A sentence with a blank for its verb, and four forms of that verb. Two things decide the answer: the time words, which choose the tense, and the real subject, which chooses singular or plural. This lesson teaches how to read both, the time words that settle most questions, and the agreement rules that the traps are built on.
A tense question gives a sentence with a blank for the verb and four forms of that verb. It is NTA's "choosing the correct word", with a verb in the blank. The paper asks only a few grammar questions of its own, but the same two rules decide most error-spotting and sentence-improvement questions too, so they are worth learning well.
Two questions settle almost every blank:
Answer them in that order, and three of the four options usually fall away.
| When the sentence has | The verb takes | Example |
|---|---|---|
| yesterday, last year, ago, in 2019 | the simple past | We visited Agra two years ago. |
| since 2019, for ten years (up to now) | the present perfect | He has lived here since 2019. |
| already, yet, just, ever, never | the present perfect | She has not finished yet. |
| every day, usually, always | the simple present | He goes for a walk every day. |
| now, look!, listen!, at the moment | the present continuous | Look! The baby is smiling. |
| by the time, before (two past events) | the past perfect for the earlier one | The film had started before we arrived. |
| by next June, by the end of March | the future perfect | They will have finished by March. |
The present perfect ("has done") joins the past to now, so it never takes a finished time: "I have seen him yesterday" is wrong, and so is "she has returned last week". This is the mistake the paper sets most often.
"Since" needs a starting point (since Monday, since 2015); "for" needs a length of time (for three days). Neither goes with a simple present: "I live here since 2015" is wrong.
Example 1 · Two past events
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
By the time we reached the cinema, the film ______.
Options: already starts; has already started; had already started; was already starting.
Two things happened in the past: the film started, and then we reached. The one that happened first takes the past perfect.
"Has already started" is present perfect, which cannot sit beside the past "reached". "Already starts" is present.
"Had already started".
Verbs for a state rather than an action are not used in the continuous: know, believe, understand, like, love, want, belong, own, seem, and taste or smell when they describe a thing. "I am knowing him for years" is wrong twice: it should be "I have known him for years".
| The situation | The "if" part | The result | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| real, in the future | present | will + verb | If it rains, we will stay in. |
| imagined, now | past (were for be) | would + verb | If I were you, I would apologise. |
| a past that did not happen | had + past participle | would have + past participle | If she had left on time, she would have caught the bus. |
"Will" and "would" never go in the "if" part. The same holds after when, before, until, as soon as and unless when they point to the future: "when I reach, I will call", never "when I will reach".
Cross out everything between the subject and the verb: phrases with "of", "who" or "which" clauses, and additions with "along with" or "as well as". What is left decides the verb.
Example 2 · A phrase in the way
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
The number of students in our school ______ grown this year.
Options: have; has; are; were.
The subject is "the number", a count, which is singular. "Of students" only says what is being counted.
"Have" agrees with "students", the word next to the blank, which is the trap.
"Has": the number has grown. Compare "a number of students have come", where "a number of" means "many".
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| each, every, everyone, someone, nobody | two subjects joined by "and" |
| each of, one of, neither of, either of + a plural noun | police, people, cattle, children |
| the number of | a number of |
| news, mathematics, physics, politics | scissors, trousers, glasses |
| furniture, information, luggage, advice, work | |
| many a + a singular noun | many + a plural noun |
| an amount taken as one: ten kilometres, fifty rupees |
Two more rules come up often:
Exam shortcut
When two nouns joined by "and" name one thing, the verb is singular: "bread and butter is my breakfast". When "each" or "every" stands before them, it is singular too: "every boy and every girl gets a book".
Tense
Agreement
Traps
The same rules find most mistakes in spotting the error, where the verb is the part that is wrong more often than any other.
80 questions, grouped by type, easy to hard. Pick an answer and check it. The worked solution opens when you ask for it.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
My uncle ______ in Pune since 2019.
AnswerD · has lived
"Since 2019" runs from a point in the past up to now, and that needs the present perfect: "has lived".
Worth noting
"Lives" and "is living" are present tenses, and neither can take "since". "Lived" would mean he no longer lives there, which "since" does not allow.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
We ______ the Taj Mahal two years ago.
AnswerB · visited
"Two years ago" names a finished time in the past, so the simple past is needed: "visited".
