Exercise 1

1. We (WANTS/WANT) to go to the store with Mom because, on her own, she

never chooses Super Sugary Raspberry Freaks.
2. Do you know that those people with the purple clothes, purple hair, and purple
car (IS/ARE) our new neighbors?
3. "Did you go to the new gourmet deli to buy this marvelously green
pepperoni?" Zoe asked. She didn't realize that I (WAS/WERE) behind
schedule cleaning out my refrigerator.
4. Dogs (LIKE/LIKES) their food. Cats do, too, but they often are too uppity to
show it.
5. Each time I microwave a stuffed pepper for lunch, members of the office staff
(EXCLAIM/EXCLAIMS), "Can we have some, too?"

6. The survey showed that the highest percentage of adults, especially those
who are in their forties and fifties, (IS/ARE) now less confident of keeping
their jobs.
7. Many companies to which a former generation devoted its working life
(IS/ARE) now downsizing.
8. In the shift from manufacturing to service industries that the job force has
experienced, the majority of workers (SEEMS/SEEM) to have shifted as well
from experiencing relative security to experiencing insecurity.
9. High levels of worker turnover (CAUSE/CAUSES) large companies to institute
better training programs and benefits to try to retain workers.
10. The president of the savings and loan company, as well as his vice-president
and treasurer, (WAS/WERE) indicted for fraud.

Exercise 2

1. Either the physicians in this hospital or the chief administrator ____ going
to have to make a decision.
is
are
2. ______ my boss or my sisters in the union going to win this grievance?
Is
Are
3. Some of the votes __________ to have been miscounted.
seem
seems
4. The tornadoes that tear through this county every spring _____ more than just
a nuisance.
are
is
5. Everyone selected to serve on this jury _____ to be willing to give up a lot of
time.
have
has
6. Kara Wolters, together with her teammates, _________ a formidable
opponent on the basketball court.
presents
present
7. He seems to forget that there __________ things to be done before he can
graduate.
are
is
8. There _______ to be some people left in that town after yesterday's
flood.
have
has

9. Some of the grain __________ to be contaminated.

appear
appears
10. Three-quarters of the students __________ against the tuition hike.
is
are
11. Three-quarters of the student body __________ against the tuition hike.
is
are
12. A high percentage of the population _________ voting for the new school.
is
are
13. A high percentage of the people _________ voting for the new school.
was
were

Exercise 3

1
. Carlos is the only one of those students who __________ lived up to the
potential described in the yearbook.
has
have
2. The International Club, as well as the Choral Society and the Rowing Club,
__________ to submit a new constitution.
need
needs
3. One of my best friends _____________ an extra on Seinfeld this week.
are
is
4. Not only the students but also their instructor ________ been called to the
principal's office.
have
has
5. Most of the milk _____ gone bad. Six gallons of milk _______ still in the
refrigerator.
has ---- are
have ---- is
6. Each and every student and instructor in this building __________ for a new
facility by next year.
hope
hopes
7. The students and instructors each ________for a new facility by next year.
hopes
hope
8. Rice and beans, my favorite dish, __________ me of my native Puerto Rico.
remind
reminds

9. A large number of voters still ___________ along straight-party lines.

votes
vote
10. Four years _______ a long time to spend away from your friends and family.
are
is
11. Politics __________ sometimes a dirty business.
are
is
12. To an outsider, the economics of this country ________ to be in disarray.
seem
seems

Exercise 4

1 The price of these jeans ____ reasonable. (to be)

2. The books borrowed from the library ____ on my desk. (to be)
3. The boy who won the two medals ___ a friend of mine. (to be)
4. Bread and butter ____ our daily food. (to be)
5. The famous singer and composer ____ arrived. (to have)
6. Collecting match-boxes ___ one of his favourite pastimes. (to be)
7. The quality of the candies ___ poor. (to be)
8. Neither his father nor his mother ____ mahjong. (to play)
9. Neither parent ____ fond of playing mahjong. (to be)
10. None of my friends ___ there. (to be)

Exercise 5

1. Many a student ____ made the same mistake. (to have)

2. Gold, as well as platinum, ____ recently risen in price. (to have)
3. The boss, as well as his colleagues, ___ been robbed by the robber. (to have)
4. Ten tons ___ a heavy laod. (to be)
5. Fifty miles ____ a long distance. (to be)
6. Thirty years ___ a long time. (to be)
7. One of the books ___ been missing. (to have)
8. The poor ___ suffering. (to be)
9. You should decide which one of the three choices A, B, or C best _____the
question. (to answer)
1o. One of the most intelligent students who ____ score full marks ____ John.
(to score, to be)

