EXERCISE

1. Choose the correct form of the verb, singular or plural. Sometimes either a singular or a plural verb is possible.
Example: Gymnastics is / are my favourite sport.
Gymnastics is my favourite sport.

1. The trousers you bought for me doesn’t / don’t fit me.
2. Physics was / were my best subject at school.
3. Fortunately the news wasn’t / weren’t as bad as we had expected.
4. The police wants / want to interview Fred about a robbery.
5. Three days isn’t / aren’t long enough for a good holiday.
6. Where does / do your family live?
7. England have / has lost all their football matches this season.
8. Does / Do the police know about the stolen money?
9. Can I borrow your scissors? Mine isn’t / aren’t sharp enough.
10. I’m going to take a taxi. Six miles is / are too far for me to walk.

2. Choose the correct form of the verb in parentheses in the following sentences.
1. John, along with twenty friends, (is / are) planning a party.
John, along with twenty friends, is planning a party.
2. The picture of the soldiers (bring / brings) back a lot of memories.
3. The quality of these recordings (is / are) not very good.
4. If the duties of these officers (isn’t / aren’t) reduced, there will not be enough time to finish the project.
5. The effects of cigarette smoking (have / has) been proven to be extremely harmful.
6. The use of credit cards in place of cash (have / has) increased rapidly in recent years.
7. Advertisements on television (is / are) becoming more competitive than ever before.
8. Living expenses in this country, as well as in many others, (is / are) at an all-time high.
9. Mr. Jones, accompanied by several members of the committee, (have / has) proposed some changes of the rules.
10. The levels of intoxication (vary / varies) from subject to subject.

3. Choose the correct form of the verb in the following sentences.
1. Neither Bill nor Mary (is / are) going to the play tonight.
Neither Bill nor Mary is going to the play tonight.
2. Anything (is / are) better than going to another movie tonight.

3. Skating (is / are) becoming more popular every day.
4. A number of reporters (was / were) at the conference yesterday.
5. Anybody who (has / have) a fever must go home immediately.
6. Your glasses (was / were) on the bureau last night.
7. There (was / were) some people at the meeting last night.
8. The committee (has / have) already reached a decision.
9. A pair of jeans (was / were) in the washing machine this morning.
10. Each student (has / have) answered the first three questions.
11. Either John or his wife (make, makes) breakfast each morning.
12. After she had perused the material, the secretary decided that everything (was / were) in order.
13. The crowd at the basketball game (was / were) wild with excitement.
14. A pack of wild dogs (has / have) frightened all the ducks away.
15. The jury (is / are) trying to reach a decision.
16. The army (has / have) eliminated this section of the training test.
17. The number of students who have withdrawn from class this quarter (is / are) appalling.
18. There (has / have) been too many interruptions in this class.
19. Every elementary school teacher (has / have) to take this examination.
20. Neither Jill nor her parents (has / have) seen this movie before.