Question 1

In the following sentence, one part is underlined. Identify the part that contains a grammatical error.

(A) Neither the manager nor the employees / (B) was / (C) satisfied with / (D) the salary revision. / No error

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (B). When using 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the nearest subject. Here, 'employees' (plural) is nearest to the verb, so it should be 'were' not 'was'.

Question 2

In the following sentence, one part is underlined. Identify the part that contains a grammatical error.

(A) Each of the students / (B) have completed / (C) their assignments / (D) on time. / No error

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (B). The subject 'Each of the students' is singular, so the verb must be 'has' not 'have'. Rule: Singular subjects (each, every, either, neither) always take singular verbs, even when followed by a plural noun in a prepositional phrase.

Question 3

The quality of the mangoes (A) / sold in this market (B) / are not (C) / up to the mark. (D)

Accepted Answer

The subject of the sentence is 'The quality' (singular), not 'mangoes'. The prepositional phrase 'of the mangoes sold in this market' is a modifier and does not change the number of the subject. Therefore, the verb must be singular: 'is not' instead of 'are not'. Rule: The verb agrees with the true subject, not with the noun closest to it.

Question 4

Either the principal or the teachers (A) / is responsible (B) / for ensuring that (C) / the students attend classes regularly. (D) No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (B). When using 'either...or', the verb must agree with the nearest subject. Here, 'teachers' (plural) is nearest to the verb, so the correct form should be 'are responsible' instead of 'is responsible'. The rule is: with 'either...or', the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

Question 5

Neither the manager nor the employees (A) / was (B) / satisfied with the new policy (C) / announced yesterday. (D) No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (B). When using 'neither...nor', the verb must agree with the nearest subject. Here, 'employees' (plural) is nearest to the verb, so the correct form should be 'were' instead of 'was'. The rule is: with 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

Question 6

In the following sentence, one part is underlined. Identify the part that contains a grammatical error.

(A) Either the principal or the teachers / (B) is / (C) responsible for / (D) organising the annual event. / No error

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (B). With 'either...or', the verb agrees with the nearest subject. Here, 'teachers' (plural) is nearest, so the verb should be 'are' not 'is'.

Question 7

In the following sentence, one part is underlined. Identify the part that contains a grammatical error.

(A) The committee / (B) have decided / (C) to implement / (D) new policies. / No error

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (B). 'The committee' is a collective noun that functions as a singular unit in British English, requiring the singular verb 'has' instead of 'have'. In Indian English, collective nouns are typically treated as singular.

Question 8

The committee (A) / have decided (B) / to postpone the meeting (C) / until next month. (D) No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (B). 'Committee' is a collective noun that takes a singular verb in British English when treated as a single unit. The correct form should be 'has decided' instead of 'have decided'. In British English, collective nouns (committee, team, group, jury) are typically treated as singular entities and require singular verbs.

Question 9

In the following sentence, one part is underlined. Identify the part that contains a grammatical error.

(A) The number of applicants / (B) have increased / (C) significantly / (D) this year. / No error

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (B). 'The number of' is always singular and requires the singular verb 'has' not 'have'. (Note: 'A number of' is plural and takes 'have'.)

Question 10

In the following sentence, four parts are underlined. Identify the part that contains a grammatical error.

Either the principal or the teachers (A) is (B) responsible for organizing (C) the annual function. (D) No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (B). When using 'either...or', the verb must agree with the subject closest to it. Here, 'teachers' (plural) is closest to the verb, so the verb should be 'are' instead of 'is'. Correct form: 'Either the principal or the teachers are responsible for organizing the annual function.'

Question 11

In the following sentence, four parts are underlined. Identify the part that contains a grammatical error.

The committee (A) have decided (B) to postpone the meeting (C) until next week. (D) No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (B). 'Committee' is a collective noun that, in British English, takes a plural verb when the members are acting individually. However, in this context, 'the committee' refers to the body as a single unit making a decision, so it should take a singular verb 'has' instead of 'have'. Correct form: 'The committee has decided to postpone the meeting until next week.'

