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Confused about where the verb should agree with the subject? This post provides a comprehensive answer key with clear, step-by-step explanations for our Subject-Verb Agreement MCQ exercise, specifically designed for MDCAT and NUMS aspirants. Each explanation breaks down the grammar rules behind the correct option, helping you understand singular and plural subjects, tricky structures, and common test traps. Strengthen your grammar concepts, avoid mistakes, and prepare effectively for the English portion of MDCAT & NUMS with this detailed guide!
Q.1
Correct option: B. Are
Explanation: The subject “principles” is plural, so it requires a plural verb. “Are” is the correct plural form of the verb “to be” in this context. The sentence refers to multiple principles, which collectively are difficult to understand.
Q.2
Correct option: A. Indicates / are
Explanation: “A poll” is singular, so the verb “indicates” must be singular. The second blank refers to “voters,” which is plural, requiring the plural verb “are.” The sentence structure shows a singular subject acting on a plural group.
Q.3
Correct option: D. Have
Explanation: “Reactions” is a plural subject, so it requires the plural verb “have.” The phrase “been favorable” completes the present perfect tense, which is used for actions or states that began in the past and continue to the present.
Q.4
Correct option: C. Results
Explanation: The subject “fearlessness” is singular, so the verb must also be singular. “Results” is the correct singular present tense verb. The phrase describes a general truth or habitual outcome.
Q.5
Correct option: C. Has
Explanation: The subject “who” refers to “the type of customer,” which is singular. Therefore, the singular verb “has” is correct. The sentence describes a customer who has never considered opening a layaway account.
Q.6
Correct option: D. Seems
Explanation: “Either” is a singular pronoun, so it requires the singular verb “seems.” The sentence implies that one of the two alternatives will present difficulties, not both.
Q.7
Correct option: C. Faces is
Explanation: The subject “problem” is singular, so the verb “faces” must be singular. The phrase “keeping up with expenses” is a singular idea, so “is” is the correct linking verb.
Q.8
Correct option: D. Are
Explanation: The subject “politics” refers to multiple political systems (US, UK, and Russia), so the plural verb “are” is correct. The sentence compares the differing political landscapes of these countries.
Q.9
Correct option: C. Expects
Explanation: The subject “political party” is singular, so the singular verb “expects” is correct. The phrase describes the party’s anticipation of support from the Opposition.
Q.10
Correct option: B. Know
Explanation: The relative pronoun “who” refers to “men,” which is plural, so the plural verb “know” is correct. The sentence describes a group of men who know everything.
Q.11
Correct option: A. Takes
Explanation: The phrase “the secretary and treasurer” refers to one person holding both roles, so the singular verb “takes” is correct. If two people were meant, it would be “the secretary and the treasurer.”
Q.12
Correct option: B. Is
Explanation: The subject “150 kilos of rice” is a singular quantity, so the singular verb “is” is correct. The sentence refers to the rice as a single unit.
Q.13
Correct option: B. Seems
Explanation: The subject “Rs. 225” is a singular amount of money, so the singular verb “seems” is correct. The sentence treats the amount as a single entity.
Q.14
Correct option: C. Has
Explanation: The phrase “a good man and useful citizen” refers to one person, so the singular verb “has” is correct. The sentence describes a single individual who has passed away.
Q.15
Correct option: D. Are
Explanation: The subject “90% of deaths” is plural because it refers to multiple deaths, so the plural verb “are” is correct. The sentence describes a statistical fact about smoking-related deaths.
Q.16
Correct option: B. Hope
Explanation: The subject “students and instructors” is plural, and “each” does not change the plurality, so the plural verb “hope” is correct. The sentence describes a shared desire for a new facility.
Q.17
Correct option: B. Reminds
Explanation: The subject “rice and beans” is treated as a singular dish, so the singular verb “reminds” is correct. The phrase “my favorite dish” emphasizes its singular nature.
Q.18
Correct option: B. Vote
Explanation: The subject “a large number of voters” is plural, so the plural verb “vote” is correct. The sentence describes the voting behavior of a group.
Q.19
Correct option: B. Is
Explanation: The subject “four years” is a singular period of time, so the singular verb “is” is correct. The sentence treats the duration as a single unit.
Q.20
Correct option: B. Is
Explanation: The word “politics” can be singular or plural depending on context. Here, it refers to the concept of politics as a field, so the singular verb “is” is correct.
Q.21
Correct option: B. Seems
Explanation: The subject “economics” refers to the field of study, which is singular, so the singular verb “seems” is correct. The sentence describes the appearance of the country’s economic state.