Worth noting
"Have visited" is the tempting one, but the present perfect never takes a word like "ago", "yesterday" or "last year".
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Look! The baby ______ at you.
AnswerA · is smiling
"Look!" shows that the action is happening right now, so the present continuous is needed: "is smiling".
Worth noting
"Smiles" is for a habit, such as "the baby smiles a lot". It does not describe this moment.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
The sun ______ in the east.
AnswerC · rises
A fact that is always true takes the simple present: "rises".
Worth noting
"Is rising" describes one morning, as in "look, the sun is rising". A general truth is simple present.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Did you ______ the match last night?
AnswerB · watch
After "did", the verb always goes back to its plain form: "did you watch".
Worth noting
"Watched" is the trap: "did" already shows the past, so the verb does not show it again.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
I ______ a book when the lights went out.
AnswerA · was reading
One action was going on (reading) when a shorter one interrupted it (the lights went out). The longer action takes the past continuous: "was reading".
Worth noting
"Am reading" is present and "will read" is future, but "went out" puts the whole sentence in the past.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
When I reach the station, I ______ you.
AnswerD · will call
The main clause is about the future, so it takes "will call". The time clause "when I reach" stays in the present.
Worth noting
"Would have called" is for something that did not happen in the past. It does not fit a plan for later.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Listen! Someone ______ at the door.
AnswerA · is knocking
"Listen!" shows the sound is happening right now, so the present continuous is needed: "is knocking".
Worth noting
"Knocks" describes a habit, not a sound you can hear at this moment.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Water ______ at 100 degrees Celsius at sea level.
AnswerC · boils
A scientific fact is always true, so it takes the simple present: "boils".
Worth noting
"Is boiling" describes one pot on the stove right now, not the general fact.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
My sister ______ her homework yet.
AnswerD · has not finished
"Yet" in a negative sentence asks about the time up to now, which needs the present perfect: "has not finished".
Worth noting
"Does not finish" is for a habit, and "was not finishing" for a moment in the past. "Yet" looks at the time up to now.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Last Sunday, we ______ to the zoo with our cousins.
AnswerB · went
"Last Sunday" is a finished time in the past, so the simple past is needed: "went".
Worth noting
"Have gone" is the trap, but the present perfect never takes "last Sunday".
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
She ______ tea every morning, but today she is drinking coffee.
AnswerB · drinks
"Every morning" is a habit, so the simple present is needed: "drinks". The second half, "today she is drinking", is about now.
Worth noting
"Is drinking" is used for today in the second half of the sentence. For the everyday habit, the tense is the simple present.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
I have ______ this film three times already.
AnswerC · seen
"Have" is followed by the past participle: see, saw, seen. So it is "have seen".
Worth noting
"Saw" is the simple past, which stands alone: "I saw it". After "have", it must be "seen".
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
They ______ football when it started to rain.
AnswerD · were playing
The game was going on when the rain began, so the longer action takes the past continuous: "were playing".
Worth noting
"Are playing" is present, but "started" puts the sentence in the past.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
By the time we reached the cinema, the film ______.
AnswerC · had already started
Two past events: the film started first, and we reached later. The earlier of two past actions takes the past perfect: "had already started".
Worth noting
"Has already started" is present perfect, which cannot sit beside the past "reached".
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
She ______ for this company for ten years, and she still enjoys it.
AnswerD · has been working
"For ten years" with "still" means the work began in the past and goes on now. That needs the present perfect continuous: "has been working".
Worth noting
"Worked" would mean the work is over, but "she still enjoys it" says it is not.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
If it rains tomorrow, we ______ the picnic.
AnswerC · will cancel
This is a real possibility in the future. The "if" part takes the present ("rains") and the result takes "will": "will cancel".
Worth noting
"Would cancel" is for an imagined situation, as in "if it rained, we would cancel". It does not match the present "rains".
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
If I ______ you, I would apologise to her.
AnswerB · were
"If I were you" gives advice by imagining a situation that is not real. It takes "were", with "would" in the result.
Worth noting
"Am" is for a real condition. Nobody can really be someone else, so the sentence needs "were".
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
I ______ Ravi since we were in school together.
AnswerA · have known
"Since" needs the present perfect: "have known". "Know" is a state, not an action, so it is not used in the continuous.
