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. Is
Explanation: The subject “One hundred and 50 kilos of rice” is a singular quantity, so it takes a singular verb. “Is” is the correct singular form of the verb “to be” in this context.
Q.2
Correct option: B. Seems
Explanation: The subject “Rs. 225” is a singular amount of money, so it requires a singular verb. “Seems” is the correct singular form of the verb “to seem.”
Q.3
Correct option: D. An amorphous mass of cells is difficult to understand.
Explanation: The subject “An amorphous mass of cells” is singular because the focus is on “mass,” not “cells.” Therefore, the singular verb “is” is correct.
Q.4
Correct option: B. Neither the students nor the teacher is allowed to smoke in the class.
Explanation: When using “neither…nor,” the verb agrees with the subject closer to it. Here, “teacher” is singular, so the singular verb “is” is used.
Q.5
Correct option: C. Juggling, like any other skill, requires many hours of practice before it becomes easy.
Explanation: The subject “Juggling” is singular, so the singular verb “requires” is correct. The phrase “many hours of practice” is also grammatically accurate.
Q.6
Correct option: A. The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.
Explanation: “Remains” is a plural noun in this context, so the plural verb “were” is correct.
Q.7
Correct option: B. The public were reading different books.
Explanation: In British English, “public” can be treated as a plural noun when referring to individuals within the group. Here, “were” is the correct plural verb.
Q.8
Correct option: A. Fifty dollars is too much to pay for that dress.
Explanation: The subject “Fifty dollars” is a singular amount of money, so the singular verb “is” is used.
Q.9
Correct option: A. These scissors need sharpening.
Explanation: “Scissors” is a plural noun and always takes a plural verb. “Need” is the correct plural form here.
Q.10
Correct option: A. Possibly one fifth of their loans are bad debts or some 30 per cent of gross domestic product.
Explanation: The subject “one fifth of their loans” is plural because it refers to multiple loans, so the plural verb “are” is correct.
Q.11
Correct option: A. There are a number of options available.
Explanation: The phrase “a number of” is followed by a plural noun (“options”) and requires a plural verb (“are”).
Q.12
Correct option: B. Every participant had been notified of the change in schedule.
Explanation: “Every participant” is singular, so the singular verb “had been” is correct. The past perfect tense is also appropriate here.
Q.13
Correct option: C. Neither of the cars in the accident was insured.
Explanation: “Neither” is singular, so the singular verb “was” is used.
Q.14
Correct option: A. Either the leader or his followers did not do their duty.
Explanation: When using “either…or,” the verb agrees with the closer subject (“followers,” which is plural). The plural pronoun “their” also matches.
Q.15
Correct option: A. In that dilapidated house lives a dissipated poet.
Explanation: The subject “a dissipated poet” is singular, so the singular verb “lives” is correct. The sentence is inverted, but the verb still agrees with the subject.
Q.16
Correct option: B. The number of Sumatran rhinos is dwindling rapidly.
Explanation: “The number” is singular, so the singular verb “is” is used.
Q.17
Correct option: C. More than one student has not come to the class.
Explanation: The phrase “more than one” is followed by a singular noun (“student”) and takes a singular verb (“has”).
Q.18
Correct option: C. Corned beef and cabbage was his favorite dish.
Explanation: “Corned beef and cabbage” is treated as a singular dish, so the singular verb “was” is correct.
Q.19
Correct option: B. Either of the roads leads to the park.
Explanation: “Either” is singular, so the singular verb “leads” is used.
Q.20
Correct option: B. One of my aspirations is to become a doctor.
Explanation: The subject “One” is singular, so the singular verb “is” is correct. “Aspirations” is plural, but the verb agrees with “one.”
Q.21
Correct option: C. Orders for his transfer have been issued by the ministry.
Explanation: The subject “Orders” is plural, so the plural verb “have” is correct.
Q.22
Correct option: B. The rise and fall of the tide is due to lunar influence.
Explanation: “The rise and fall” is treated as a singular concept, so the singular verb “is” is used.
Q.23
Correct option: D. Sara has given me six dozen pens of different varieties.
Explanation: “Dozen” is correct in its singular form when used with a number (“six”). “Varieties” is the correct plural form.
Q.24
Correct option: B. One of the problems with you is that you are not sincere.
Explanation: The subject “One” is singular, so the singular verb “is” is correct. “Problems” is plural, but the verb agrees with “one.”
Q.25
Correct option: C. He walked five miles which is really a great distance.
Explanation: “Five miles” is a singular distance, so the singular verb “is” is used.
