SAT · English · Subject-Verb — Collective Nouns Odd-One-Out

Exercise and reference answers

Questions

1. Items

   1. The team is winning.
   2. The team are winning.
   3. The committee is meeting.
   4. The flock flies south.

   Reason

   'The team is' (Am. English) vs 'are' (Br. English); the others use the standard singular.

   Odd item

   The team are winning.

2. Items

   1. Each child has a toy.
   2. Every student needs water.
   3. All have arrived.
   4. Anyone can apply.

   Reason

   'All' takes plural verb here; the others use singular indefinite pronouns.

   Odd item

   All have arrived.

3. Items

   1. Mathematics is fun.
   2. Politics is dirty.
   3. Economics is hard.
   4. Athletics are popular.

   Reason

   'Athletics' (as activities) takes plural; subject-like '-ics' nouns take singular.

   Odd item

   Athletics are popular.

4. Items

   1. News is bad.
   2. Headlines are bad.
   3. Updates are bad.
   4. Stories are bad.

   Reason

   'News' is singular in form; the others are plural.

   Odd item

   News is bad.

Instructions

Tap the sentence that uses a different agreement pattern.