Q.22
Correct option: B. Were
Explanation: The subject “a group of us” is plural because it refers to multiple people, so the plural verb “were” is correct. The sentence describes a collective action.
Q.23
Correct option: C. Was
Explanation: The subject “the shop” is singular, and the phrase “with its articles” does not change the subject’s singularity, so the singular verb “was” is correct.
Q.24
Correct option: C. Was
Explanation: The subject “the ship” is singular, and the phrase “with its crew” does not change the subject’s singularity, so the singular verb “was” is correct.
Q.25
Correct option: B. Is
Explanation: The subject “silver as well as gold” is singular because “as well as” does not create a compound subject. The singular verb “is” agrees with the singular subject “silver.”
Q.26
Correct option: C. Is
Explanation: The subject “the father as well as his sons” is singular because “as well as” does not create a compound subject. The singular verb “is” agrees with the singular subject “the father.”
Q.27
Correct option: B. Knows
Explanation: The subject “no one” is singular, so the singular verb “knows” is correct. The phrase “besides James” does not affect the subject’s singularity.
Q.28
Correct option: A. Has won
Explanation: The subject “Kate” is singular, and the phrase “and not you” does not change the subject’s singularity, so the singular verb “has won” is correct.
Q.29
Correct option: A. Was
Explanation: The subject “James” is singular, and the phrase “together with his friends” does not change the subject’s singularity, so the singular verb “was” is correct.
Q.30
Correct option: D. Are
Explanation: The subject “hundred cents” is plural, so the plural verb “are” is correct. The sentence describes a plural quantity equaling one dollar.
Q.31
Correct option: A. Is
Explanation: The subject “two thousand dollars” is a singular amount of money, so the singular verb “is” is correct. The sentence treats the amount as a single unit.
Q.32
Correct option: C. Is
Explanation: The subject “ten miles” is a singular distance, so the singular verb “is” is correct. The sentence treats the distance as a single unit.
Q.33
Correct option: A. Has
Explanation: The subject “Deepak” is singular, and the phrase “with his friends” does not change the subject’s singularity, so the singular verb “has” is correct.
Q.34
Correct option: B. Like
Explanation: The subject “you” is plural, and the base form of the verb “like” is used with “do” to form the present tense question.
Q.35
Correct option: D. Have
Explanation: The subject “the dog and the cat” is plural, so the plural verb “have” is correct. The sentence describes a shared action by two animals.
Q.36
Correct option: A. Are
Explanation: The subject “works” is plural here, referring to multiple creations or efforts, so the plural verb “are” is correct.
Q.37
Correct option: B. Has
Explanation: The phrase “many a man” is singular, so the singular verb “has” is correct. Despite implying multiple men, the construction is grammatically singular.
Q.38
Correct option: C. Is
Explanation: The subject “the chief” is singular, and the phrase “along with his family” does not change the subject’s singularity, so the singular verb “is” is correct.
Q.39
Correct option: A. Come
Explanation: The modal verb “shall” is followed by the base form of the verb “come.” The sentence expresses a future action.
Q.40
Correct option: B. Is
Explanation: The subject “measles” is a singular disease name, so the singular verb “is” is correct.
Q.41
Correct option: C. Has been
Explanation: The subject “board of directors” is treated as a singular entity, so the singular verb “has been” is correct.
Q.42
Correct option: A. Have
Explanation: The subject “few applicants” is plural, so the plural verb “have” is correct.
Q.43
Correct option: A. Is
Explanation: The subject “some of the rice” is singular because “rice” is uncountable, so the singular verb “is” is correct.
Q.44
Correct option: D. Is
Explanation: The subject “public speaking” is singular, so the singular verb “is” is correct.
Q.45
Correct option: A. Has
Explanation: The subject “The United Arab Emirates” is a singular country name, so the singular verb “has” is correct.
Q.46
Correct option: A. Has, has
Explanation: The subject “poultry” is singular, so both verbs must be singular: “has become” and “has gone.”
Q.47
Correct option: B. Lacks, suffers
Explanation: The subject “majority” is singular here, so the singular verbs “lacks” and “suffers” are correct.
Q.48
Correct option: B. Insists, buying
Explanation: The subject “he” is singular, so “insists” is correct. The gerund “buying” follows the preposition “on.”
Q.49
Correct option: D. Are, have
Explanation: The subject “gentry” is plural, so the plural verbs “are” and “have” are correct.
Q.50
Correct option: A. Is, hesitates
Explanation: The subject “she” is singular, and “as well as her other sisters” does not change the subject’s singularity, so the singular verbs “is” and “hesitates” are correct.
