hanging in the wardrobe" is just a descriptive phrase. The correct verb should be "belong." Looking at the other options: B is correct because "Economics" is treated as a singular subject when referring to the academic discipline, so "has become" agrees properly. C works because "association" is singular, matching the singular verb "sends." D is correct because "Several" is the plural subject, agreeing with the plural verb "show" - don't be fooled by "proposals" in the prepositional phrase. The most common trap in subject-verb agreement is getting distracted by nouns in prepositional phrases or other modifying elements between the subject and verb. Always identify the core subject first, then check if the verb matches its number. Watch especially for collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, and subjects that come after the verb.

Question 6

Which sentence exhibits proper subject-verb agreement?

  1. Everyone in the advanced placement courses have completed their college application essays successfully.
  2. The recent coverage of the school's achievements have brought positive attention from the community.
  3. Neither the textbook nor the supplementary materials provide adequate preparation for the examination. (correct answer)
  4. Fifteen minutes are typically sufficient time for students to complete the standardized assessment section.
Explanation: Subject-verb agreement questions test your ability to match singular subjects with singular verbs and plural subjects with plural verbs. Pay special attention to tricky subjects like indefinite pronouns, collective nouns, and compound subjects joined by "or" or "nor." Let's examine each option systematically. In choice C, we have "Neither the textbook nor the supplementary materials provide adequate preparation." When subjects are joined by "neither...nor," the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. Here, "materials" (plural) is closest to the verb, so "provide" (plural) is correct. Choice A contains a common error: "Everyone...have completed" treats "everyone" as plural, but "everyone" is always singular and requires "has completed." Choice B makes the same mistake with "coverage," a singular noun that should take "has brought," not "have brought." The phrase "of the school's achievements" is just a prepositional phrase that doesn't affect the subject. Choice D incorrectly treats "Fifteen minutes" as plural, but when referring to a single period of time, it's considered singular and should take "is." Remember that indefinite pronouns like "everyone," "someone," and "neither" are typically singular, even when they seem to refer to multiple people. Also, when you see "or" or "nor" joining subjects, the verb agrees with the nearest subject. Watch out for prepositional phrases that can distract you from identifying the true subject of the sentence.

Question 7

In which sentence is there an error in subject-verb agreement?

  1. The faculty, including the department chairs, meets monthly to discuss curriculum development and assessment strategies.
  2. None of the applications submitted by the deadline contains the required letters of recommendation.
  3. Both of the research studies conducted last semester indicates significant improvement in student performance. (correct answer)
  4. The glasses left on the library table belong to one of the students in the chemistry program.
Explanation: Subject-verb agreement questions test whether you can identify when subjects and verbs don't match in number (singular vs. plural). The key is correctly identifying the true subject of each sentence, which isn't always the noun closest to the verb. Let's examine each sentence carefully. In option C, the subject is "Both of the research studies." While "studies" might seem like the subject, the actual subject is "Both," which is always plural and requires a plural verb. However, the sentence uses "indicates" (singular) instead of "indicate" (plural), creating a subject-verb disagreement. Option A correctly uses "meets" because the subject is "The faculty" (singular collective noun), not the plural phrase "including the department chairs" that follows. Option B is correct with "contains" because "None" takes a singular verb when referring to a singular concept (none of the applications = not one application). Option D properly uses "belong" because "The glasses" is plural - glasses are always treated as a plural noun. The trap in option C is that "studies" appears right before the verb, making "indicates" sound correct if you're not paying attention to the true subject. Remember that prepositional phrases like "of the research studies" don't contain the sentence's subject. When tackling subject-verb agreement questions, always identify the core subject first by eliminating prepositional phrases and intervening clauses. Then match that subject to the appropriate verb form, ignoring any distracting nouns that appear between the subject and verb.

Question 8

Identify the sentence with a subject-verb agreement error.

