Verb Tense and Agreement Flashcards

Choose the sentence in which the subject and verb agree correctly.

Answer: Neither the captain nor the lieutenants were notified in time.

With 'neither...nor,' the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. 'The lieutenants' (plural) is closest, so the verb must be plural: 'were.'

Select the sentence that correctly uses the past perfect tense.

Answer: By the time the reinforcements arrived, the unit had already secured the perimeter.

The past perfect ('had secured') is used for an action completed before another past action. The perimeter was secured before the reinforcements arrived.

Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement involving a collective noun.

Answer: The committee has reached a unanimous decision.

In American English, collective nouns like 'committee' take singular verbs when acting as a unit. 'Has reached' (singular) is correct.

Which sentence correctly uses a passive voice construction?

Answer: The new regulations were announced by headquarters yesterday.

Passive voice is formed with 'be + past participle.' 'Were announced' correctly uses the plural 'were' to agree with 'the new regulations' (plural subject).

Choose the sentence that correctly uses a conditional verb form.

Answer: If the sergeant had reviewed the plan, he would have identified the error.

Type 3 (past unreal) conditionals require 'if + past perfect' in the condition clause and 'would have + past participle' in the result clause.

Select the sentence with correct agreement when the subject is separated from the verb.

Answer: The list of required documents was distributed to all applicants.

The subject is 'the list' (singular), not 'documents.' A prepositional phrase ('of required documents') does not change the number of the subject.