1. In the sentence Our commitment to our customers remains our top priority, the simple subject is ______.
a.
customers
b.
commitment
c.
priority
b
1
Easy
2. In the sentence Twitter, along with LinkedIn, remains a popular networking site for business professionals, the simple
subject is ______.
a.
b.
c.
d.
a
1
Easy
3. In the sentence There are only two applicants who are qualified for this job, the simple subject is ______.
a.
There
b.
job
c.
qualified
d.
applicants
d
1
Easy
4. In the sentence Here’s a list of ten ideas to reduce our company’s expenses, the simple subject is ______.
a.
list
b.
Here
c.
ideas
d.
expenses
a
1
Easy
5. In the sentence In the top drawer of my desk is my employee ID, the simple subject is ______.
a.
drawer
b.
desk
c.
ID
c
1
Easy
6. In the question Have the plans for the merger been submitted to the Federal Trade Commission?, the simple subject is
______.
a.
Have
b.
plans
c.
merger
d.
Federal Trade Commission
b
separates the verb phrase (have been submitted).
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.6-1 – 6-1
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Locating Subjects
BLOOM’S: Application
7. Three copies of the contract ____ been sent to your office.
a.
has
b.
have
b
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.6-1 – 6-1
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Locating Subjects
BLOOM’S: Application
8. The new insurance policy for employees ____ each individual to pay more for name-brand drugs.
a.
require
b.
requires
b
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.6-1 – 6-1
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Locating Subjects
BLOOM’S: Application
9. A smartphone, in addition to a laptop, ____ available to all staff members.
a.
were
b.
are
c.
is
c
achieve agreement.
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.6-1 – 6-1
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Locating Subjects
BLOOM’S: Application
10. Your time and effort ____ greatly appreciated.
a.
is
b.
are
c.
was
b
generally plural and requires a plural verb (are).
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.6-2 – 6-2
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Basic Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement
BLOOM’S: Application
11. Improving stock prices and increasing factory production _____ why economists _____ continuing economic
improvement in the next quarter.
a.
is, predict
b.
are, predicts
c.
are, predict
d.
is, predicts
c
word economists.
1
Moderate
12. Every employee, stockholder, and board member ____ allowed to vote on the controversial issue.
a.
was
b.
were
c.
are
a
1
Easy
13. Each asset and liability ____ listed on the balance sheet.
a.
is
b.
are
c.
were
a
1
Easy
14. Macy’s ____ a Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City each year.
a.
sponsor
b.
sponsors
b
1
Easy
15. The Stone Temple Pilots ____ releasing a new single in the summer.
a.
is
b.
are
a
1
Easy
16. Stephen Covey’s book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People ____ the attainment of goals through ethical
principles.
a.
emphasize
b.
emphasizes
b
1
Easy
17. Which sentence is correct?
a.
We recently heard that economy carrier Clear Skies Airlines are expanding its service to the Midwest.
b.
The president, as well as many legislators, have voiced confidence in the economic recovery.
c.
New employees at the customer service desk attend monthly orientation sessions.
c
1
Moderate
BENG.GUFF.17.6-2 – 6-2
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Locating Subjects and Basic Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement
BLOOM’S: Application
18. Neither the employees nor their manager ____ willing to compromise.
a.
were
b.
are
c.
is
c
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.6-3 – 6-3
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Special Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement
BLOOM’S: Application
19. Either the owner or the tenants ____ the apartment at the end of the lease.
a.
clean
b.
cleans
a
subject. Choose clean to agree with the plural subject tenants.
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.6-3 – 6-3
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.6 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.6
20. Everyone ____ to work overtime tonight to meet the customer’s deadline.
a.
plan
b.
plans
b
1
Easy
21. Many of our field representatives ____ attending the training seminar in Houston.
a.
was
b.
were
b
1
Easy
22. Some of the report ____ confidential information about the owner and the company.
a.
contain
b.
contains
b
1
Easy
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Special Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement
BLOOM’S: Application
23. Most of our customers ____ redeemed their coupons.
a.
has
b.
have
b
pronoun. Because the noun customers is plural, use a plural verb (have).
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.6-4 – 6-4
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Special Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement
BLOOM’S: Application
24. ____ of the suggestions to reduce capital expenditures was considered.
a.
Every one
b.
Everyone
c.
Every-one
a
two words (Every one).
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.6-4 – 6-4
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Special Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement
BLOOM’S: Application
25. All of the following sentences are correct except ____
a.
Any one of the team members is able to add comments to the report.
b.
Either of the proposals are acceptable to the work team.
c.
Some of our customers feel that the prices are too high.
b
indefinite pronoun is always singular, it needs a singular verb (is acceptable).
1
Moderate
BENG.GUFF.17.6-4 – 6-4
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Special Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement
BLOOM’S: Application
26. The faculty ____ divided on the tuition increase and its effect on the teacher-student ratio.
a.
was
b.
were
c.
is
b
choose the plural verb were.