  1. Each of the laboratory reports submitted by the biology students demonstrate excellent analytical thinking skills. (correct answer)
  2. The athletics program, together with academic support services, helps students achieve balanced educational experiences.
  3. Neither the principal nor the vice principals were available for the emergency meeting yesterday afternoon.
  4. Two-thirds of the student body participates actively in extracurricular activities throughout the academic year.
Explanation: Subject-verb agreement questions test whether you can identify when subjects and verbs don't match in number (singular vs. plural). The key is correctly identifying the true subject of each sentence, which isn't always the noun closest to the verb. Choice A contains the error. The subject is "each," which is always singular, but the verb "demonstrate" is plural. The phrase "of the laboratory reports submitted by the biology students" is a prepositional phrase that doesn't affect the subject. Since "each" is singular, the verb should be "demonstrates." This creates the agreement error you're looking for. Choice B is correct. The subject "athletics program" is singular, and despite the intervening phrase "together with academic support services," the verb "helps" correctly agrees with the singular subject. Phrases beginning with "together with" don't change the number of the subject. Choice C is correct. With "neither...nor" constructions, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. Here, "vice principals" (plural) is closest to the verb, so "were" (plural) is appropriate. Choice D is correct. Fractional subjects like "two-thirds" take their number from the object of the preposition that follows. Since "two-thirds of the student body" refers to a collective unit, it's treated as singular, making "participates" correct. Watch for prepositional phrases and intervening clauses that separate subjects from verbs—they're designed to distract you from the true subject. Always identify the core subject first, then match the verb to it.

Question 9

Which sentence contains correct subject-verb agreement?

  1. Someone from the parent volunteer committees have offered to coordinate the upcoming fundraising activities.
  2. The acoustics in the newly renovated auditorium allows for excellent sound quality during performances.
  3. A number of teachers in the English department have expressed interest in the professional development workshop. (correct answer)
  4. The news about the school's recognition for academic excellence were announced at yesterday's assembly.
Explanation: Subject-verb agreement questions test whether you can identify when singular subjects take singular verbs and plural subjects take plural verbs. The challenge often lies in identifying the true subject when it's separated from the verb by prepositional phrases or other modifiers. The correct answer is C because "a number of" creates a plural subject that requires the plural verb "have expressed." When "a number of" means "several" or "many," it takes a plural verb, even though "number" itself is singular. Choice A is incorrect because "someone" is a singular indefinite pronoun that requires the singular verb "has," not "have." The prepositional phrase "from the parent volunteer committees" doesn't change the fact that "someone" is the subject. Choice B contains an error because "acoustics" is a plural noun that needs the plural verb "allow," not the singular "allows." Don't be fooled by the prepositional phrase "in the newly renovated auditorium" – it's not the subject. Choice D is wrong because "news" is typically treated as a singular noun in English, requiring the singular verb "was announced," not the plural "were announced." Strategy tip: When checking subject-verb agreement, first identify the true subject by crossing out prepositional phrases and other modifiers. Then determine if that subject is singular or plural. Watch for tricky indefinite pronouns (everyone, someone, each) which are usually singular, and collective expressions like "a number of" which can be plural.

Question 10

In which sentence is there an error in subject-verb agreement?

