Practice 4: Subject-verb agreement with simple and complex subjects: Snap Language™

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Practice 4: Subject-Verb Agreement with Simple and Complex subjects.

Instructions. Subject-verb agreement with complex subjects

Based on this lesson about complex subjects and subject-ver agreement, fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb in parentheses, making sure it agrees with the simple subject. Next, indicate what the simple subject is.

When you finished an item, click “Answer.”

Note. Your answers will not be submitted. When you leave this page, they will be deleted.

Sentence 1

Learning new languages (has/have) been found to improve several cognitive skills.

The verb agrees with (the simple subject).

has

The verb agrees with learning.

Sentence 2

The number of American high school students choosing to learn Spanish as a second language (has/have) has remained stable for over a decade.

The verb agrees with (the simple subject).

has

The verb agrees with (the) number.

Sentence 3

A number of residents in the small town (was/were) fined for not mowing their lawns.

The verb agrees with (the simple subject).

were

The verb agrees with (a number of) residents.
(Note. “A number” in this sentence works the same as “a lot” or “many.”)

Sentence 4

The intense storms that passed through the region (has/have) caused widespread damage.

The verb agrees with (the simple subject).

have

The verb agrees with storms.

Sentence 5

Fixing the damage caused by the storms (has/have) already cost the city nearly a million dollars.

The verb agrees with (the simple subject).

has

The verb agrees with fixing.

Sentence 6

One of the new employees working on my projects (needs/need) to be fired due to his incompetence.

The verb agrees with (the simple subject).

needs

The verb agrees with one (of the new employees).

Sentence 7

The number of violent crimes in major American cities (has/have) declined steadily in recent years

The verb agrees with (the simple subject).

has

The verb agrees with (the) number.

Sentence 8

The high cost of living in many South American countries (has/have) led to financial strain for those with lower incomes.

The verb agrees with (the simple subject).

has

The verb agrees with (the high) cost.

Sentence 9

Acquiring advanced language skills usually (take/takes) a great deal of practice and patience.

The verb agrees with (the simple subject).

takes

The verb agrees with acquiring

Sentence 10

A large number of patients (has/have) been admitted to the hospital due to the flu outbreak.

The verb agrees with (the simple subject).

have

The verb agrees with patients.
(Note. “A number” in this sentence works the same as “a lot” or “many.”)

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