If you have studied the guidelines for Correcting Errors in Subject-Verb Agreement, you should now be well prepared for this short practice exercise.
EXERCISE: BASIC SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
For each pair of sentences below, write out the correct form of the verb in parentheses. Keep to the present tense, and be guided by the tips in Correcting Errors in Subject-Verb Agreement. When you're done, compare your responses with the answers at the end of the exercise.1. This convenience store closes at midnight. The other stores (close) at 9:00.
2. Gus complains about everything. He even (complain) about the color of the sky.
3. My sisters play musical instruments. My brother and his friend (play) with their iPods.
4. I care about her very much. She (care) about no one but herself.
5. This coffee tastes like gasoline. You (taste) it and tell me what you think.
6. Our refrigerator leaks. Water (leak) onto the floor and loosens the vinyl.
7. Every afternoon, they hurry down to the station to meet their mother. She (hurry) home from work.
8. Merdine carries a leather pouch filled with quarters. The police officers (carry) clubs.
9. We raise okra and peanuts on our farm. My brother (raise) the gate before the sun rises.
10. Felicity criticizes everyone she works with. She never (criticize) herself.
ANSWERS:
(1) close; (2) complains; (3) play; (4) cares; (5) taste; (6) leaks; (7) hurries; (8) carry; (9) raises; (10) criticizes.
REVIEW:
Correcting Errors in Subject-Verb Agreement
THE NEXT STEP:
Tricky Cases of Subject-Verb Agreement.
