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. has
Explanation: The subject “teacher” is singular, so it requires a singular verb. “Has” is the correct singular form of the verb “to have” in the present tense. “Have” is used for plural subjects, while “is” and “are” are forms of “to be,” which do not fit the context here.
Q.2
Correct option: C. are
Explanation: The subject “Ram and Shyam” is a plural noun (two people), so it requires a plural verb. “Are” is the correct plural form of the verb “to be” in the present tense. “Has” and “have” are forms of “to have,” which do not fit the context.
Q.3
Correct option: B. reaches
Explanation: The subject “She” is singular, so it requires a singular verb in the present tense. “Reaches” is the correct singular form of the verb “to reach.” “Reach” is plural, “reached” is past tense, and “reaching” is a gerund or present participle, which does not fit here.
Q.4
Correct option: D. were
Explanation: The subject “Rahul and his friends” is plural, so it requires a plural verb. “Were” is the correct plural past tense form of “to be.” “Is” and “was” are singular, and “had” is the past tense of “to have,” which does not fit the context.
Q.5
Correct option: A. talk
Explanation: The phrase “Neither you nor your sister” follows the rule where the verb agrees with the closer subject (“sister,” which is singular). However, “should” is a modal verb and is followed by the base form of the verb (“talk”). “Talks” is singular but incorrect after “should,” and “talked” or “talking” are not base forms.
Q.6
Correct option: B. is
Explanation: The phrase “Twenty years” refers to a single period of time, which is treated as a singular subject. Therefore, the singular verb “is” is correct. “Are” is plural, and “has” or “have” are forms of “to have,” which do not fit the context.
Q.7
Correct option: D. is
Explanation: The subject “A bouquet of flowers” is singular because the focus is on “bouquet,” not “flowers.” Therefore, the singular verb “is” is correct. “Are” is plural, and “have” or “has” are forms of “to have,” which do not fit the context.
Q.8
Correct option: B. has
Explanation: The subject “A pair of socks” is singular because the focus is on “pair,” not “socks.” Therefore, the singular verb “has” is correct. “Have” is plural, and “were” or “is” do not fit the context.
Q.9
Correct option: C. has
Explanation: The word “Much” is an uncountable noun and is treated as singular. Therefore, the singular verb “has” is correct. “Were” and “have” are plural, and “was” is singular but does not fit the perfect tense structure here.
Q.10
Correct option: B. was
Explanation: The subject “information” is an uncountable noun and is treated as singular. Therefore, the singular verb “was” is correct. “Were” and “are” are plural, and “have been” is plural and in the present perfect tense, which does not fit the context.
Q.11
Correct option: C. thinks
Explanation: The subject “company” is singular, so it requires a singular verb in the present tense. “Thinks” is the correct singular form of the verb “to think.” “Think” is plural, “thought” is past tense, and “thinking” is a gerund or present participle, which does not fit here.
Q.12
Correct option: B. look
Explanation: The phrase “Either of the two dresses” is singular, and “shall” is a modal verb followed by the base form of the verb (“look”). “Looks” is singular but incorrect after “shall,” and “looking” or “looked” are not base forms.
Q.13
Correct option: A. has
Explanation: The phrase “Each and every member” emphasizes individuality and is treated as singular. Therefore, the singular verb “has” is correct. “Have” is plural, “having” is a gerund, and “are” is plural.
Q.14
Correct option: D. have
Explanation: The phrase “A large number of soldiers” is plural because “soldiers” is the focus. Therefore, the plural verb “have” is correct. “Has” is singular, and “is” or “are” are forms of “to be,” which do not fit the context.
Q.15
Correct option: B. was
Explanation: The phrase “Half of the class” can be singular or plural depending on the context. Here, “class” is treated as a single unit, so the singular verb “was” is correct. “Were” is plural, and “has” or “have” are forms of “to have,” which do not fit the context.
Q.16
Correct option: C. is
Explanation: The subject “Physics” is a singular noun (a field of study), so it requires a singular verb. “Is” is the correct singular form of the verb “to be.” “Were” and “are” are plural, and “have been” is plural and in the present perfect tense, which does not fit the context.
Q.17
Correct option: B. has
Explanation: The subject “quality” is singular, so it requires a singular verb. “Has” is the correct singular form of the verb “to have” in the present perfect tense. “Have” is plural, and “is” or “are” are forms of “to be,” which do not fit the context.
