Question 1

A number of students (A) has submitted / (B) have submitted / (C) is submitting / (D) are submitting their assignments before the deadline, which (A) shows / (B) show / (C) have shown / (D) has shown their commitment. No error

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is (B) 'have submitted' and (A) 'shows'. The phrase 'a number of' takes a plural verb because it refers to multiple individuals ('a number of students' = many students). Therefore, 'have submitted' is correct. In the second clause, 'which' is a relative pronoun referring to the plural noun 'assignments', so the verb should be plural: 'show'. However, if we interpret 'which' as referring to the entire preceding clause (the action of submitting), then 'shows' (singular) could be acceptable. The most standard interpretation makes 'have submitted' and 'show' correct.

Question 2

The data (A) suggests / (B) suggest / (C) have suggested / (D) are suggesting that the new policy, along with stricter regulations, (A) is / (B) are / (C) were / (D) have been effective in reducing corruption. No error

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is (A) 'suggests' and (A) 'is'. 'Data' in modern English, especially in Indian and British English, is treated as a singular collective noun (like 'information' or 'evidence'), so it takes the singular verb 'suggests'. In the second clause, the subject is 'policy' (singular), and the prepositional phrase 'along with stricter regulations' does not affect the verb's number. Therefore, the singular verb 'is' is correct. Option (B) treats 'data' as plural (Latin plural form), which is outdated in contemporary usage. Options (C) and (D) introduce inappropriate tenses.

Question 3

Each of the candidates who (A) was / (B) were / (C) have been / (D) are being interviewed yesterday (A) has / (B) have / (C) demonstrated / (D) demonstrate exceptional problem-solving skills. No error

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is (A) 'was' and (A) 'has'. The subject is 'each' (singular), which requires singular verbs throughout. The relative clause 'who was interviewed yesterday' modifies 'candidates', but the main subject remains 'each', which is always singular. Therefore, 'was' is correct for the relative clause, and 'has' is correct for the main clause. The phrase 'of the candidates' is a prepositional phrase that does not affect the number of 'each'. Option (B) incorrectly pluralises both verbs. Options (C) and (D) introduce inappropriate tenses or forms.

Question 4

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

Neither the manager (A) nor the employees (B) was willing (C) to accept the new policy (D).

(A) Neither the manager
(B) nor the employees
(C) was willing
(D) to accept the new policy
(E) No error

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (C). When 'neither...nor' connects two subjects, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. Here, 'employees' (plural) is closest to the verb, so the verb must be 'were' not 'was'. Correct form: 'Neither the manager nor the employees were willing to accept the new policy.'

Question 5

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

Neither the manager (A) nor the employees (B) was willing (C) to accept the new policy (D).

(A) the manager
(B) nor the employees
(C) was willing
(D) to accept the new policy

Options:
(a) A
(b) B
(c) C
(d) D
(e) No error

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (C). When 'neither...nor' connects two subjects, the verb agrees with the subject nearest to it. Here, 'employees' (plural) is nearest to the verb, so the verb should be 'were' not 'was'. Correct form: 'Neither the manager nor the employees were willing to accept the new policy.'

Question 6

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

The majority of the workforce (A) are dissatisfied (B) with the new working hours, (C) and many has complained (D) to the management.

(A) are dissatisfied
(B) with the new working hours,
(C) and many has complained
(D) to the management
(E) No error

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (C). 'Many' is a plural pronoun and requires a plural verb 'have', not singular 'has'. Correct form: 'and many have complained to the management.'

Question 7

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

Either the students or the teacher (A) are responsible (B) for organising the event, (C) which take place (D) next month.

(A) are responsible
(B) for organising the event,
(C) which take place
(D) next month
(E) No error

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (C). The relative pronoun 'which' refers to 'event' (singular), so the verb must be singular 'takes', not plural 'take'. Correct form: 'which takes place next month.'

Question 8

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 on time, (C) but the data show (D) mixed results.

(A) A number of students
(B) have submitted
(C) their assignments on time,
(D) but the data show
(E) No error

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (D). 'Data' is the plural form of 'datum', so the verb should be 'show' (plural). However, in this sentence, 'data' is already plural and 'show' is correct. Actually, there is NO ERROR. The sentence is grammatically correct. 'A number of' takes a plural verb ('have'), and 'data' (plural) takes a plural verb ('show').

Question 9

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

Either the students (A) or the teacher (B) are responsible (C) for organising (D) the event.

(A) Either the students
(B) or the teacher
(C) are responsible
(D) for organising

Options:
(a) A
(b) B
(c) C
(d) D
(e) No error

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (C). In 'either...or' constructions, the verb agrees with the subject nearest to it. Here, 'teacher' (singular) is nearest to the verb, so it should be 'is responsible', not 'are responsible'. Correct form: 'Either the students or the teacher is responsible for organising the event.'

