Lesson 3: CONJUNCTIONS Part 1: Part 2: Practice
1. Read the following sentences and correct the underlined parts in the space provided.
1. Jacky and Sam has agreed to extend the contract. ________
2. Neither she nor I commutes to work by subway. ________
3. He or you is expected to do the presentation. ________
4. His education and his work experience is suitable for this job. ________
5. Either you or your boss have to take responsibility. ________
6. Not only English but also French are necessary to do the job. ________
2. Look at the hints given and choose the correct option to complete each sentence.
1. The auditorium as well as the libraries ________ being renovated. A is B are C have D has 2. The directors
and the sales representatives ________ on a business trip every month. A going B goes C go D is going
3. Choose the correct option for each of the following sentences.
1. The piano as well as the pipe organ …………. to be tuned for the big concert. A has B have
2. The mayor together with his two brothers …………. going to be indicted for accepting bribes. A are B is
3. Neither of my two suitcases …………. adequate for this trip. A is B are
4. There …………. a list of committee members on the head-table. A are B is
5. Everybody in the class …………. done the homework well in advance. A has B have
6. The jury …………. their seats in the courtroom. A take B takes
7. Neither the teacher nor the students …………. to understand this assignment. A seem B seems
8. …………. either my father or my brothers made a down-payment on the house? A has B have
9. Hartford is one of those cities that …………. working hard to reclaim a riverfront. A is B are
10. Some of the grain …………. gone bad. A have B has
11. John or his brother …………. going to be responsible for this. A are B is
12. A few of the students …………. doing so well they can skip the next course. A are B is
13. Either the committee on course design or the committee on college operations …………. these matters. A decide B decides
14. One of my instructors …………. written a letter of recommendation for me. A have B has
4. Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees with the subject.
1. Annie and her brothers (is, are) at school.
2. Either my mother or my father (is, are) coming to the meeting.
3. The dog or the cats (is, are) outside.
4. Either my shoes or your coat (is, are) always on the floor.
5. George and Tamara (doesn't, don't) want to see that movie.
6. Benito (doesn't, don't) know the answer.
7. One of my sisters (is, are) going on a trip to France.
8. The man with all the birds (live, lives) on my street.
9. The movie, including all the previews, (take, takes) about two hours to watch.
10. The players, as well as the captain, (want, wants) to win.
11. Either answer (is, are) acceptable.
12. Every one of those books (is, are) fiction.
13. Nobody (know, knows) the trouble I've seen.
14. (Is, Are) the news on at five or six?
15. Mathematics (is, are) John's favorite subject, while Civics (is, are) Andrea's favorite subject.
16. Eight dollars (is, are) the price of a movie these days.
17. (Is, Are) the tweezers in this drawer?
18. Your pants (is, are) at the cleaner's.
19. There (was, were) fifteen candies in that bag. Now there (is, are) only one left!
20. The committee (debates, debate) these questions carefully.
21. The committee (leads, lead) very different lives in private.
22. The Prime Minister, together with his wife, (greets, greet) the press cordially.
23. All of the CDs, even the scratched one, (is, are) in this case.
LESSON 4: Agreement in Tense
(of Main Clause and Subordinate Clause)
1. Choose the correct option for each sentence.
1. The president said that he (found / founded) the company in 2000.
2. I believe that the cost of living (is / was) too high last year.
3. He told us that he (participated / participates) in the training.
4. Mr. Taylor told me that he (works / worked) until 10 p.m. almost every day.
5. I found that some of my colleagues (are fired / had been fired).
2. Choose the correct option to complete each sentence.
1. He said that competent managers ________ their employees. A helping B help C to help D helps
2. The CEO announced that sales ________ for three years. A falls B fall C had fallen D have fallen
3. Choose one correct option in the parentheses.
1. Ms. Tracy (is preparing, was preparing) the annual report now.
2. Our CEO (will be attending, was attending) an important workshop at this time yesterday.
3. This time tomorrow, Chris (is attending, will be attending) an important conference.
4. She (worked, was working) on her report when the fire took place.
5. Mr. McCain (is returning, was returning) to Korea now.
6. We (were making, will be making) arrangements for the Trade Conference tomorrow.
7. Mr. Heath (has appointed, will have appointed) Richard Barth as a financial officer by next May.
8. Before the results came in, she (had already gone, will have already gone).
9. The price of gas (increases, has increased) considerably since 2000.
10. The revenue of the company (falls, has fallen) significantly for two years.
3. Choose the correct option for each of the following sentences.
1. The cost of living in the country …………. by 17 percent over the last 15 years. A will rise B has risen C rising D rise
2. Mr. Jantick …………. in the military for six months by the end of the year. A been served C will serve B has served D will have serv
3. Ms. Thomas …………. in the employee development session at 3 o'clock yesterday. A. participates C. is participating B. to participate D. was participating
4. The manufacturer …………. changes to its billing procedures now. A implements C implementing B implemented D is implementing
5. Wellton supermarket …………. its customers a 20 percent discount until Monday. A offered C will be offering B is offering D was offering
6. The memo informed us that the company …………. the renovation of the office next month. A is carrying out B has been carrying out C will be carrying out D is being carrying out PRACTICE:
EXERCISE 1: Underline the correct verb in the parentheses.