Worth noting
"Am knowing" is wrong twice: "know" does not take -ing, and a present tense cannot take "since".
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
The train to Chennai ______ at 6:15 tomorrow morning, so set an alarm.
AnswerC · leaves
A fixed timetable for the future takes the simple present: "the train leaves at 6:15 tomorrow".
Worth noting
"Left", "has left" and "had left" are all past forms, and "tomorrow morning" is in the future.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
The bell has already ______, so hurry up.
AnswerA · rung
"Has" is followed by the past participle. The forms are ring, rang, rung, so it is "has rung".
Worth noting
"Rang" is the simple past, used alone: "the bell rang". After "has", it must be "rung".
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Every evening, my grandfather ______ for a walk along the canal.
AnswerD · goes
"Every evening" describes a habit, and a present habit takes the simple present: "goes".
Worth noting
"Is going" describes one evening, now or planned. A habit is simple present.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
The patient ______ before the doctor arrived.
AnswerA · had died
The death came first and the doctor's arrival later. The earlier of two past events takes the past perfect: "had died".
Worth noting
"Has died" is present perfect, which cannot sit beside the past "arrived". "Dies" and "is dying" are present.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
It ______ since morning, and the streets are flooded.
AnswerB · has been raining
"Since morning" with a result now (the flooded streets) means the rain started in the past and is still going on. That is the present perfect continuous: "has been raining".
Worth noting
"Is raining" says only that it is raining now. It cannot take "since".
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Unless you ______ harder, you will not pass the exam.
AnswerD · work
"Unless" means "if not", and like "if" it takes the present when it is about the future: "unless you work harder".
Worth noting
"Will work" is the trap: "will" goes in the result ("you will not pass"), never after "unless" or "if".
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
If I had a car, I ______ you to the airport.
AnswerC · would drive
"If I had a car" imagines something that is not true now. The result takes "would" with the plain verb: "would drive".
Worth noting
"Will drive" is for a real condition, as in "if I have the car, I will drive you". "Had" makes this an imagined one.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
This soup ______ delicious. Who made it?
AnswerA · tastes
"Taste" here describes how the soup is, not an action, so it is a state verb and takes the simple present: "tastes".
Worth noting
"Is tasting" is used for the action of a person trying food, as in "the chef is tasting the soup". Soup cannot do that.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
She was tired because she ______ all day.
AnswerB · had been working
The work went on for a long time before a past moment (when she was tired), which takes the past perfect continuous: "had been working".
Worth noting
"Has worked" and "is working" are present forms, but "was tired" sets the whole sentence in the past.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
By the time we return from our trip, the children ______ their exams.
AnswerD · will have finished
"By the time we return" is a point in the future, and the exams will be over before it. That takes the future perfect: "will have finished".
Worth noting
"Had finished" looks back from a point in the past, and "we return" is in the future.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Ananya ______ her leg while she was playing basketball.
AnswerA · broke
The short action (breaking her leg) happened during a longer one (playing). The short action takes the simple past: "broke".
Worth noting
"Was breaking" is the trap. A sudden event like breaking a bone takes the simple past; the continuous is for the longer action around it.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
If she had left home on time, she ______ the bus.
AnswerB · would have caught
"Had left" is the past perfect, so this is a past that did not happen. The result takes "would have" with the past participle: "would have caught".
Worth noting
"Would catch" belongs to an imagined present or future, as in "if she left now, she would catch it". It does not match "had left".
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
By next June, my parents ______ married for twenty-five years.
AnswerC · will have been
"By next June" looks back from a point in the future over a length of time. That needs the future perfect: "will have been".
Worth noting
"Will be married" says only that they will be married in June. It cannot take "for twenty-five years".
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
I wish I ______ how to swim; everyone else is in the pool.
AnswerA · knew
A wish about the present that is not true takes the past form: "I wish I knew". (I do not know, and I wish I did.)
Worth noting
"Know" is the trap: it is present in meaning, but after "I wish" a present regret goes one step back into the past.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Tired after the long walk, he ______ down under a tree and fell asleep.
AnswerB · lay
"To lie down" means to rest your body, and its past is "lay": "he lay down".
Worth noting
"Laid" is the past of "lay", which means to put something down, as in "she laid the book on the table". "Lied" means told a lie.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
No sooner ______ the door than the phone began to ring.