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.6-4 – 6-4
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Special Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement
BLOOM’S: Application
27. After 14 grueling hours of deliberation, the jury ____ finally reached a verdict.
a.
has
b.
have
a
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.6-4 – 6-4
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Special Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement
BLOOM’S: Application
28. Each of the new employees ______ a complimentary health care package, but administrators, along with each retiree,
______ responsible for their deductibles.
a.
receive, is
b.
receive, are
c.
receives, is
d.
receives, are
d
1
Moderate
BENG.GUFF.17.6-4 – 6-4
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Special Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement
BLOOM’S: Application
29. Which sentence is correct?
a.
Everyone except salaried employees receive additional pay for working an extra shift.
b.
Our staff are eager to participate in the “Build for Tomorrow” campaign sponsored by Habitat for Humanity.
c.
Either Jane, Paul, or Kathy is working on the Henderson project this week.
c
indefinite pronouns (Everyone receives) and collective nouns as subjects (The staff is).
1
Moderate
BENG.GUFF.17.6-4 – 6-4
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Special Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement
BLOOM’S: Application
30. The number of companies using social networking sites to promote their product and services ____ increasing.
a.
is
b.
are
c.
were
a
subject is considered singular. Therefore, the verb must also be singular: is.
1
Easy
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.1.6 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.1.6
31. A number of employees ____ about the conditions of the west parking lot.
a.
complain
b.
complains
a
1
Easy
32. Three yards of material ____ needed for the costume.
a.
were
b.
was
b
1
Easy
33. Three fourths of the applicants ____ to meet the minimum requirements.
a.
appears
b.
appear
b
1
Easy
34. About one third of the highway repaving project ____ completed.
a.
is
b.
are
a
1
Easy
35. A majority of the voters ____ in rural areas.
a.
live
b.
lives
a
1
Easy
36. A small percentage of CEOs ____ a lack of ethics.
a.
display
b.
displays
a
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.6-5 – 6-5
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Additional Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement
BLOOM’S: Application
37. Jake is the only one of the employees who ____ authorized to make expenditures from that account.
a.
were
b.
are
c.
is
c
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.6-5 – 6-5
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Additional Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement
BLOOM’S: Application
38. Obviously it is I who ____ to blame for the error in our income statement.
a.
is
b.
am
b
clauses, select am to agree with the pronoun I.
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.6-5 – 6-5
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Additional Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement
BLOOM’S: Application
39. Five years _____ the probationary period for all employees who _____ recently hired.
a.
is, was
b.
are, were
c.
is, were
d.
are, was
c
1
Moderate
40. Studying diversity and inclusion ____ one’s sensitivity of and appreciation for others.
a.
develop
b.
develops
b
1
Easy
41. Meeting high ethical standards ______ an important requirement for congressional candidates.
a.
is
b.
are
a
1
Easy
42. Whoever answers the phone ____ responsible for relaying the information to the appropriate department.
a.
is
b.
are
a
as the subject of a sentence, it is considered singular and needs a singular verb: is.
1
BENG.GUFF.17.6-6 – 6-6
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Additional Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement
BLOOM’S: Application
43. Which sentence is best expressed?
a.
The first step of the job-search process are identifying your goals and researching the job market.
b.
The first steps of the job-search process are identifying your goals and researching the job market.
c.
The first steps of the job-search process is identifying your goals and researching the job market.
b
1
BENG.GUFF.17.6-6 – 6-6
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Additional Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement
BLOOM’S: Application
44. Which sentence is correct?
a.
Over half of the eligible retirees receive extended health insurance benefits.
b.
A majority of the class were opposed to the test being held on a Monday.
c.
A small percentage of the survey questions needs to be rewritten.
a
1
Moderate
BENG.GUFF.17.6-5 – 6-5
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.1.5 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.1.5
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Special Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement
BLOOM’S: Application
45. Which sentence is correct?
a.
Emphasizing your strongest characteristics and skills is important in a job interview.
b.
Relating your strengths and experiences to the needs of an employer are essential in a job interview.
c.
Answering the questions of interviewers and hiring managers are sure to produce stress.
a
1
Moderate
BENG.GUFF.17.6-6 – 6-6
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
Additional Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement
BLOOM’S: Application
46. LinkedIn is a ____ social networking site used by thousands of business professionals.
a.
premiere
b.
premier
b
1
Easy
BENG.GUFF.17.N/A – N/A
United States – BUSPROG.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7 – DISC.BENG.GUFF.17.6.7
BLOOM’S: Application
47. Because the firm deals with confidential information, all employees must be ____.
a.
discreet
b.
discrete
a
1
Easy
48. We ____ process your merchandise return until a receipt has been provided.
a.
cannot
b.
can not
c.
can–not
a
1
Easy
49. Our business emphasizes one important goal over all others, ______, customer satisfaction.
a.
e.g.
b.
i.e.
b
or “for example.” Use i.e. in this sentence because the goal follows the abbreviation.
1
Easy
50. Martha is ____ about getting her test results back because she didn’t study as much as she should have.
a.
eager
b.
anxious
b
1