Exercise 6

1. Emily and Greg (comes, come) to my house every Friday for lunch.
2. There (is, are) time to watch the movie.
3. My friends who are in the band (wants, want) me to play a musical
instrument.
4. My father or my brothers (is, are) coming with me to play a musical
instrument.
5. Everyone (needs, need) time to relax.
6. That bag of oranges (looks, look) fresh.
7. .The lacrosse team (hopes, hope) to the tournament next week.
8. Your trousers (needs, need) to be cleaned.
9. Some of the books on the shelf (is, are) dusty.
10. Even though the students like the class, a few (thinks, think) that it is too
complicated.

Exercise 7
1. Mumps (is, are) not common among adults.
2. Viruses from third world countries (is, are) a major concern.
3. Most of the sand (is, are) wet from the high tide.
4. Either the kittens or the puppy (sits, sit) in my lap while I watch television.
5. A subject of great interest (is, are) rainforests.
6. Hansel and Gretel (is, are) a famous children's story.
7. The team members (is, are) arguing over their defense tactics.
8. The economics of the trip (was, were) pleasing.
9. Why (is, are) your parents going to Africa for a vacation .
10. The mayor and the governor (hopes, hope) that the bill will soon become a
law.

Exercise 8
1. There ____________ several reasons why you should reconsider your
decision.
ARE
IS
2.
Howard and Vincent, who ____________ a copy center in town, have
decided to expand their business.
RUNS
RUN
3.
Both of the statues on the shelf ____________ broken.
ARE
IS

4. The fishing boat that has been tied up at the pier for three days
____________ finally on its way this morning.
WAS
WERE

5. The chairman, along with his two assistants, ____________ to attend the
annual convention.
PLAN
PLANS

6. The issues of inflation and tax reform ____________ to be on everyone's

mind.
CONTINUE
CONTINUES

7. Juan or Julian ____________ the conference room each week.

PREPARE
PREPARES

8. Not one of the performers ____________ at the party after the concert.
WERE
WAS

9. The results of the election ____________ not available for two days.
WERE
WAS

10. When there ____________ thunderstorms approaching, we are always

reminded of the threat of tornadoes.
IS
ARE

Exercise 9
1. Dr. Ferndon is one of those professors who ___________ distracted most of
the time.
SEEM
SEEMS
2. ___________ either Luis or his parents written to Angela?
HAVE
HAS
3. Neither Luis nor his parents ___________ the least bit interested in keeping in
touch with her.
IS
ARE
4. Everybody on this team ___________ really hard to please the new coach.
TRY
TRIES
5. Because there ___________ so many students in that class, I can sometimes
sleep in the back row.
ARE
IS

6. Neither traffic light--neither the one on Asylum Avenue nor the one on
Farmington Avenue-- ___________ working after the storm.
WAS
WERE
7. Mr. Bradley, along with his two sisters, ___________ lived in this town for
thirty years.
HAVE
HAS

8. There ___________ no reasons for this horrible development that I can see.
IS
ARE
9. Some of the water ___________ already gone bad.
HAVE
HAS
10. One of these students ___________ obviously cheated on the exam.
HAVE
HAS
11. Either the UConn Women's Team or the UConn Men's Team ___________
going to be national champion this year.
ARE
IS
12. Carlos and his brother Raoul ___________ traveling across the country next
summer.
IS
ARE

Exercise 10
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Everyone ( HAS / HAVE ) done his or her homework.

Somebody ( HAS / HAVE ) left her purse.
Some of the beads (IS / ARE) missing.
Some of the water (IS / ARE) gone.
None of you (CLAIM / CLAIMS) responsibility for this incident?
None of you (CLAIM / CLAIMS) responsibility for this incident?
None of the students ( HAS / HAVE ) done their homework. (In this last

example, the word their precludes the use of the singular verb.
8. Everyone ( HAS / HAVE ) finished his or her homework.
9. Each of the students (IS / ARE) responsible for doing his or her work in the
library.
10. The mayor as well as his brothers (IS / ARE) going to prison.
11. The mayor and his brothers (IS / ARE) going to jail.
12. Neither of the two traffic lights (IS / ARE) working.