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: C. takes
Explanation: The subject is “the board member,” which is singular. The phrase “not the chairman” is a parenthetical element and does not affect the verb agreement. Therefore, the singular verb “takes” agrees with the singular subject “the board member.”
Q.2
Correct option: B. have
Explanation: The pronoun “who” refers to “those,” which is plural. Thus, the plural verb “have” is required to agree with the plural antecedent “those.”
Q.3
Correct option: A. is
Explanation: The phrase “number of sheep” is singular when referring to a collective quantity. Therefore, the singular verb “is” is correct.
Q.4
Correct option: C. Hairs is
Explanation: “Hairs” is plural, referring to individual strands, but the verb “is” agrees with the singular subject “a chain,” which is the main focus of the sentence.
Q.5
Correct option: C. Man has
Explanation: The phrase “Many a” is followed by a singular noun (“man”) and requires a singular verb (“has”). Despite implying plurality, the construction is grammatically singular.
Q.6
Correct option: D. Were
Explanation: The subject consists of two distinct people (“The Party Chief and the Chief Minister”), making it plural. Thus, the plural verb “were” is correct.
Q.7
Correct option: A. is
Explanation: The phrase “My friend, philosopher and guide” refers to a single person holding all three roles, so the singular verb “is” is used.
Q.8
Correct option: C. Speak
Explanation: The subject “Sixty percent of the students” is plural, referring to multiple students. The plural verb “speak” agrees with the plural subject.
Q.9
Correct option: C. Was
Explanation: “One-half of the beer” refers to an uncountable quantity, which is singular. Therefore, the singular verb “was” is correct.
Q.10
Correct option: A. Is
Explanation: “Fifty dollars” is treated as a singular amount of money, so the singular verb “is” is used.
Q.11
Correct option: B. are
Explanation: “A number of children” is a plural phrase, referring to multiple children. The plural verb “are” agrees with the plural subject.
Q.12
Correct option: D. Spend
Explanation: The subject “She and I” is plural, so the plural verb “spend” is required.
Q.13
Correct option: A. need
Explanation: “The blind” is a collective noun referring to a group of people, which is plural. Thus, the plural verb “need” is correct.
Q.14
Correct option: A. has
Explanation: The subject is “Population growth,” which is singular. The phrase “in addition to other problems” does not change the singular nature of the subject, so the singular verb “has” is used.
Q.15
Correct option: A. Is
Explanation: “A lot of the information” refers to uncountable information, which is singular. The singular verb “is” agrees with the singular subject.
Q.16
Correct option: B. Are
Explanation: “Half of the boxes” refers to multiple boxes, making the subject plural. The plural verb “are” is correct.
Q.17
Correct option: A. Is
Explanation: The subject is “Shakespeare,” which is singular. The phrase “as well as other English playwrights” does not affect the verb agreement, so the singular verb “is” is used.
Q.18
Correct option: C. Varies
Explanation: The subject “The behaviour” is singular, so the singular verb “varies” is correct.
Q.19
Correct option: A. Attends
Explanation: The subject “Nobody” is singular, so the singular verb “attends” is required.
Q.20
Correct option: A. Is
Explanation: “Seven Little Australians” is the title of a singular book, so the singular verb “is” is used.
Q.21
Correct option: C. Was
Explanation: “The academic committee” is a collective noun acting as a singular unit here, so the singular verb “was” is correct.
Q.22
Correct option: C. Has
Explanation: The subject is “the type of customer,” which is singular. The relative clause “who has never thought” uses the singular verb “has” to agree with the singular antecedent “who.”
Q.23
Correct option: B. Know
Explanation: The pronoun “who” refers to “these men,” which is plural. Thus, the plural verb “know” is required.
Q.24
Correct option: A. Takes
Explanation: “The secretary and treasurer” refers to one person holding both roles, so the singular verb “takes” is used.
Q.25
Correct option: C. Has
Explanation: “A good man and useful citizen” refers to a single person, so the singular verb “has” is correct.
Q.26
Correct option: D. Are
Explanation: The subject “90% of deaths” is plural, referring to multiple deaths. The plural verb “are” agrees with the plural subject.
Q.27
Correct option: C. ensure
Explanation: “Ensure” means to make certain that something happens, which fits the context of switching off the lights.
Q.28
Correct option: A. complementary
Explanation: “Complementary” means combining in such a way as to enhance or emphasize each other’s qualities, which fits the context of talents.
Q.29
Correct option: B. conquered
Explanation: “Conquered” means to overcome or defeat, which fits the context of medical science overcoming diseases.
Q.30
Correct option: D. start
Explanation: “Start” means to begin, which fits the context of beginning photography as a hobby.
Q.31
Correct option: D. competent
Explanation: “Competent” means having the necessary ability or skills, which describes visionary leaders.
Q.32
Correct option: B. unparalleled
Explanation: “Unparalleled” means having no equal, which describes the beauty of the destinations.
Q.33
Correct option: C. Is
Explanation: The subject “Every man, woman, and child” is singular, so the singular verb “is” is used.
Q.34
Correct option: B. Costs
Explanation: The subject “Each item” is singular, so the singular verb “costs” is correct.
Q.35
Correct option: D. Are
Explanation: “Four-fifths of the spectators” is plural, referring to multiple spectators, so the plural verb “are” is used.
Q.36
Correct option: C. Was
Explanation: “Forty percent of the work” refers to an uncountable quantity, which is singular. The singular verb “was” is correct.
Q.37
Correct option: A. Is
Explanation: “War and Peace” is the title of a singular book, so the singular verb “is” is used.
Q.38
Correct option: B. Have
Explanation: “A majority of the class 9” refers to multiple students, so the plural verb “have” is correct.
Q.39
Correct option: A. Is
Explanation: “Two hours” is treated as a singular unit of time, so the singular verb “is” is used.
Q.40
Correct option: A. Is
Explanation: “Fifty percent of the book” refers to a singular portion, so the singular verb “is” is correct.
Q.41
Correct option: A. is
Explanation: The phrase “Many a man” is singular, so the singular verb “is” is required.
Q.42
Correct option: B. Prefer
Explanation: “The majority of people” is plural, so the plural verb “prefer” is used.
Q.43
Correct option: A. Is
Explanation: The subject “a list” is singular, so the singular verb “is” is correct.
Q.44
Correct option: B. Are
Explanation: The subject “too many students” is plural, so the plural verb “are” is used.
Q.45
Correct option: A. Has
Explanation: The subject is “The faculty head,” which is singular. The intervening phrases do not affect the verb agreement, so the singular verb “has” is correct.
Q.46
Correct option: A. Has
Explanation: The subject “The percentage of dropouts” is singular, so the singular verb “has” is used.
Q.47
Correct option: B. Likes
Explanation: When using “neither…nor,” the verb agrees with the closer subject (“my mother”), which is singular. Thus, the singular verb “likes” is correct.
Q.48
Correct option: A. Is
Explanation: The subject is “Neither foreign language nor an advanced English literature course,” and the verb agrees with the closer singular subject “course,” so the singular verb “is” is used.
Q.49
Correct option: D. Seems
Explanation: “Either of the alternatives” is singular, so the singular verb “seems” is correct.
Q.50
Correct option: D. Are
Explanation: The subject “Politics of US, UK and Russia” refers to multiple political systems, so the plural verb “are” is used.