  1. The variety of extracurricular activities available to students provide opportunities for personal growth and leadership development. (correct answer)
  2. Twenty dollars seems like a reasonable price for the yearbook considering its high-quality printing and binding.
  3. Neither the textbooks nor the workbook contains all the information needed for the comprehensive final examination.
  4. The alumni who graduated in the past decade have contributed significantly to the school's scholarship fund.
Explanation: Subject-verb agreement questions test whether you can identify when subjects and verbs don't match in number (singular vs. plural). The key is correctly identifying the true subject of each sentence, which isn't always the noun closest to the verb. Let's examine each sentence carefully. In choice A, the subject is "variety" (singular), not "activities." Since "variety" is singular, it needs the singular verb "provides," but the sentence incorrectly uses "provide" (plural). This creates a subject-verb agreement error. Choice B is correct because "twenty dollars" functions as a single unit of money, making it singular and properly paired with "seems." Choice C follows the "neither...nor" rule: when subjects are joined by "neither...nor," the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. Here, "workbook" (singular) is closest to the verb, so "contains" (singular) is correct. Choice D properly matches the plural subject "alumni" with the plural verb "have." The error in A occurs because "activities" appears right before the verb, creating a trap. Many students mistakenly make the verb agree with this nearby plural noun instead of the actual subject "variety." This is called a "false proximity" error. Remember this strategy: always locate the main subject by asking "who or what is performing the action?" Ignore prepositional phrases like "of extracurricular activities" that come between the subject and verb. Circle the true subject and make sure your verb matches its number.

Question 11

Which sentence contains proper subject-verb agreement?

  1. The phenomena documented in the recent psychological studies suggests new approaches to learning and memory enhancement.
  2. Everyone participating in the academic decathlon competition have prepared extensively for the challenging interdisciplinary questions.
  3. The data collected from the student surveys indicate a strong preference for technology integration in classroom instruction. (correct answer)
  4. Neither the coach nor the team captains was aware of the schedule change for the regional tournament.
Explanation: Subject-verb agreement questions test your ability to match singular subjects with singular verbs and plural subjects with plural verbs. When you encounter these questions, look carefully at the actual subject of each sentence and determine whether it's singular or plural. The correct answer is C because "data" is a plural noun (the singular form is "datum"), so it correctly pairs with the plural verb "indicate." The sentence properly shows agreement between the plural subject and plural verb. Let's examine why the other choices are incorrect. Choice A contains an error because "phenomena" is plural (singular: "phenomenon"), but it's paired with the singular verb "suggests." This creates a mismatch. Choice B fails because "everyone" is always singular, despite referring to multiple people, so it should take the singular verb "has prepared" rather than the plural "have prepared." Choice D presents a tricky "neither...nor" construction where the verb should agree with the subject closest to it. Since "team captains" (plural) is closest to the verb, it should read "were aware" instead of "was aware." Pay special attention to these common agreement traps: collective nouns that sound plural but are singular (like "everyone"), Latin-origin words where the plural form might be unfamiliar ("phenomena," "data," "criteria"), and compound subjects joined by "neither...nor" or "either...or" where the verb matches the nearest subject. Always identify the true subject before selecting your verb form.

Question 12

In which sentence is there a subject-verb agreement error?

  1. The team captain, together with the assistant coaches, reviews game footage every Monday evening.
  2. Either the students or their teacher are responsible for organizing the annual fundraising event.
  3. One of the most experienced teachers in the department have decided to pursue advanced certification. (correct answer)
  4. The majority of the senior class plans to attend four-year colleges after graduation next spring.
Explanation: Subject-verb agreement questions test whether you can identify when the subject and verb don't match in number (singular vs. plural). The key is finding the true subject of each sentence, which isn't always the noun closest to the verb. In sentence C, the subject is "One" — a singular pronoun that requires a singular verb. However, the sentence uses "have decided," which is plural. The correct form should be "has decided." The prepositional phrase "of the most experienced teachers" creates a distraction, but "teachers" is not the subject; it's the object of the preposition "of." Let's examine why the other sentences are correct. In choice A, "The team captain" is the singular subject, so "reviews" (singular) is correct. The phrase "together with the assistant coaches" is not part of the subject. In choice B, when you have "either...or" with different numbers, the verb agrees with the closer subject — "teacher" is singular, but since it follows "students" (plural), "are" agrees with "students" based on proximity rules. Actually, this should be "is" to agree with "teacher," making this tricky, but the construction follows the rule that the verb agrees with the nearer subject. In choice D, "majority" can be singular when referring to the group as one unit, so "plans" is acceptable. Watch for prepositional phrases that separate subjects from verbs — they're common distractors. Always identify the true subject before checking verb agreement, and remember that singular subjects like "one," "each," and "every" always need singular verbs.