Question 12

In the following sentence, one part is underlined. Identify the part that contains a grammatical error.

The team of players (A) / are preparing (B) / for the national championship (C) / next month. (D) / No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (B). The subject 'team' is a collective noun that is singular in form and should take a singular verb. The correct form is 'is preparing' not 'are preparing'. In British English, collective nouns like 'team', 'group', 'committee' are treated as singular units and require singular verbs.

Question 13

In the following sentence, four parts are underlined. Identify the part that contains a grammatical error.

The number of applicants (A) have increased (B) significantly this year (C) compared to last year. (D) No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (B). 'The number of' is a singular phrase and requires a singular verb. Although 'applicants' is plural, 'number' is the head noun and is singular. The correct form should be 'has increased' instead of 'have increased'. Correct sentence: 'The number of applicants has increased significantly this year compared to last year.'

Question 14

In the following sentence, four parts are underlined. Identify the part that contains a grammatical error.

Each of the students (A) have submitted (B) their assignment (C) on time. (D) No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (B). 'Each' is a singular indefinite pronoun, and the verb must be singular. Although 'students' is plural, 'each' takes precedence in the subject. The correct form should be 'has submitted' instead of 'have submitted'. Correct sentence: 'Each of the students has submitted their assignment on time.'

Question 15

In the following sentence, four parts are underlined. Identify the part that contains a grammatical error.

Neither the manager nor the employees (A) was (B) present at the conference (C) yesterday. (D) No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (B). When using 'neither...nor', the verb must agree with the subject closest to it. Here, 'employees' (plural) is closest to the verb, so the verb should be 'were' instead of 'was'. Correct form: 'Neither the manager nor the employees were present at the conference yesterday.'

Question 16

In the following sentence, one part is underlined. Identify the part that contains a grammatical error.

Either the manager or the employees (A) / has to (B) / attend the meeting (C) / on Friday evening. (D) / No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (B). When using 'either...or', the verb agrees with the nearest subject. Here, 'employees' (plural) is nearest to the verb, so it should be 'have to' not 'has to'. The correct form is: 'Either the manager or the employees have to attend the meeting on Friday evening.'

Question 17

In the following sentence, one part is underlined. Identify the part that contains a grammatical error.

The number of applicants (A) / have increased (B) / significantly this year (C) / compared to last year. (D) / No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (B). The phrase 'the number of' is always singular, even though it refers to multiple items. The correct verb form is 'has increased' not 'have increased'. The sentence should read: 'The number of applicants has increased significantly this year compared to last year.'

Question 18

In the following sentence, one part is underlined. Identify the part that contains a grammatical error.

Neither the principal nor the teachers (A) / was aware (B) / of the new policy (C) / announced yesterday. (D) / No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (B). With 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the nearest subject. Here, 'teachers' (plural) is nearest to the verb, so it should be 'were aware' not 'was aware'. The correct form is: 'Neither the principal nor the teachers were aware of the new policy announced yesterday.'

Question 19

In the following sentence, one part is underlined. Identify the part that contains a grammatical error.

The committee (A) / have decided (B) / to implement new rules (C) / for the organisation. (D) / No error (E)

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (B). In British English, 'committee' is a collective noun and is treated as singular, requiring a singular verb. The correct form is 'has decided' not 'have decided'. The sentence should read: 'The committee has decided to implement new rules for the organisation.'

Question 20

In the following sentence, one part is underlined. Identify the part that contains a grammatical error.

(A) Each of the students in the classroom / (B) have completed / (C) their assignments / (D) on time. / No error

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (B). The subject 'Each of the students' is singular, so the verb must be singular 'has', not plural 'have'. When 'each' is used as the subject (even with a prepositional phrase following it), the verb must agree with the singular subject 'each'.

CISF Constable Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-Verb Agreement— Rules & Concept

Key Points to Remember

Exam-Specific Tips

Subject-Verb Agreement — Practice Questions

60-Second Revision — Subject-Verb Agreement