AnswerD · had I opened
"No sooner" at the start of a sentence turns the verb round, so the helping verb comes before the subject: "no sooner had I opened ... than".
Worth noting
"I had opened" has the right tense, but after "no sooner" the order must be "had I". "Did I opened" puts a past verb after "did".
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Hardly had we sat down to eat when the guests ______.
AnswerC · arrived
In "hardly had ... when", the first event takes the past perfect ("had we sat") and the second, which came after it, takes the simple past: "arrived".
Worth noting
"Had arrived" would put both events at the same earlier time. The guests came after we sat down, so their arrival is simple past.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
If you had told me about the problem, I ______ you.
AnswerB · would have helped
"If you had told me" describes a past that did not happen. The result takes "would have" with the past participle: "would have helped".
Worth noting
"Would help" belongs to an imagined present, as in "if you told me, I would help". "Had told" needs "would have helped".
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
The building ______ when the earthquake struck, so no one was inside.
AnswerD · was still being built
The work was in progress at that moment, and the building received the action. That needs the past continuous passive: "was being built".
Worth noting
"Was still built" says the building was finished, which cannot be "still" going on. "Had been building" makes the building the builder.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
I would rather you ______ the truth now than later.
AnswerC · told
"I would rather you" is followed by the past form, even when it is about the present or future: "I would rather you told me".
Worth noting
"Tell" is the trap. After "I would rather" and a person, the verb goes into the past form, as it does after "I wish".
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Scarcely ______ the stage when the lights failed.
AnswerA · had the singer reached
"Scarcely" at the start turns the verb round, so "had" comes before the subject: "scarcely had the singer reached ... when".
Worth noting
"The singer had reached" has the right tense but the normal order, which "scarcely" does not allow at the start. "Did ... reached" puts a past verb after "did".
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Each of the students ______ a library card.
AnswerB · has
The subject is "each", which is singular, so the verb is singular: "has". "Of the students" only says which group.
Worth noting
"Have" agrees with "students", the word next to the blank. But the verb agrees with "each".
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
The news of their wedding ______ everyone happy.
AnswerC · has made
"News" looks plural but is a singular noun, so it takes a singular verb: "has made".
Worth noting
The -s on "news" is the trap. "The news is good", never "the news are good".
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
There ______ many books on the top shelf.
AnswerA · are
After "there", the verb agrees with the noun that follows it. "Many books" is plural, so "there are".
Worth noting
"Is" and "was" are singular, which would fit "there is a book", not "many books".
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
My brother and I ______ to the same school.
AnswerD · go
Two subjects joined by "and" make a plural subject, so the verb is plural: "go".
Worth noting
"Goes" agrees with "I" or "my brother" alone. Together, they are "we", and we go.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Everyone in the class ______ the answer.
AnswerC · knows
"Everyone" means every single person, and it takes a singular verb: "knows".
Worth noting
"Everyone" sounds like many people, which is why "know" tempts. Grammatically it is singular, like "everybody" and "each".
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Mathematics ______ my favourite subject.
AnswerD · is
"Mathematics" is the name of one subject, and it takes a singular verb: "is". So do physics, economics and politics as subjects.
Worth noting
The -s at the end makes it look plural, but a subject of study is one thing.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
The scissors ______ in the top drawer.
AnswerB · are
"Scissors" is a plural noun, like trousers, glasses and spectacles, so it takes a plural verb: "are".
Worth noting
A pair of scissors is one object, which is why "is" tempts. But "scissors" alone is plural. "A pair of scissors is" would be singular.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
One of my friends ______ in Canada.
AnswerA · lives
The subject is "one", which is singular, so the verb is singular: "lives".
Worth noting
"Friends" is right before the blank, but it is not the subject. One friend lives there.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
The price of vegetables ______ gone up again.
AnswerC · has
The subject is "the price", which is singular, so "has gone up".
Worth noting
"Vegetables" is plural, but it only says what price. The verb agrees with "price".
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
My glasses ______ broken, so I cannot read the board.
AnswerB · are
"Glasses" meaning spectacles is always plural, so it takes a plural verb: "are".
Worth noting
"Is" treats the glasses as one object. "My pair of glasses is broken" would be singular, but "my glasses" is plural.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Somebody ______ left an umbrella on the bus.