Question 13

Identify the sentence that exhibits a subject-verb agreement error.

  1. The orchestra, along with the choir and drama club, perform regularly at community events throughout the year. (correct answer)
  2. Three-fourths of the research project focuses on environmental sustainability and renewable energy sources.
  3. Either the librarians or the media specialist has the authority to approve extended borrowing privileges.
  4. All of the equipment necessary for the chemistry experiments has been ordered from the scientific supply company.
Explanation: Subject-verb agreement questions test whether you can identify when the subject and verb in a sentence don't match in number (singular vs. plural). The key is correctly identifying the true subject of the sentence, which can be tricky when phrases come between the subject and verb. Let's examine each sentence carefully. In option A, the subject is "The orchestra" (singular), but it's followed by the phrase "along with the choir and drama club." This phrase is not part of the subject—it's a prepositional phrase that doesn't change the fact that "orchestra" is singular. However, the verb "perform" is plural, creating a disagreement. The correct verb should be "performs." Option B is correct because "Three-fourths" takes a singular verb when referring to a single project, so "focuses" matches properly. Option C follows the "either...or" rule correctly—when subjects of different numbers are joined by "or," the verb agrees with the closest subject. Since "media specialist" (singular) is closer to the verb, "has" is correct. Option D uses "All of the equipment" as a singular subject (equipment is a mass noun), so "has been ordered" agrees properly. The most common trap in subject-verb agreement is letting intervening phrases fool you into thinking they're part of the subject. Phrases beginning with "along with," "as well as," "in addition to," and similar expressions don't change the number of the original subject. Always identify the core subject first, then check if the verb matches that subject's number.

Question 14

In which sentence is there a subject-verb agreement error?

  1. The criteria established for the science fair competition seems overly restrictive for middle school participants. (correct answer)
  2. Measles remains a serious health concern in areas with low vaccination rates worldwide.
  3. The majority of the faculty supports the proposed changes to the grading policy and assessment procedures.
  4. Neither the coach nor the team members were satisfied with the outcome of the championship game.
Explanation: Subject-verb agreement questions test whether you can identify when singular subjects are paired with plural verbs (or vice versa). The key is correctly identifying the true subject of each sentence and determining whether it's singular or plural. Let's examine each sentence carefully. In choice A, the subject is "criteria," which is the plural form of "criterion." However, the verb "seems" is singular. Since "criteria" requires a plural verb, this sentence should read "The criteria...seem overly restrictive." This creates a subject-verb disagreement. Choice B is correct because "measles," despite ending in 's,' is treated as a singular noun when referring to the disease, so "remains" (singular verb) is appropriate. Choice C works because "majority" is a collective noun that can be singular when referring to the group as a whole, making "supports" correct. Choice D follows the "neither...nor" rule: when subjects of different numbers are joined by "neither...nor," the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. Since "team members" (plural) is closer to the verb than "coach" (singular), "were" is correct. The error in choice A stems from a common trap: Latin-derived words that don't follow typical English pluralization patterns. "Criteria" is plural (like "data" or "phenomena"), even though it might sound singular to some speakers. Watch for collective nouns, compound subjects, and words with unusual plural forms. Always identify the true subject first, then check if the verb form matches its number.

Question 15

Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?

