Question 1

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) interested in attending the conference, (C) so the event (D) was postponed indefinitely.

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (A). When a singular subject and a plural subject are joined by 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the subject nearest to it. Here, 'employees' (plural) is nearest to the verb, so the correct form is 'were' not 'was'. The sentence should read: 'Neither the manager nor the employees were interested in attending the conference.'

Question 2

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).

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

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (B). The phrase 'the number of' is always treated as singular, regardless of the plural noun that follows it. The correct verb form should be 'has increased' instead of 'have increased'. The sentence should read: 'The number of applicants has increased significantly...'

Question 3

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

A number of students (A) have submitted (B) their assignments (C) on time (D).

(A) A number of students
(B) have submitted
(C) their assignments
(D) on time
(E) No error

Accepted Answer

There is no error in this sentence. 'A number of' (meaning 'several') is treated as plural and takes the plural verb 'have submitted'. This is different from 'the number of', which is always singular. The sentence is grammatically correct: 'A number of students have submitted their assignments on time.'

Question 4

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

The committee (A) have decided (B) to implement new policies (C) across all departments (D).

(A) The committee
(B) have decided
(C) to implement new policies
(D) across all departments
(E) No error

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (B). 'Committee' is a collective noun that takes a singular verb in British English when the group acts as a single unit. The correct form should be 'has decided' instead of 'have decided'. In this context, the committee is functioning as one entity making a unified decision, so the singular verb 'has' is required.

Question 5

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

Either the director or the supervisors (A) is (B) responsible for (C) monitoring the project progress (D).

(A) is
(B) responsible for
(C) monitoring the project progress
(D) No error

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (A). When using 'either...or', the verb must agree with the subject closest to it. Here, 'supervisors' (plural) is closest to the verb, so the correct form should be 'are' instead of 'is'. The sentence should read: 'Either the director or the supervisors are responsible...'

Question 6

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) satisfied with (C) the new working conditions (D).

(A) was
(B) satisfied with
(C) the new working conditions
(D) No error

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (A). When using 'neither...nor', the verb must agree with the subject closest to it. Here, 'employees' (plural) is closest to the verb, so the correct form should be 'were' instead of 'was'. The sentence should read: 'Neither the manager nor the employees were satisfied...'

Question 7

Neither the manager nor the employees (A) wants / (B) want / (C) are wanting / (D) have wanted to attend the mandatory training session. No error

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is (B) 'want'. When two subjects are joined by 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. Here, 'employees' (plural) is closest to the verb, so a plural verb is required. 'Wants' (A) is singular and incorrect. 'Are wanting' (C) uses continuous aspect unnecessarily. 'Have wanted' (D) uses present perfect without proper context.

Question 8

The committee, along with the board members, (A) have decided / (B) has decided / (C) are deciding / (D) were deciding to implement the new policy next quarter. No error

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is (B) 'has decided'. The subject is 'committee' (singular), and the phrase 'along with the board members' is a parenthetical addition that does not affect subject-verb agreement. A singular subject requires a singular verb form. 'Have decided' (A) treats the subject as plural. 'Are deciding' (C) and 'were deciding' (D) use incorrect tense and number.

Question 9

The series of lectures on quantum physics (A) have been / (B) has been / (C) are being / (D) were scheduled for next month. No error

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is (B) 'has been'. The subject is 'series' (singular), not 'lectures'. Although 'lectures' is plural, it is the object of the preposition 'of' and does not affect the verb. A singular subject requires a singular verb in passive voice: 'has been scheduled'. 'Have been' (A) is plural and incorrect. 'Are being' (C) and 'were' (D) are also incorrect in number and/or tense.

Question 10

A number of applicants (A) has applied / (B) have applied / (C) is applying / (D) are being applied for the senior analyst position. No error

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is (B) 'have applied'. The phrase 'a number of' is treated as a plural construction and requires a plural verb. Although 'number' is singular, the phrase 'a number of' idiomatically takes a plural verb. 'Has applied' (A) is singular and incorrect. 'Is applying' (C) is singular and uses the wrong tense. 'Are being applied' (D) changes the meaning to passive voice, which is incorrect.

Question 11

The research team, which includes experts from five countries, (A) are conducting / (B) is conducting / (C) have conducted / (D) were conducting a comprehensive study on climate change. No error

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is (B) 'is conducting'. The subject is 'team' (singular), and the relative clause 'which includes experts from five countries' provides additional information but does not change the subject's number. A singular subject requires a singular verb in present continuous tense. 'Are conducting' (A) is plural and incorrect. 'Have conducted' (C) uses present perfect, which is incorrect for an ongoing action. 'Were conducting' (D) uses past tense without justification.