Q.18
Correct option: D. was
Explanation: The subject “My mother” is singular, and the phrase “along with others” does not change the subject’s number. Therefore, the singular verb “was” is correct. “Were” and “are” are plural, and “have” is plural or used with auxiliary verbs.
Q.19
Correct option: A. need
Explanation: The subject “She” is singular, but “need” is used here as a modal-like verb (indicating necessity) and does not change form. “Needs” is incorrect in this context because “need” is the base form after “does not.” “Needing” is a gerund, and “has need” is not grammatically correct here.
Q.20
Correct option: C. has
Explanation: The word “None” can be singular or plural, but here it is treated as singular (“not one”). Therefore, the singular verb “has” is correct. “Were” and “have” are plural, and “is” does not fit the perfect tense structure here.
Q.21
Correct option: C. enjoys
Explanation: The subject “He” is singular, so it requires a singular verb in the present tense. “Enjoys” is the correct singular form of the verb “to enjoy.” “Enjoy” is plural, “enjoyed” is past tense, and “enjoying” is a gerund or present participle, which does not fit here.
Q.22
Correct option: B. is
Explanation: The subject “The book ‘Management Principles'” is singular, so it requires a singular verb. “Is” is the correct singular form of the verb “to be.” “Are” is plural, and “have” or “has” are forms of “to have,” which do not fit the context.
Q.23
Correct option: D. is
Explanation: The phrase “Two dollars” refers to a single amount of money, which is treated as a singular subject. Therefore, the singular verb “is” is correct. “Are” is plural, and “has” or “have” are forms of “to have,” which do not fit the context.
Q.24
Correct option: C. have
Explanation: The phrase “A lot of startups” is plural because “startups” is the focus. Therefore, the plural verb “have” is correct. “Is” is singular, and “are” or “has” do not fit the perfect tense structure here.
Q.25
Correct option: D. has
Explanation: The subject “Politics” is a singular noun (a field of study), so it requires a singular verb. “Has” is the correct singular form of the verb “to have” in the present perfect tense. “Is” and “are” are forms of “to be,” and “have” is plural, which does not fit here.
Q.26
Correct option: B. was
Explanation: The phrase “Neither Rishi nor Rhea” follows the rule where the verb agrees with the closer subject (“Rhea,” which is singular). Therefore, the singular verb “was” is correct. “Were” and “are” are plural, and “have been” is plural and in the present perfect tense, which does not fit the context.
Q.27
Correct option: A. was
Explanation: The subject “A series of seminars” is singular because the focus is on “series,” not “seminars.” Therefore, the singular verb “was” is correct. “Were” is plural, and “are” or “have” do not fit the context.
Q.28
Correct option: C. have
Explanation: The phrase “All means of communication” is plural because “means” can be plural here. Therefore, the plural verb “have” is correct. “Was” is singular, and “has” or “is” do not fit the context.
Q.29
Correct option: B. are
Explanation: The subject “glasses” is plural (referring to a pair), so it requires a plural verb. “Are” is the correct plural form of the verb “to be.” “Is” is singular, and “have” or “has” are forms of “to have,” which do not fit the context.
Q.30
Correct option: C. sells
Explanation: The subject “That woman” is singular, so it requires a singular verb in the present tense. “Sells” is the correct singular form of the verb “to sell.” “Sell” is plural, “selling” is a gerund, and “have sold” is plural and in the present perfect tense, which does not fit here.
Q.31
Correct option: B. is
Explanation: The subject “It” is singular, so it requires a singular verb. “Is” is the correct singular form of the verb “to be.” “Are” and “were” are plural, and “had” is the past perfect tense, which does not fit the context.
Q.32
Correct option: B. is
Explanation: The subject “The United States of America” is a singular country name, so it requires a singular verb. “Is” is the correct singular form of the verb “to be.” “Are” is plural, and “have” or “has” are forms of “to have,” which do not fit the context.
Q.33
Correct option: D. were
Explanation: The subject “South Africa” refers to the cricket team (a group of people), which is treated as plural. Therefore, the plural verb “were” is correct. “Was” is singular, and “has” or “have” are forms of “to have,” which do not fit the context.