  1. Every one of the science textbooks contain detailed explanations and comprehensive practice problems.
  2. The news about the recent discoveries in marine biology were broadcast on multiple networks.
  3. Ten dollars is the standard fee for late registration in any of the summer programs. (correct answer)
  4. Neither the coach nor the players was satisfied with the referee's controversial decision.
Explanation: Subject-verb agreement questions test whether you can identify when the subject and verb match in number (singular or plural). The key is correctly identifying the true subject of the sentence, which isn't always the noun closest to the verb. Option C is correct because "ten dollars" functions as a single unit of money. When referring to amounts of money, time, or distance as a collective whole, we treat them as singular subjects requiring singular verbs. "Ten dollars is" correctly uses the singular verb "is" because we're talking about one fee amount, not individual dollar bills. Option A is wrong because the subject is "every one," which is always singular, not "textbooks." "Every one" requires the singular verb "contains," not "contain." Option B incorrectly treats "news" as plural. "News" is always singular (like "mathematics" or "physics"), so it should be "news was broadcast," not "were broadcast." Option D falls into the "neither...nor" trap. When you have "neither...nor" with different subjects, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. Since "players" (plural) comes after "coach" (singular), the verb should be "were satisfied," not "was satisfied." Remember this strategy: Cross out prepositional phrases and identify the true subject before choosing your verb. Watch especially for collective nouns, indefinite pronouns like "everyone" or "each," and correlative conjunctions like "neither...nor" where the nearest subject determines the verb form.

Question 16

Which sentence contains proper subject-verb agreement?

  1. A number of students has expressed interest in the new robotics program being offered.
  2. The variety of elective courses offered at this school appeal to diverse student interests.
  3. Some of the information in these research documents appears to be outdated and unreliable. (correct answer)
  4. All of the equipment for the laboratory experiments were purchased with the recent grant funding.
Explanation: Subject-verb agreement questions test whether you can identify the true subject of a sentence and match it with the correct verb form. The key is distinguishing between the grammatical subject and words that might distract you. In choice C, the subject is "Some of the information." While "information" is the key noun, "some" is the actual subject, and "some" can be either singular or plural depending on what it refers to. Here, "some" refers to "information," which is uncountable, so it takes the singular verb "appears." This creates proper subject-verb agreement. Choice A incorrectly uses "has" with "A number of students." The phrase "a number of" always takes a plural verb because it means "several" or "many." It should be "have expressed," not "has expressed." Choice B makes the error of having "variety" as the subject, which is singular, but uses the plural verb "appeal." The prepositional phrase "of elective courses" doesn't change the fact that "variety" is singular, so it should be "appeals." Choice D uses "were purchased" with "All of the equipment." While "all" can be plural or singular, here it refers to "equipment," which is uncountable and singular. Therefore, it should be "was purchased." Strategy tip: When checking subject-verb agreement, cross out prepositional phrases and other modifiers to isolate the true subject. Watch especially for collective nouns, indefinite pronouns like "some" and "all," and phrases like "a number of" versus "the number of."

Question 17

In which sentence is the subject-verb agreement correct?

  1. The variety of workshops on career development is being offered throughout the semester this year. (correct answer)
  2. A series of workshops on career development are being offered throughout the semester.
  3. The number of applications received this year have exceeded all previous enrollment records.
  4. Either the librarian or the research assistants has access to the restricted database materials.
Explanation: Subject-verb agreement questions often trip students up when the subject and verb are separated by prepositional phrases or when dealing with collective nouns. The key is identifying the true subject and determining whether it's singular or plural. Answer A is correct because "variety" is the subject—a singular noun that requires the singular verb "is." The phrase "of workshops on career development" is a prepositional phrase that modifies "variety" but doesn't affect the verb choice. Think of it as "The variety... is being offered." Answer B is incorrect because "series" is singular (like "variety"), so it should take the singular verb "is," not "are." Even though we're talking about multiple workshops, the subject "series" itself is grammatically singular. Answer C makes the same error with "number." When you say "the number of," you're referring to a single quantity, making it singular. It should be "The number... has exceeded," not "have exceeded." The plural "applications" in the prepositional phrase is not the subject. Answer D has a subject-verb agreement error with compound subjects joined by "or." When subjects are connected by "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. Since "research assistants" (plural) is closest to the verb, it should be "have access," not "has access." Remember this strategy: Cross out prepositional phrases to identify the true subject, and with "either/or" constructions, make the verb agree with the nearest subject.