Test Your Skills: Identify SVA Errors in Analytical Writing

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🔍 Basic Principle: Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs. For example: *The dog barks* (singular) vs. *The dogs bark* (plural).
• 💡 Compound Subjects: Subjects joined by "and" usually take a plural verb. Example: *John and Mary are going to the store.*
• 📝 Exceptions to 'And': If the compound subject refers to one idea, use a singular verb. Example: *Mac and cheese is my favorite food.*
• 👥 Collective Nouns: These nouns (team, family, committee) can be singular or plural depending on context. If acting as a unit, singular. If acting individually, plural. Example: *The team is playing well.* vs. *The team are arguing about their salaries.*
• 📐 Intervening Phrases: Phrases between the subject and verb don't affect the verb. Example: *The box of cookies is on the table.* (The subject is *box*, not *cookies*).
• ❓ Indefinite Pronouns: Some indefinite pronouns (each, every, anyone, someone, nobody) are always singular. Others (some, all, none, any, most) can be singular or plural depending on what they refer to. Example: *Each of the students is responsible.* vs. *Some of the students are absent.*
• 🔗 'Or' and 'Nor': When subjects are joined by "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. Example: *Neither the students nor the teacher is happy.* vs. *Neither the teacher nor the students are happy.*

Practice Quiz

1. Which sentence contains a subject-verb agreement error?
   1. A. The cat sleeps on the windowsill.
   2. B. My friends and I are going to the beach.
   3. C. The team are playing very well tonight.
   4. D. She enjoys reading novels in her free time.
2. Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.
   1. A. Each of the students have a different opinion.
   2. B. The data suggests further investigation is needed.
   3. C. Neither John nor his brothers is going to the party.
   4. D. The dog, along with its puppies, are sleeping soundly.
3. Identify the sentence with the SVA error.
   1. A. The quality of the recordings is excellent.
   2. B. There is many reasons to be optimistic.
   3. C. The effects of climate change are becoming evident.
   4. D. My sister and her husband live in New York.
4. Which sentence is grammatically correct?
   1. A. Physics are a difficult subject for many students.
   2. B. The news were shocking to everyone.
   3. C. Mathematics is my favorite subject.
   4. D. Statistics are sometimes misleading.
5. Select the sentence that demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement with a collective noun.
   1. A. The family is deciding where to go on vacation.
   2. B. The family are eating dinner together.
   3. C. The committee has submitted their report.
   4. D. The audience were clapping enthusiastically.
6. Find the incorrect SVA usage.
   1. A. All of the cake was eaten.
   2. B. Some of the apples is rotten.
   3. C. None of the information was relevant.
   4. D. Most of the water is gone.
7. Which sentence has no errors in subject-verb agreement?
   1. A. There's several options available.
   2. B. The price of gas have increased dramatically.
   3. C. A number of students is absent today.
   4. D. One of my friends is a doctor.