Subject-verb agreement can become more challenging when dealing with complex sentence structures, indefinite pronouns, collective nouns, and when the subject and verb are separated by intervening phrases. Here are some harder examples to illustrate these situations:
1. Complex Sentences:
- The book that I lent to my friend is one of her favorites.
- The team, along with their coach, is arriving late for the game.
2. Indefinite Pronouns:
- Each of the students has finished their assignments.
- Neither of the options is suitable for our needs.
3. Collective Nouns:
- The jury has reached its verdict.
- The committee is divided on the issue.
4. Intervening Phrases:
- The car, along with its passengers, was stuck in traffic.
- The dog, as well as the cats, has been fed.
5. Singular Indefinite Pronouns:
- Somebody needs to bring their identification.
- Everybody is responsible for cleaning up after themselves.
6. Compound Subjects with "Or" and "Nor":
- Neither the manager nor the employees are attending the conference.
- Either the laptop or the tablet is compatible with the software.
7. Plural Indefinite Pronouns:
- Both have their reasons for supporting the proposal.
- Several have voiced their concerns.
8. Expressions of Quantity:
- A majority of the population is in favor of the new policy.
- The number of visitors has increased significantly.
Remember that subject-verb agreement is about making sure the verb agrees with the subject in terms of number (singular or plural). It's important to pay attention to the number of the subject and use the appropriate form of the verb to ensure grammatical correctness in more challenging sentence constructions.
