Subject-Verb Agreement Quiz: Two Practice Tests With Answers

Updated June 16, 2022
classroom learning subject-verb agreement
  • DESCRIPTION
    classroom learning subject-verb agreement
  • SOURCE
    Compassionate Eye Foundation/Robert Daly/OJO Images / Stone / Getty
  • PERMISSION
    Used under Getty Images license

Subject-verb agreement can be tricky for beginning readers and English learners. It means that the subject of the sentence must “agree” with its verb — in other words, if the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular. Practice this important grammatical concept with one subject-verb agreement quiz on simple and compound subjects and additional subject-verb agreement exercises on different types of sentences.

Making Subjects and Verbs Agree

Finding subject-verb agreement can be as simple as looking at the subject of your sentence. If there’s only one noun, the verb should be singular. If there are two or more nouns, the verb should be plural. Challenge yourself with a subject-verb agreement quiz that focuses on the basics of subject-verb agreement, as well as simple and compound subjects.

Choose the Correct Verb Practice Questions

See how well you know your subject-verb agreement rules with these sample questions. You can download additional exercises on the printable worksheet below.

Read the following sentences and choose the correct verb from the options in parentheses for each one. Keep in mind that when a compound subject uses “or” or “nor,” the verb should agree with the closest noun.

  1. Sally (run, runs) to the park every day.

  2. The dogs (bark, barks) at strangers.

  3. Ted and Mary (is, are) going to the movies.

  4. The game (was, were) exciting.

  5. My friends (worry, worries) too much.

Incorrect vs. Correct Sentences Practice Questions

Decide if each sentence below is correct or incorrect. On a piece of paper, rewrite the incorrect sentences to make the subjects and verbs agree.

  1. The kids have been waiting a long time.

  2. The pen or the pencil are fine for the test.

  3. My sister don't understand.

  4. Those shoes has been cheaper in the past.

  5. Randy and Juan like sports.

Advertisement

Making Subjects and Verbs Agree Printable PDF

If you’re ready for more of a challenge, download and print the worksheet below. It’s a great way to check subject-verb agreement skills for yourself or for your students.

making subjects and verbs agree printable worksheet

Making subjects verbs agree

Click to View & Download

Answers to Choose the Correct Verb Practice

How did you do? See if you passed this small subject-verb agreement test.

  1. Sally (run, runs) to the park every day.

  2. The dogs (bark, barks) at strangers.

  3. Ted and Mary (is, are) going to the movies.

  4. The game (was, were) exciting.

  5. My friends (worry, worries) too much.

Answers to Incorrect vs. Correct Sentences Practice

Were you able to identify all the incorrect sentences? If you were, did you also rewrite them properly?

  1. Correct: They have been waiting a long time.

  2. Incorrect: The pen or the pencil are (is) lost.

  3. Incorrect: My sister don't (doesn’t) understand.

  4. Incorrect: Those shoes has (have) been cheaper in the past.

  5. Correct: Randy and Juan like sports.

Advertisement

Subject-Verb Agreement Quiz: Pronouns and Special Nouns

The rules for subject-verb agreement get trickier when you use pronouns and special nouns as the subjects of your sentences. “Mary buys gifts for us” seems straightforward, but it gets more complicated with pronouns such as “She buys gifts” or collective nouns such as “The team buys gifts.” Keep reading for subject-verb agreement exercises that address pronouns and special nouns.

Choose the Correct Verb for Pronouns and Special Nouns

Try out your subject-verb agreement skill with these sample exercises. They follow a similar format as above, but the subjects include either pronouns or special nouns.

Choose the correct verb in these sentences.

  1. They (watch, watches) television every day.

  2. Our family (love, loves) sports.

  3. We (study, studies) before a test.

  4. One of the teams (is, are) missing.

  5. He (live, lives) in that big house.

Advertisement

Identify Correct Sentences Featuring Pronouns and Special Nouns

Decide if each sentence is correct or incorrect. On a piece of paper, rewrite the incorrect sentences to make the subjects and verbs agree.

  1. The herd of deer run to the river.

  2. He don't like chocolate.

  3. No one enjoys volleyball.

  4. Each of these have been ruined.

  5. Your pants are too baggy.

Printable Subject-Verb Agreement Quiz: Pronouns and Special Nouns

If you’d like more of a challenge, you can find these practice questions and more exercises with a printable worksheet. Just download and get to work with your subject-verb agreement practice!

subject-verb agreement with pronouns and special nouns printable worksheet

Subject verb agreement pronouns special nouns

Click to View & Download

Answers to Choose the Correct Verb Practice

Did you figure out all the practice questions? Check your answers here.

  1. They (watch, watches) television every day.

  2. Our family (love, loves) sports.

  3. We (study, studies) before a test.

  4. One of the teams (is, are) missing.

  5. He (live, lives) in that big house.

Advertisement

Answers to Identify Correct Sentences Practice

  1. Incorrect: The herd of deer run (runs) to the river.

  2. Incorrect: He don't (doesn’t) like chocolate.

  3. Correct: No one enjoys volleyball.

  4. Incorrect: Each of these have (has) been ruined.

  5. Correct: Your pants are too baggy.

Subjects and Verbs, Living in Harmony

None of our sentences would make sense without subject-verb agreement. But, with a firm grasp on subject-verb agreement, students can go on to write a variety of different sentence types. Learn more about getting subjects and verbs to agree with the 20 rules of subject-verb agreement and a couple subject-verb agreement worksheets.