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Snap Language

Getting Smarter through Language

Practice 4: Simple and Complex Subjects and Subject-Verb Agreement

Instructions.Subject-verb agreement with complex subjects

Based on this lesson about complex subjects and subject-ver agreement, fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb in parentheses, making sure it agrees with the simple subject. Next, indicate what the simple subject is.

When you finished an item, click “Answer.”

Note. Your answers will not be submitted. When you leave this page, they will be deleted.

Sentence 1

Learning new language (has/have) been found to improve several cognitive skills.

The verb agrees with (the simple subject).

has

The verb agrees with Learning.

Sentence 2

The number of American high school students choosing to learn Spanish as a second language (has/have) has remained stable for over a decade.

The verb agrees with (the simple subject).

has

The verb agrees with (the) number.

Sentence 3

Farmers affected by this 5-year drought (is/are) facing severe financial difficulties.

The verb agrees with (the simple subject).

are

The verb agrees with farmers.

Sentence 4

Severe weather in the last few weeks (has/have) caused havoc across the Pacific Northwest.

The verb agrees with (the simple subject).

has

The verb agrees with (severe) weather.

Sentence 5

The high cost of tuition and fees across the United States (has/have) forced the current high school students to reevaluate their educational goals.

The verb agrees with (the simple subject).

has

The verb agrees with (the high) cost.

Sentence 6

Each of the new employees in those departments (was/were) laid off to cut production costs.

The verb agrees with (the simple subject).

was

The verb agrees with each (of the employees).

Sentence 7

The main source of income for people living on the islands (is/are) palm oil and fishing.

The verb agrees with (the simple subject).

is

The verb agrees with (the main) source.

Sentence 8

During the spring and summer months, the inhabitants of the small tropical island (flocks/flock) to the capital city to sell their products to tourists.

The verb agrees with (the simple subject).

flocks

The verb agrees with (the) inhabitants.

Sentence 9

One of the main reasons American voters participate in local elections (is/are) to have a say in policies such as property taxes that affect their wallets.

The verb agrees with (the simple subject).

is

The verb agrees with One (of the main reasons)

Sentence 10

The presence of beneficial bacteria in our bodies (is/are) extremely important for various aspects of our health such as digestion, the production of certain vitamins, and immune system function.

The verb agrees with (the simple subject).

is

The verb agrees with (the) presence.

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