1. Almost everybody (has / have) some difficulty with writing.
2. Neither the chipmunk nor the squirrels (is / are) bothering us.
3. Both of us (is / are) voting in the next election.
4. Milo, Phoebe, and I (was / were) offering our help.
5. Neither of you (jump / jumps) to conclusions.
6. Some say the Indians (has / have) been treated unfairly.
7. There (was / were) only two choices on the menu.
8. Rudy as well as his cat (like / likes) milk.
9. He (is / are) my boss and friend.
10. Sunbathing (is / are) my favorite form of exercise.
11. Neither of us (has / have) to pay the fine.
12. The twins and their parents (travel / travels) together.
13. Nobody (believe / believes) your alibi.
14. America and Russia (is / are) the most powerful nations.
15. “Safe” and “out” (is / are) two calls in baseball.
16. Neither of them (dance / dances) to disco music.
17. Each (serve / serves) a different purpose.
18. The hammer as well as the saw (make / makes) work easier.
19. Jacques (was / were) working for his uncle last year.
20. Our team (play / plays) hard every night.
EXERCISE 2: Select the correct verb in each sentence.
1. Either the photographer or her companions (was, were) the first to see the gorilla.
2. Jill’s natural ability and her desire to help others (has, have) led to a career in the ministry.
3. Everybody who signed up for the ski trip (was, were) taking lessons.
4. Some of our luggage (was, were) lost.
5. None of his advice (make, makes) sense.
6. One out of every three sunsets (was, were) covered with clouds.
7. A ship and a plane (has, have) recently disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle.
8. The teeth in a crocodile’s mouth (is, are) sharp.
9. The leaders of the expedition (was, were) looking for a campsite.
10. The lions and the photographer (was, were) face to face.
11. During the trip macaroni and cheese (was, were) the favorite meal for the two drivers.
12. Measles (is, are) a contagious childhood disease.
13. On the side (is, are) political correspondents hoping for an interview.
14. The trunk of the elephant and the belly of the hippo (make, makes) me laugh.
15. A group of students (was, were) blocking the road.
16. Albert and Harry, members of a racing team, (drives, drive) across America.
17. The samples on the tray in the lab (need, needs) testing.
18. Billy (swim, swims) in the cold water often.
19. The Whale Shark, the largest of all sharks, (grow, grows) up to 38 feet long.
20. The board of trustees (meet, meets) in Denver on the first Tuesday of each month.
EXERCISE 3: Determine whether the verb is singular or plural and write your answer on your paper.
1. A tidal wave, despite its name, (is, are) not caused by the tides.
2. A network of warning signals (alert, alerts) people in coastal areas of a tidal wave.
3. Walls of earth and stone (is, are) often too weak to hold back the tide.
4. The height of tidal waves often (remain, remains) low.
5. The scientific name for tidal waves (is, are) tsunamis.
6. No one on either team (was, were) ever in a playoff.
7. Each of our neighbors (have, has) helped us plant trees in the community.
8. Someone with the store owners committee (donates, donate) the big trophy each year.
9. Everyone with an interest in sports (are, is) at the tryouts.
10. Neither of the movies (was, were) especially funny.
11. Many people throughout the world (claims, claim) to have seen objects in the sky.
12. However, no one (know, knows) for sure what they are.
13. Since 1947, they (has, have) been officially called unidentified flying objects.
14. The U.S. Air Force (was, were) responsible for conducting these investigations.
15. Most of the reported sightings (has, have) turned out to be fakes.
EXERCISE 4: Most of the following sentences have errors in subject-verb agreement. If a
verb does not agree with its subject, write the correct form of the verb. If a sentence is correct, write C.
1. Located in an ancient lake bed, Mexico City have been built on Aztec ruins.
2. Visitors admire the colorful paintings Diego Rivera at the National Palace.
3. In one of the city’s many subway stations, an Aztec pyramid still stand.
4. Sculptures grace the Alameda, which is Mexico City’s main park.
5. Usually, tourists is quite fascinated by the Great Temple of the Aztecs.
6. All of the shells in my collection was displayed.
7. She has shown her paintings throughout the world.
8. Pablo Picasso fill his paintings with color and energy.
9. His paintings is sold for millions of dollars.
10. All of the paintings in the museum is hands-off to observers.
EXERCISE 5: Determine whether the subject is singular or plural. Write the correct verb
form on the line provided.
1. The bowl of yellow roses (is, are) beautiful.
2. Several members of the team (plan, plans) to see the movie.
3. Most of the dogs in the fence (sleep, sleeps) all day.
4. Some of the papers (blow, blows) away when the door is opened.
5. The stranded walker (have, has) squeezed into my small car.
6. My grandmother’s cakes with the chocolate icing (is, are) the best.
7. Neither of the dogwood trees (bloom, blooms) until late in the year.
8. Everybody in the play (plans, plan) to attend the party.
9. No one in the loud hospital (hears, hear) the little boy’s cry for help.
10. All of the shells in my collection (was, were) displayed.
11. Most of our reading (was, were) done on weekends.
12. This news (was, were) just what Barbara wanted to hear.
13. Either Gordon or Ruben (knows, know) the right answer.
14. Since Mom repaired them, both of the radios (work, works).
15. My brother and my uncles (play, plays) baseball.