AnswerD · has
"Somebody" is singular, like "someone", "anybody" and "nobody", so the verb is singular: "has".
Worth noting
We do not know who it was, which makes "have" tempting. The word itself is still singular.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
The children ______ playing in the garden.
AnswerC · are
"Children" is the plural of "child", so it takes a plural verb: "are".
Worth noting
"Children" has no -s, which is why "is" can tempt. It is plural all the same.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
The information you gave us ______ very useful.
AnswerD · was
"Information" cannot be counted, so it takes a singular verb: "was".
Worth noting
"Informations" is not a word. We say "a piece of information" when we need to count it.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
The quality of the mangoes ______ poor this year.
AnswerA · is
The subject is "quality", not "mangoes", so the verb is singular: "is". "Of the mangoes" only says whose quality.
Worth noting
"Mangoes" stands right before the blank, which is why a plural verb tempts. Always find the real subject first.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
The captain, along with his players, ______ the chief guest at the gate.
AnswerB · was greeting
The subject is "the captain". A phrase with "along with", "as well as" or "together with" does not change it, so the verb is singular: "was greeting".
Worth noting
"Along with his players" makes the group sound plural. It is only an extra, and the verb follows the captain.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
A number of people ______ waiting outside the hall.
AnswerD · are
"A number of" means "many", so it takes a plural verb: "are".
Worth noting
"The number of" is different: it means a count and takes a singular verb, as in "the number of people is large".
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
The number of students in our school ______ grown this year.
AnswerC · has
"The number of" means a count, which is one thing, so the verb is singular: "has".
Worth noting
"Students" is plural, but it is not the subject. "A number of students have" would be right; "the number of students has".
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Either the teacher or the students ______ to blame for the noise.
AnswerA · are
With "either ... or", the verb agrees with the nearer subject. The nearer one is "the students", which is plural, so "are".
Worth noting
"Is" agrees with "the teacher", but the teacher is further from the verb. Swap them and it becomes "either the students or the teacher is".
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Neither the players nor the coach ______ happy with the result.
AnswerC · was
With "neither ... nor", the verb agrees with the nearer subject. The nearer one is "the coach", which is singular, so "was".
Worth noting
"Were" agrees with "the players", which is further from the verb.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Bread and butter ______ my usual breakfast.
AnswerA · is
"Bread and butter" is one dish eaten together, so it takes a singular verb: "is".
Worth noting
Two nouns joined by "and" are usually plural. But when they name one thing, like "bread and butter" or "rice and dal" as a meal, the verb is singular.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Ten kilometres ______ a long way to walk in this heat.
AnswerD · is
"Ten kilometres" here is one distance, taken as a whole, so it takes a singular verb: "is".
Worth noting
"Kilometres" is plural in form, but an amount of distance, money or time taken as one quantity is singular, as in "fifty rupees is too much".
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
The boy who won the prizes ______ my cousin.
AnswerA · is
The subject is "the boy", which is singular, so the verb is "is". "Who won the prizes" only says which boy.
Worth noting
"The prizes" is plural and stands right before the blank, but it belongs to the "who" part, not to the subject.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Neither of the two roads ______ to the station.
AnswerB · leads
"Neither of" means not one and not the other, and in careful English it takes a singular verb: "leads".
Worth noting
"Lead" agrees with "roads". But the subject is "neither", which is singular, as "each" and "either" are.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
The committee ______ its report to the principal yesterday.
AnswerC · submitted
"Yesterday" needs the simple past, and "submitted" is the same for one or many. "Its report" shows the committee is acting as one body.
Worth noting
"Have submitted" cannot take "yesterday", and "submits" is present.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Rice and wheat ______ grown in this district.
AnswerD · are
Rice and wheat are two different crops, so the subject is plural: "are grown".
Worth noting
"Is" would treat the two as one thing, as "bread and butter" is one dish. Two crops are two things.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Fifty rupees ______ too much for a cup of tea.
AnswerA · is
"Fifty rupees" here is one sum of money, so it takes a singular verb: "is".
Worth noting
"Rupees" is plural in form, but the sentence is about one price, not fifty coins.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Every boy and every girl ______ a free textbook.
