Subject–Verb Agreement Collective Nouns MCQs for SSC, Banking, UPSC, PSC”

Subject–Verb Agreement: Collective Nouns – MCQs


Section A – Basic Rules (Q1–15)

  1. The team _______ playing well in the tournament.
    a) are
    b) is
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: b) is | Collective noun as single unit → singular verb
  2. The committee _______ meeting today.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Acting as one entity → singular verb
  3. The staff _______ on strike today.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) has
    Answer: b) are | Considering members individually → plural verb
  4. The audience _______ clapping loudly.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) has
    Answer: b) are | Plural sense → plural verb
  5. The team of players _______ winning the match.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Singular unit → singular verb
  6. The jury _______ delivering its verdict.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Treated as single entity → singular verb
  7. The class _______ excited about the trip.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Singular collective → singular verb
  8. The committee members _______ divided in opinion.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: b) are | Plural members → plural verb
  9. The team, along with its coach, _______ ready for the match.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | ‘Along with’ does not make subject plural
  10. The staff of the hospital _______ working round the clock.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Singular collective → singular verb
  11. The audience, despite the applause, _______ listening attentively.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: b) are | Plural sense → plural verb
  12. The orchestra _______ performing at the concert tonight.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Single unit → singular verb
  13. The class of students _______ attending the lecture.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Singular collective → singular verb
  14. The fleet of ships _______ anchored near the harbor.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Singular entity → singular verb
  15. The pack of wolves _______ hunting in the forest.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Singular unit → singular verb

Section B – Advanced / Tricky (Q16–30)

  1. The staff _______ divided over the new policy.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: b) are | Plural sense → plural verb
  2. The family _______ planning a vacation abroad.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Acting as a single unit → singular verb
  3. The police _______ investigating the case.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: b) are | Plural collective → plural verb
  4. The audience, though large, _______ silent.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: b) are | Plural sense → plural verb
  5. The team of scientists _______ discovering new elements.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Singular collective → singular verb
  6. The committee _______ yet to submit its report.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Singular entity → singular verb
  7. The staff of the school _______ attending the training session.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Singular collective → singular verb
  8. The band _______ performing at the annual festival.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Single group → singular verb
  9. The fleet of vehicles _______ moving slowly on the highway.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Singular entity → singular verb
  10. The team, together with its captain, _______ practicing hard.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | ‘Together with’ → singular verb
  11. The jury _______ split in opinion over the verdict.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: b) are | Members individually → plural verb
  12. The audience _______ giving a standing ovation.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: b) are | Plural sense → plural verb
  13. The pack of cards _______ lying on the table.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Singular → singular verb
  14. The committee members _______ attending the meeting individually.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: b) are | Plural → plural verb
  15. The orchestra members _______ tuning their instruments.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: b) are | Members individually → plural verb

Section C – Amounts, Percentages, Fractions (Q31–40)

  1. Ten percent of the students _______ absent today.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: b) are | Percent + plural noun → plural verb
  2. Ten percent of the sugar _______ used in the recipe.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Percent + uncountable noun → singular verb
  3. Half of the cake _______ eaten.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Fraction + singular noun → singular verb
  4. Half of the students _______ absent.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: b) are | Fraction + plural noun → plural verb
  5. Fifty percent of the work _______ completed.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Percent + uncountable → singular verb
  6. Fifty percent of the employees _______ present.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: b) are | Percent + plural noun → plural verb
  7. Ten rupees _______ enough to buy this book.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Amount as single unit → singular verb
  8. Fifty kilometers _______ too far to walk.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Distance as single unit → singular verb
  9. The United Nations _______ promoting peace worldwide.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Organization as single entity → singular verb
  10. The Board of Directors _______ meeting next week to discuss the budget.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Singular collective → singular verb

Advanced PYQ-Style Tricky SVA MCQs: Collective Nouns


Section A – Tricky Singular/Plural Collective Nouns (Q1–15)