Q.26
Correct option: A. One third of the population is clinically anaemic and malnutrition.
Explanation: “One third of the population” is treated as a singular group, so the singular verb “is” is correct.
Q.27
Correct option: C. The police have received important information that can help them solve the murder case.
Explanation: “Police” is a plural noun, so the plural verb “have” is used. “Information” is uncountable and does not take a plural form.
Q.28
Correct option: B. Three fourths of the states were planning to implement incentives to increase employer involvement.
Explanation: “Three fourths” is plural, and “states” is plural, so the plural verb “were” is correct.
Q.29
Correct option: B. In other words, one quarter of the theses are probably never consulted after completion.
Explanation: “One quarter” is singular, but “theses” is plural, so the plural verb “are” is used to agree with “theses.”
Q.30
Correct option: C. Statistics show that there is going to be a big economic slowdown.
Explanation: “Statistics” here refers to data (plural), so the plural verb “show” is correct.
Q.31
Correct option: A. The twenty-day tour in the southernmost part of the country was very interesting.
Explanation: “Twenty-day tour” is singular, so the singular verb “was” is used.
Q.32
Correct option: A. Although she has studied English for almost a year, she is yet to learn the alphabet.
Explanation: “English” is uncountable and does not take an article. “Alphabet” is singular here, referring to the entire set of letters.
Q.33
Correct option: C. I visited Ram and Sita’s house thrice but found the couple absent.
Explanation: The possessive form “Ram and Sita’s house” indicates they share one house, so the singular “house” is correct.
Q.34
Correct option: B. Two thirds of the books have been sold in the very first year of its launch.
Explanation: “Two thirds” is plural, and “books” is plural, so the plural verb “have” is correct.
Q.35
Correct option: C. Either my colleague or a peon is coming home with the material today.
Explanation: With “either…or,” the verb agrees with the closer subject (“peon,” which is singular), so the singular verb “is” is used.
Q.36
Correct option: A. The whole block of flats including two shops was destroyed in fire.
Explanation: The subject “The whole block” is singular, so the singular verb “was” is correct.
Q.37
Correct option: B. The committee is divided and there is no consensus on the dam dispute.
Explanation: “Committee” is treated as a singular unit here, so the singular verb “is” is used.
Q.38
Correct option: B. Sarah, along with the rest of her siblings, has the measles.
Explanation: The subject “Sarah” is singular, so the singular verb “has” is correct. The phrase “along with the rest of her siblings” does not change the verb.
Q.39
Correct option: D. Wear and tear has to be expected when you’re in the rental business.
Explanation: “Wear and tear” is treated as a singular concept, so the singular verb “has” is used.
Q.40
Correct option: C. Virat Kohli has completed his 7 thousand runs in One Day International matches.
Explanation: “Thousand” is correct in its singular form when used with a number (“7”). The verb “has completed” is also grammatically accurate.
Q.41
Correct option: A. Five minus three leaves two.
Explanation: The mathematical expression “Five minus three” is treated as a singular concept, so the singular verb “leaves” is correct.
Q.42
Correct option: B. A number of students have complained that the number of books is not sufficient in the library.
Explanation: “A number of” is plural, so “have” is correct. “The number of” is singular, so “is” is correct.
Q.43
Correct option: B. The elderly are beginning to demand their rights.
Explanation: “The elderly” is a plural noun, so the plural verb “are” is used.
Q.44
Correct option: C. Mathematics, in addition to other subjects, plays a very important role in examinations.
Explanation: “Mathematics” is a singular subject, so the singular verb “plays” is correct.
Q.45
Correct option: C. A number of good books were missing from the library.
Explanation: “A number of” is plural, so the plural verb “were” is used.
Q.46
Correct option: A. A set of stylish and trendy dolls was purchased for the children.
Explanation: “A set” is singular, so the singular verb “was” is correct.
Q.47
Correct option: A. The clergy of the town have assembled in the hall to discuss some matters.
Explanation: “Clergy” is a plural noun, so the plural verb “have” is used.
Q.48
Correct option: C. More than one scholar was awarded at the function.
Explanation: “More than one” is followed by a singular noun (“scholar”) and takes a singular verb (“was”).
Q.49
Correct option: A. One of the boys has been punished for his misdeeds.
Explanation: The subject “One” is singular, so the singular verb “has” is correct.
Q.50
Correct option: B. A large number of men and women were present there at the function.
Explanation: “A large number of” is plural, so the plural verb “were” is used.
