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Subject/Verb Agreement Part 3

Last updated over 5 years ago
10 questions
Rule 6. In sentences beginning with here or there, the true subject follows the verb.
Examples: There are four hurdles to jump. There is a high hurdle to jump. Here are the keys.

NOTE:
The word there's, a contraction of there is, leads to bad habits in informal sentences like There's a lot of people here today, because it's easier to say "there's" than "there are." Take care never to use there's with a plural subject.
Rule 7. Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc., when considered as a unit.
Examples: Three miles is too far to walk. Five years is the maximum sentence for that offense. Ten dollars is a high price to pay. BUT Ten dollars (i.e., dollar bills) were scattered on the floor.
1

There (was, were) fifteen candies in that bag.

1

Now there (is, are) only one left!

1

Eight dollars (is, are) the price of a movie these days.

1

Mathematics (is, are) John's favorite subject, while Civics (is, are) Andrea's favorite subject.

1

Mustard greens (is, are) my favorite vegetable.

1

Rice and beans, my favorite dish, (is, are) from my native country, Puerto Rico.

1

Here (is, are) the mail and newspapers that I picked up for you while you were on vacation.

1

Politics (is, are) sometimes a dirty business.

1

Here (stand, stands) Tonya and Robert, the two students who scored 100 percent on the subject-verb agreement quiz.

1

Fifty miles (is, are) is a long distance.