Subject-antecedent agreement is a critical element of English grammar that ensures that the subject and its corresponding verb are in agreement in terms of number and person. In other words, it means that the subject and the verb must work together to ensure that the sentence is grammatically correct. As such, it is important to understand this concept in order to avoid any confusion and miscommunication.
To test your knowledge of subject-antecedent agreement, we’ve prepared a quiz to give you a clear understanding of this grammar rule. This quiz will cover different aspects of subject-antecedent agreement, including singular and plural nouns, collective nouns, indefinite pronouns, and more.
Before we dive into the quiz, it’s important to have a clear understanding of what a subject and an antecedent are. The subject refers to the person, place, or thing that performs the action of the sentence, while the antecedent is the noun or pronoun that the pronoun refers to.
Now, let’s get started with the quiz:
1. Choose the correct verb to fill in the blank:
The group of friends _____ going to the movies later.
a) is
b) are
Answer: a) is
Explanation: “Group of friends” is a collective noun, and collective nouns are usually treated as singular entities.
2. Choose the correct verb to fill in the blank:
Each of the students _____ a backpack.
a) have
b) has
Answer: b) has
Explanation: “Each” is an indefinite pronoun that refers to a singular subject, which requires a singular verb form.
3. Choose the correct verb to fill in the blank:
Neither John nor his friends _____ interested in going to the party.
a) is
b) are
Answer: a) is
Explanation: The subject closest to the verb “is” is “John,” which is singular.
4. Choose the correct verb to fill in the blank:
Some of the people in the crowd _____ cheering for the home team.
a) is
b) are
Answer: b) are
Explanation: “Some of the people” indicates a group of people, and therefore requires the plural verb form “are.”
5. Choose the correct verb to fill in the blank:
Any of the books on the shelf _____ worth reading.
a) is
b) are
Answer: a) is
Explanation: “Any” is an indefinite pronoun that refers to a singular subject, which requires a singular verb form.
In conclusion, subject-antecedent agreement is an essential grammar rule that every writer must understand to ensure that their writing is clear, concise, and grammatically correct. Knowing how to apply this rule will help you avoid errors that can undermine the effectiveness of your writing. By taking this quiz, you can test your knowledge of subject-antecedent agreement and gain a better understanding of how to use it appropriately.