ENGLISH LANGUAGE

FORM 4
SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
NOTES
Ricky walks to school
Ricky = Subject
walks = Verb
1.

The subject of a sentence must agree in person and number with the verb.
Number
Singular
I, you, she, he, it, Alietc

2.

Plural
We, They, You, My family, my
parents, my friends..etc

Use singular verb with a singular subject:

Verb
Singular
Plural
am, is, was, has, does, walks,
Are, were, have, do, blow, go,
eats, closes, watches, blows, goes,
cry, walk, close, watch, eat,..
cries..etc
etc

3.

Use plural verb when two or more subjects are joined by and.
Lina and Linda are twins
Aaron, Tan and Ismail love fishing

4.

Use singular verb when two subjects joined by and are considered as one item.
Bread and butter is my favourite.
Fish and chips is the only food tasty here.

5.

Use singular verb with every, each, one of, either and neither,, some, any, every, and no.
Every pupil is given a free T-shirt
each.
Either of the movie is fine with
me.

6.

No one respects her because she is

very selfish.
Everyone has to be here by seven.

When two subjects are linked with either..or and neithernor, the verb usually agrees with
the subject closer to it.
Either my sisters or brother is coming with me to your house.
Neither the pupils nor the teacher is in the classroom.

7.

Use a singular verb with these phrases: as well as, together with, along with.
The girl, as well as her mother, was shopping here yesterday.
My chain, together with its locket, brings me good luck.
The tiger, along with three of its cubs, is the main attraction at the zoo.

Answer all the questions.

1.

Hang Tuah

legendary Malay warrior.

2.

15.

A.

Nobody

16.

B.

Everything

A.

is

17.

C.

Something

B.

am

18.

D.

Somebody

C.

are

19.

D.

been

20.

3.
4.

the
___

director

My friends _______ not in when I

21. went to visit them last night.

22.

his deputies are

23.

A.

is

available at the moment because

24.

B.

are

they

25.

C.

was

26.

D.

were

are

currently

have

management meeting.
5.

27.
A.

Either, or

B.

As well, as

C.

Neither, nor

D.

Not only, but also

28.

No one

6.

Every member of the class

______
29.

English very well.

30.

6.
7.

14.

our secret

hideout.
8.

31.

A.

speak

32.

B.

spoke

33.

C.

speaks

34.

D.

speaking

A.

know

35.

B.

knows

36.

C.

known

D.

knowing

7.

Maznah ______ minding the

baby
37.

while her mother is cooking.

9.

38.

10.

39.

A.

is

11.

40.

B.

are

12.

41.

C.

was

42.

D.

were

13.

4.

________ has to help the old

folks.

43.
44.
45.
46. QUESTION 2
47.

48. Underline the correct VERB for each of the following sentences.
49.

1.

Neither the man nor his wife (are / is) at home.

2.

Everyone (are / is) happy to hear the good news.

3.

There (is / are) three main ethnic groups in Malaysia.

4.

Mathematics (is / are) a challenging and difficult subject.

5.

Eighty per cent of the wheat crop (is / are) ready for harvest.

6.

Contestants usually (submits / submit) three 4R-sized photographs.

7.

Both the successful architects (is / are) in the same architecture firm.

8.

All the arguments put forward by the speaker (is / are) weak and faulty.

9.

Unlike most parrots, this one (is / are) unusually quiet and does not talk
much.

10. These ethnic communities (respects / respect) each others religions and
customs.
11.

Her son and daughter (excels / excel) in the first round of Spell-It-Right
competition.

12. Some of the workers (are / is) angry over the delay in getting their pay
cheques this month.
13. Nowadays, most parents (sends / send) their children to tuition classes to
improve their grades in examination.
14. The company (has / have) to follow the standard procedure for terminating
the services of any of its employees.

15. The Malaysia Tourism Agency and Lensa Film Distributors (organise /
organises) the Cuti-cuti 1 Malaysia Photo Contest every year.
50.
51. Complete the following sentences with suitable verbs that agree with
the subject.
52.
1. Hanee, along with her sisters (go/goes)for extra English lessons at a
center nearby.
2. Mr. Lai, with his grandfather, (visit/visits) to the Buddhist temple
at least once a week.
3. The class monitor, as well as his assistant, (is/are) a very responsible
leader.
4. My mother, as well as my seventy-year-old dad (like/ likes) eating out.
5. The village headman, along with the other villagers, (is/are) planning to
launch a cleanliness campaign.
53.
54. Identify the subject that determines the form of the verb.
1. Either Salleh or Rozina (is/are) not telling the truth.
2. Neither my uncle not my aunt (is/are) the way to the new airport.
3. There is no need to call the fire brigade. The firemen are already there.
Either one of the onlookers or my neighbour (has/have) already phoned
the fire brigade.
4. The boss is really angry with us. He says that either you or I (am/is/are) to
blame for his gross error.
5. Neither the boy nor his sisters (is/are) in the city.
55.
56.

THE END