Syntax subject – predicate agreement

Ex. 1 Insert the right form of the verb in the Present Simple form.

1. His wages _______ from year to year (grow). 2. The trousers you’ve bought _____ not fit you (do). 3. Passers-by ______ along the street (hurry). 4. The clothes ______ quite comfortable for everyday wear (look). 5. The government’s politics ____ to be discussed with the president (be). 6. Today’s news _____ amazing (be). 7. The only means of transportation ____ by bus (be). 8. Measles ____ a catching disease (be). 9. The phenomena you talk about ____ not completely clear (be). 10. Her hair ____ long and curly (be). 11. I know that the money ____ somewhere here (be). 12. Police _______ people from criminals (protect). 13. The furniture in the house ____ old but comfortable (be). 14. In winter the snow _______ everything here (cover). 15. Phonetics ____ one of the subjects we study (be). 16. The people who have invited me to the exhibition _______ to discuss it with me (want). 17. My family ____ very friendly (be). 18. There ____ some money in my purse (be).

Ex. 2. Insert the right form of the verb in the Present Simple form.

1. Either her brothers or her father ____ the money (have). 2. Neither her aunt nor her cousins _______ this man (know). 3. One of the students in our group _______ from the Far East (come). 4. Neither his wife nor his son _______ anything about his job (know). 5. The president and his wife ____ going to attend this ceremony (be). 6. Neither my parents nor my sister _______ such shows (like). 7. My cousins and I _____ on a trip every summer (go). 8. My sister or brother always _______ me with Math (help). 9. Not only my parents but also my Granny _______ gardening (like). 10. Either he or you _______ to tell the truth (have). 11. John as well as his two sisters ____ fond of dogs (be). 12. Mary together with other students regularly __________ in sports competitions (participate). 13. Quite a number of students _______ in the lab (study). 14. The number of the participants _______ steadily (grow).

Ex. 3. Insert the right form of the verb in the Present Simple form.

1. Everyone ________ to be liked (want). 2. Each of the dishes ________ delicious (taste). 3. Every student ________ nervous before the exam (feel). 4. Almost everyone in our group ______ a part-time job (have). 5. Everybody in the streets today _______ jolly (look). 6. Each decision you make ________ doubtful (seem). 7. Nobody I know ____ going to attend this meeting (be). 8. One of the best ways to go there ____ by train (be). 9. Every child ______ school at the age of six or seven (start). 10. No child ____ allowed to leave the territory of the camp alone (be). 11. I am sure, somebody ________ the facts (know). 12. Everybody _____ present, aren’t they (be)?

Ex.4. Insert the right form of the verb in the Present Simple form.

1. The bunch of flowers she wants to buy ____ very expensive (be). 2. All the people in my family ______ to go hiking (like). 3. All the information ____ published in the newspapers (be). 4. There ____ a box of books in the basement (be). 5. Both John and Peter ______ to become engineers (plan). 6. A great deal of this information ____ already known to the public (be). 7. The have turned down our proposals; they say none ______ them (suit). 8. A large amount of work ____ done by our partners (be). 9. Several points of your report ______ unclear (seem). 10. Some food here ______ strange (taste). 11. Who ______ this car (drive)? 12. What ____ your problem (be)? 13. Who ____ these people (be)? 14. Who ______ part in the performance (take)? 15. The books that you need ____ difficult to get (be). 16. It ____ the students who take care of the campus (be).

Ex.5. Insert the right form of the verb.

1. World literature _______ many great humorists (knows/ know). 2. Our only guide _______ the stars (was, were). 3. It ____ my cousins who suddenly called on me (was, were). 4. Ten plus five _____ fifteen (is, are). 5. There ____ a magazine and several newspapers on the table (is, are). 6. There ______ a lot of juice in the fridge (is, are). 7. There _______ stamps and an envelope on the desk (is, are). 8. Another two days _______ (passes, pass). 9. Five dollars ______ not a lot of money (is, are). 10. The number of people waiting outside ______ not large (is, are). 11. The clothes _______ second-hand (looks, look). 12. One of the examples ______ how to use this verb (shows, show).