Question 12

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

(A) Each of the students in the two classes / (B) have been asked to submit / (C) their project reports / (D) by next Friday. / No error

Accepted Answer

The error lies in part (B). The subject 'Each of the students' is singular, so the verb should be 'has been asked' instead of 'have been asked'. When 'each' or 'every' precedes a noun phrase, the subject is treated as singular regardless of the plural noun that follows.

Question 13

The majority of the workforce (A) have expressed their concerns about the new policy, and the management (B) are considering their feedback seriously. (C) Each of the team members (D) have been assigned specific responsibilities. No error

Accepted Answer

In part (A), 'majority' is a collective noun that can take either singular or plural verbs depending on context. When 'majority' refers to the group as a unit, use singular 'has'; when it emphasizes individual members, use plural 'have'. Here, 'have expressed their concerns' suggests individual action, so 'have' is acceptable. However, in part (B), 'management are considering' — 'management' is a collective noun, and in British English, it can take plural verbs, but in standard formal English, 'is considering' is more appropriate. Actually, let me reconsider: in part (D), 'Each of the team members have been assigned' — 'each' is singular, so the verb should be 'has been assigned', not 'have been assigned'. So the error is in part (D).

Question 14

The committee, which comprises representatives from five different departments, (A) have decided to postpone the annual conference. (B) The decision, along with the recommendations, (C) were announced yesterday by the chairperson. (D) No error

Accepted Answer

In part (A), the subject 'committee' is singular and requires the singular verb 'has' instead of 'have'. Although 'committee' contains multiple members, it functions as a single collective noun in this context and takes a singular verb. Parts (B), (C), and (D) are grammatically correct: 'The decision, along with the recommendations' is a singular subject (the phrase 'along with' does not create a compound subject) requiring the singular verb 'were' is incorrect—it should be 'was'. Wait, let me re-examine: 'The decision, along with the recommendations, were announced' — here 'decision' is the head noun (singular), and 'along with the recommendations' is a parenthetical phrase. The verb should be 'was', not 'were'. So the error is in part (C).

Question 15

Neither the manager nor the employees (A) was willing to compromise, which (B) have created a deadlock situation. (C) The union, as well as the workers, (D) are demanding immediate negotiations. No error

Accepted Answer

In part (A), 'Neither...nor' is a correlative conjunction that requires the verb to agree with the nearest subject. Here, 'employees' (plural) is nearest, so the verb should be 'were', not 'was'. However, let me check part (B): 'which have created' — the relative pronoun 'which' refers to the entire preceding clause (the manager and employees not being willing to compromise), which is singular in meaning, so the verb should be 'has', not 'have'. Actually, 'which' refers to the situation/fact, which is singular, so 'has created' is correct. Let me reconsider part (A): with 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the nearest subject. 'Employees' is plural and nearest, so 'were' is needed. But the sentence says 'was', which is wrong. So the error is in part (A).

Question 16

The number of applicants who (A) has applied for the scholarship (B) are increasing every year, which (C) have prompted the university to revise its selection criteria. (D) No error

Accepted Answer

In part (A), 'who has applied' is correct because 'who' refers to 'applicants' (plural), so it should be 'have applied', not 'has applied'. Wait, let me reconsider: 'The number of applicants' — 'number' is the head noun (singular), so 'has applied' is correct. But 'who' is a relative pronoun referring to 'applicants' (plural), so it should be 'have applied'. Actually, the rule is: the relative pronoun agrees with its antecedent. Here, 'who' refers to 'applicants' (plural), so 'have applied' is correct, not 'has applied'. So part (A) has an error. Let me also check part (C): 'which have prompted' — 'which' refers to the entire preceding clause (the increasing number), which is singular, so it should be 'has prompted', not 'have prompted'. So part (C) also has an error. The primary error is in part (A).

Question 17

The series of lectures that (A) was delivered by the renowned economist (B) have been highly appreciated by the students. (C) The data collected from the survey (D) suggests that consumer behaviour are changing rapidly. No error

Accepted Answer

In part (A), 'series' is the head noun (singular), so 'was delivered' is correct. In part (B), 'have been' is incorrect because the subject 'series' is singular, so it should be 'has been'. Wait, let me reconsider: 'The series of lectures...have been appreciated' — 'series' is singular, so 'has been' is required, not 'have been'. So the error is in part (B). Let me also check part (D): 'The data...are changing' — 'data' is often treated as plural in British English, but in modern usage, it can be singular. However, 'behaviour' is singular, so 'are changing' is incorrect; it should be 'is changing'. Actually, 'consumer behaviour' is singular, so the verb should be 'is', not 'are'. So the error is in part (D).

SBI PO 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