Q.34
Correct option: A. was
Explanation: The subject “space” is uncountable and singular, so it requires a singular verb. “Was” is the correct singular past tense form of “to be.” “Were” and “are” are plural, and “have been” is plural and in the present perfect tense, which does not fit the context.
Q.35
Correct option: B. take
Explanation: The phrase “Either you or I” follows the rule where the verb agrees with the closer subject (“I”). “Should” is a modal verb and is followed by the base form of the verb (“take”). “Takes” is singular but incorrect after “should,” and “taking” or “took” are not base forms.
Q.36
Correct option: D. has
Explanation: The subject “jury” can be singular or plural, but here it is treated as a single unit. Therefore, the singular verb “has” is correct. “Were” and “are” are plural, and “is” does not fit the perfect tense structure here.
Q.37
Correct option: C. fail
Explanation: The phrase “A lot of students” is plural, so it requires a plural verb in the present tense. “Fail” is the correct plural form of the verb “to fail.” “Fails” is singular, “failing” is a gerund, and “has failed” is singular and in the present perfect tense, which does not fit here.
Q.38
Correct option: B. have
Explanation: The subject “applications” is plural, so it requires a plural verb. “Have” is the correct plural form of the verb “to have” in the present perfect tense. “Were” is past tense, “are” is present tense of “to be,” and “has” is singular, which does not fit here.
Q.39
Correct option: A. was
Explanation: The subject “crowd” is a collective noun treated as singular here, so it requires a singular verb. “Was” is the correct singular past tense form of “to be.” “Were” and “are” are plural, and “have” is plural or used with auxiliary verbs.
Q.40
Correct option: B. have been
Explanation: The subject “The ruler and the minister” is plural (two people), so it requires a plural verb. “Have been” is the correct plural form of the verb “to be” in the present perfect tense. “Was” and “has been” are singular, and “is” does not fit the context.
Q.41
Correct option: C. pass
Explanation: The subject “government” is singular, but “will” is a modal verb followed by the base form of the verb (“pass”). “Passes” is singular but incorrect after “will,” and “passed” or “has passed” are not base forms.
Q.42
Correct option: A. have
Explanation: The word “poor” refers to a group of people and is treated as plural. Therefore, the plural verb “have” is correct. “Are” is a form of “to be,” and “is” or “has” are singular, which do not fit the context.
Q.43
Correct option: B. have
Explanation: The subject “The teacher and the students” is plural (multiple people), so it requires a plural verb. “Have” is the correct plural form of the verb “to have” in the present perfect tense. “Has” is singular, and “will” or “are” do not fit the context.
Q.44
Correct option: D. began
Explanation: The subject “event” is singular, and the sentence requires the past tense. “Began” is the correct past tense form of the verb “to begin.” “Begin” is present tense, “begins” is singular present tense, and “begun” is the past participle, which requires an auxiliary verb.
Q.45
Correct option: A. have
Explanation: The phrase “Many people” is plural, so it requires a plural verb. “Have” is the correct plural form of the verb “to have” in the present perfect tense. “Has” is singular, and “having” or “is” do not fit the context.
Q.46
Correct option: D. is
Explanation: The phrase “Two-thirds of the pantry” refers to a portion of a singular noun (“pantry”), so it requires a singular verb. “Is” is the correct singular form of the verb “to be.” “Are” and “were” are plural, and “have” is plural or used with auxiliary verbs.
Q.47
Correct option: B. was
Explanation: The subject “timing” is singular, so it requires a singular verb in the past tense. “Was” is the correct singular past tense form of “to be.” “Were” is plural, and “has” or “have been” do not fit the context.
Q.48
Correct option: A. is
Explanation: The subject “package” is singular, so it requires a singular verb. “Is” is the correct singular form of the verb “to be.” “Are” and “were” are plural, and “have” is plural or used with auxiliary verbs.
Q.49
Correct option: D. sings
Explanation: The subject “Joshua” is singular, and the phrase “with his members” does not change the subject’s number. Therefore, the singular verb “sings” is correct. “Sing” is plural, “singing” is a gerund, and “have sung” is plural and in the present perfect tense, which does not fit here.
Q.50
Correct option: A. visit
Explanation: The subject “We” is plural, and “should” is a modal verb followed by the base form of the verb (“visit”). “Visits” is singular but incorrect after “should,” and “visiting” or “visited” are not base forms.