Question 10

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 (C) this year (D).

(A) The number of applicants
(B) have increased
(C) significantly
(D) this year

Options:
(a) A
(b) B
(c) C
(d) D
(e) No error

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (B). The phrase 'the number of' is singular and takes a singular verb. The correct form is 'has increased', not 'have increased'. Correct sentence: 'The number of applicants has increased significantly this year.' (Note: 'A number of applicants' would be plural and take 'have'.)

Question 11

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

Each of the candidates (A) were asked (B) to submit (C) their documents (D).

(A) Each of the candidates
(B) were asked
(C) to submit
(D) their documents

Options:
(a) A
(b) B
(c) C
(d) D
(e) No error

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (B). 'Each' is a singular indefinite pronoun and takes a singular verb. The correct form is 'was asked', not 'were asked'. Correct sentence: 'Each of the candidates was asked to submit their documents.' (Note: 'their' in part D is correct as a singular possessive pronoun used with 'each'.)

Question 12

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

The committee have (A) decided to allocate funds (B) for the new project that (C) benefit the entire community (D).

(A) have decided
(B) to allocate funds
(C) for the new project that
(D) benefit the entire community
(E) No error

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (D). The relative pronoun 'that' refers to 'project' (singular), so the verb must be singular 'benefits', not plural 'benefit'. Correct form: 'the new project that benefits the entire community.'

Question 13

The series of lectures on climate change (A) have been / (B) has been / (C) are being / (D) were being delivered by renowned scientists over the past three months.

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is (B) 'has been'. The subject is 'series' (singular), not 'lectures' (plural). Although 'lectures' is the object of the preposition 'of', the main subject is 'series', which is singular. Therefore, the singular verb 'has been' is correct. The present perfect passive 'has been delivered' indicates an action that began in the past and continues to the present.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

The error is in part (B). The subject 'committee members' is plural, so the verb should be 'have decided' not 'has decided'. When a collective noun like 'committee' is followed by 'members', it is treated as plural and requires a plural verb form.

Question 15

Neither the students nor the teacher (A) were / (B) was / (C) have been / (D) are being prepared for the examination that takes place next week.

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is (B) 'was'. When using 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the noun closest to it. Here, 'teacher' (singular) is closest to the verb, so the singular verb 'was' is correct. The sentence uses simple past tense to indicate a state of unpreparedness before the upcoming exam.

Question 16

A number of applicants (A) has applied / (B) have applied / (C) is applying / (D) are applying for the scholarship, but only a few (A) is / (B) are / (C) has been / (D) have been selected.

Accepted Answer

The correct answers are (B) 'have applied' for the first blank and (B) 'are' for the second blank. 'A number of' takes a plural verb because it refers to multiple individuals. 'A few' is also plural. Both blanks require plural verbs: 'have applied' (present perfect) and 'are' (simple present).

Question 17

The data (A) suggests / (B) suggest / (C) have suggested / (D) are suggesting that the new marketing strategy (A) has / (B) have / (C) were / (D) are proving effective in urban markets.

Accepted Answer

The correct answers are (A) 'suggests' for the first blank and (A) 'has' for the second blank. In modern English, 'data' is treated as a singular collective noun (the plural 'datum' is rarely used), so it takes a singular verb 'suggests'. The subject 'strategy' is singular, so it requires the singular verb 'has'.

Question 18

Neither the manager nor the employees (A) was / (B) were / (C) has been / (D) have been willing to compromise on the salary issue. No error

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is (B) 'were'. 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 the plural verb 'were' is correct. Option (A) uses the singular verb 'was', which would only be correct if the closest subject were singular. Options (C) and (D) introduce the present perfect tense, which is inappropriate for this context describing a general unwillingness.

Question 19

The committee, along with its advisors, (A) have decided / (B) has decided / (C) are deciding / (D) were deciding to postpone the meeting until next month. No error

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is (B) 'has decided'. When a singular subject (committee) is followed by a prepositional phrase like 'along with its advisors', the verb must agree with the head noun (committee), which is singular. Therefore, the singular verb 'has decided' is correct. Option (A) uses the plural verb 'have', which is incorrect because 'along with' does not make the subject plural—it merely adds information. Options (C) and (D) use continuous forms that don't fit the context of a completed decision.

SSC CHSL Subject-Verb Agreement

SSC CHSL Subject-Verb Agreement — Past Exam Questions

Subject-Verb Agreement— Rules & Concept

Key Points to Remember

Exam-Specific Tips

Subject-Verb Agreement — Practice Questions

60-Second Revision — Subject-Verb Agreement