  1. The staff of the hospital _______ attending a meeting.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Singular collective noun treated as a unit → singular verb
  2. The team _______ celebrating their victory.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) has
    Answer: b) are | Plural sense → considering members individually
  3. The committee, along with the chairman, _______ ready to present its report.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | ‘Along with’ does not make subject plural
  4. The audience, though large, _______ silent.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: b) are | Plural sense → verb agrees with members
  5. The jury _______ unable to reach a verdict.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Single entity → singular verb
  6. The team of engineers _______ working on the project.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Singular unit → singular verb
  7. The orchestra members _______ tuning their instruments.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: b) are | Individual members → plural verb
  8. The board of directors _______ meeting tomorrow to discuss the budget.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Collective noun as single unit → singular verb
  9. The staff _______ divided in opinion over the new rules.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: b) are | Plural sense → plural verb
  10. The audience _______ giving a standing ovation.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: b) are | Plural sense → plural verb
  11. The committee _______ yet to submit its report.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Singular entity → singular verb
  12. The class of students _______ excited about the excursion.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Singular collective → singular verb
  13. The police _______ investigating the robbery.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: b) are | Plural collective → plural verb
  14. The fleet of ships _______ anchored near the harbor.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) were
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Singular entity → singular verb
  15. The choir, as well as the conductor, _______ rehearsing for the concert.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | ‘As well as’ → singular verb

Section B – Amounts, Percentages, Fractions (Q16–30)

  1. Ten percent of the employees _______ absent today.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: b) are | Percent + plural noun → plural verb
  2. Ten percent of the sugar _______ used in the recipe.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Percent + uncountable noun → singular verb
  3. Half of the cake _______ eaten.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Fraction + singular noun → singular verb
  4. Half of the students _______ absent.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: b) are | Fraction + plural noun → plural verb
  5. Fifty percent of the work _______ completed.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Percent + uncountable → singular verb
  6. Fifty percent of the students _______ present in class.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: b) are | Percent + plural noun → plural verb
  7. Ten rupees _______ enough to buy this book.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Amount as single unit → singular verb
  8. Fifty kilometers _______ too far to walk.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Distance as single unit → singular verb
  9. More than one student _______ applied for the scholarship.
    a) has
    b) have
    c) are
    d) were
    Answer: a) has | “More than one” → singular verb
  10. Two-thirds of the books _______ missing from the shelf.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: b) are | Fraction + plural noun → plural verb
  11. Two-thirds of the milk _______ gone bad.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Fraction + uncountable → singular verb
  12. Half of the audience _______ leaving early.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: b) are | Fraction + plural noun → plural verb
  13. Half of the cake and cookies _______ eaten.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: b) are | Plural items → plural verb
  14. Fifty percent of the work and effort _______ appreciated.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: a) is | Singular/uncountable → singular verb
  15. More than half of the students in the class _______ failing in exams.
    a) is
    b) are
    c) was
    d) have
    Answer: b) are | Plural → plural verb

Section C – Error Spotting & PYQ Tricky (Q31–50)

  1. The staff of the college are going on a trip.
    Answer: are → is | Singular collective noun → singular verb
  2. The audience is clapping loudly.
    Answer: is → are | Plural sense → plural verb
  3. The committee have submitted its report.
    Answer: have → has | Singular collective noun → singular verb
  4. The police is investigating the theft.
    Answer: is → are | Plural collective noun → plural verb
  5. Each of the teams are preparing for the match.
    Answer: are → is | ‘Each’ → singular verb
  6. Neither the captain nor the players was present.
    Answer: was → were | Verb agrees with nearest subject → ‘players’ → plural
  7. Either the manager or the employees is responsible for this error.
    Answer: is → are | Verb agrees with nearest subject → ‘employees’ → plural
  8. The jury, as well as the lawyers, are waiting outside.
    Answer: are → is | ‘As well as’ → singular verb
  9. Ten percent of the sugar are wasted.
    Answer: are → is | Uncountable → singular verb
  10. Fifty percent of the students has passed the exam.
    Answer: has → have | Plural → plural verb
  11. More than one boy have been punished.
    Answer: have → has | “More than one” → singular verb
  12. Half of the water are spilled on the floor.
    Answer: are → is | Uncountable → singular verb
  13. The staff, together with the manager, are attending the workshop.
    Answer: are → is | ‘Together with’ → singular verb
  14. The board of trustees have approved the budget.
    Answer: have → has | Singular collective → singular verb
  15. The team, along with its coach, are performing well.
    Answer: are → is | ‘Along with’ → singular verb
  16. The committee, together with the principal, were present.
    Answer: were → was | ‘Together with’ → singular verb
  17. The audience, along with the judges, have appreciated the performance.
    Answer: have → has | Singular entity → singular verb
  18. Neither of the students are willing to help.
    Answer: are → is | Singular → singular verb
  19. Either of the options are correct.
    Answer: are → is | Singular → singular verb
  20. The orchestra, together with the conductor, are rehearsing for the concert.
    Answer: are → is | Singular entity → singular verb