As a copy editor, it is essential to have a thorough understanding of grammar, particularly subject-verb agreement. This is because incorrect subject-verb agreement can lead to confusion and misunderstanding in written communication.
To improve your understanding of subject-verb agreement, it is important to practice exercises that involve identifying and correcting errors related to this grammar rule. In this article, we provide an English exercise that will help you enhance your knowledge and skills in subject-verb agreement.
Exercise:
Identify the correct verb form that agrees with the subject in each sentence.
1. The group of students (is, are) preparing for their final exams.
2. The piece of cake on the table (look, looks) delicious.
3. The list of ingredients (need, needs) to be updated.
4. The team of players (has, have) been training for months.
5. The collection of paintings (show, shows) the artist`s journey.
6. The series of books (has, have) won several awards.
7. The pack of wolves (hunt, hunts) for food in groups.
8. The pile of papers (need, needs) to be sorted and filed.
9. The bundle of cloth (is, are) ready for sewing.
10. The fleet of ships (battle, battles) the stormy seas.
Answer Key:
1. The group of students is preparing for their final exams.
2. The piece of cake on the table looks delicious.
3. The list of ingredients needs to be updated.
4. The team of players has been training for months.
5. The collection of paintings shows the artist`s journey.
6. The series of books has won several awards.
7. The pack of wolves hunts for food in groups.
8. The pile of papers needs to be sorted and filed.
9. The bundle of cloth is ready for sewing.
10. The fleet of ships battles the stormy seas.
Explanation:
In sentence 1, the subject « group » is singular, so the verb « is » is the correct form to use. In sentence 2, the subject « piece » is singular, so the verb « looks » is the correct form to use. In sentence 3, the subject « list » is singular, so the verb « needs » is the correct form to use. In sentence 4, the subject « team » is singular, so the verb « has » is the correct form to use. In sentence 5, the subject « collection » is singular, so the verb « shows » is the correct form to use. In sentence 6, the subject « series » is singular, so the verb « has » is the correct form to use. In sentence 7, the subject « pack » is singular, so the verb « hunts » is the correct form to use. In sentence 8, the subject « pile » is singular, so the verb « needs » is the correct form to use. In sentence 9, the subject « bundle » is singular, so the verb « is » is the correct form to use. In sentence 10, the subject « fleet » is singular, so the verb « battles » is the correct form to use.
Conclusion:
Practicing exercises like this one will help you identify and correct subject-verb agreement errors more easily. This will not only improve your editing skills but also lead to more effective written communication. As a copy editor, it is important to be well-versed in grammar and maintain a high level of accuracy in everything you edit.