AnswerB · gets
When "every" or "each" comes before subjects joined by "and", the verb is singular: "gets". Each child gets one.
Worth noting
Two subjects joined by "and" are usually plural, which is why "get" tempts. "Every" makes each of them singular.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
The teacher, as well as her students, ______ excited about the trip.
AnswerB · is
The subject is "the teacher". "As well as her students" is an extra and does not change it, so the verb is singular: "is".
Worth noting
"As well as" is not the same as "and". "The teacher and her students are" would be plural.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
The luggage ______ been put on the train.
AnswerA · has
"Luggage" cannot be counted and takes a singular verb: "has".
Worth noting
Luggage may be many bags, but the word is singular. "Luggages" is not used.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Many a student ______ failed this paper.
AnswerB · has
"Many a" is always followed by a singular noun and a singular verb: "many a student has".
Worth noting
"Many" alone takes a plural, as in "many students have". "Many a" means the same, but grammatically it is singular.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Two-thirds of the cake ______ already been eaten.
AnswerC · has
With a fraction, the verb agrees with the noun after "of". "The cake" is singular, so "has".
Worth noting
"Two-thirds" sounds plural. Compare "two-thirds of the students have", where the noun after "of" is plural.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
The furniture in these rooms ______ been polished.
AnswerD · has
"Furniture" cannot be counted and has no plural, so it takes a singular verb: "has". So do information, luggage, advice and equipment.
Worth noting
"These rooms" is plural, but the subject is "furniture". "Furnitures" is not a word.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
The police ______ questioning the witnesses.
AnswerB · are
"Police" is always plural in English, so it takes a plural verb: "the police are".
Worth noting
"The police is" is a common mistake. "Police" has no -s, but it always means the officers, never one.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Not only the students but also their principal ______ invited to the ceremony.
AnswerA · was
With "not only ... but also", the verb agrees with the nearer subject, which is "their principal": singular, so "was".
Worth noting
"Were" agrees with "the students", which are further from the verb.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Half of the students ______ absent today because of the rain.
AnswerD · are
With "half of", the verb agrees with the noun after "of". "The students" is plural, so "are".
Worth noting
"Half" looks like one part, which tempts "is". Compare "half of the cake is left", where the noun is singular.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
Politics ______ never interested my grandmother.
AnswerC · has
"Politics" as a subject or activity is singular, like "economics" and "mathematics", so "has".
Worth noting
The -s ending makes it look plural. As one field of life, politics is singular.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
The cattle ______ grazing in the field behind the school.
AnswerD · are
"Cattle" is always plural, so it takes a plural verb: "are". It has no singular form; one animal is a cow or a bull.
Worth noting
"Cattle" has no -s, which makes "is" tempting. Like "police" and "people", it is plural without one.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
The pair of shoes that I bought last week ______ already torn.
AnswerA · is
The subject is "the pair", which is one thing, so the verb is singular: "is".
Worth noting
"Shoes" is plural and stands near the verb, but it only says what the pair is of. "My shoes are torn" would be plural; "the pair of shoes is".
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
The cost of the repairs, including the new pipes, ______ more than we expected.
AnswerB · was
The subject is "the cost", which is singular, so "was". "Of the repairs, including the new pipes" only adds detail.
Worth noting
Two plural nouns ("repairs", "pipes") stand between the subject and the verb. Neither is the subject.
Choose the correct form of the verb to fill the blank.
A lot of work ______ still to be done before the fair.
AnswerC · is
With "a lot of", the verb agrees with the noun after it. "Work" cannot be counted, so the verb is singular: "is".
Worth noting
"A lot of" sounds plural, but it follows its noun. Compare "a lot of people are", where the noun is plural.
NTA's English syllabus is one page. It names two skill areas: Reading Comprehension, with three kinds of passage of at most 300 words each (factual, narrative and literary), and Verbal Ability, with four item types (rearranging the parts, match the following, choosing the correct word, synonyms and antonyms). It says the questions are not limited to these, and prints no chapters and no split of the 50 questions. So the chapters here are ours. Reading is split by the kind of passage, because a poem is not read the way a report is. Verbal Ability is split into three areas of our own: Vocabulary, Sentence & paragraph order, and Grammar & usage. Where a chapter covers something past NTA's short list, it says so, and it is there because the papers since 2022 have asked it.