Subject/Verb Agreement

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What is subject-verb agreement?

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Subject-verb agreement is the grammatical rule that the subject of a sentence must agree in number (singular or plural) with its verb.

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When should a singular verb be used?

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A singular verb should be used when the subject is singular, meaning it refers to one person, place, thing, or idea.

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When should a plural verb be used?

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A plural verb should be used when the subject is plural, meaning it refers to more than one person, place, thing, or idea.

Front

What is the correct verb form for the subject 'he' in the present tense?

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The correct verb form for 'he' in the present tense is the singular form of the verb, such as 'runs' or 'takes'.

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What is the correct verb form for the subject 'they' in the present tense?

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The correct verb form for 'they' in the present tense is the plural form of the verb, such as 'run' or 'take'.

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How does the verb change with collective nouns?

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Collective nouns can take either singular or plural verbs depending on whether the group is acting as a single unit or as individuals.

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What is an example of a sentence with correct subject-verb agreement?

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An example is: 'The dog barks loudly.' Here, 'dog' (singular) agrees with 'barks' (singular verb).

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What is an example of a sentence with incorrect subject-verb agreement?

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An example is: 'The team are winning.' This is incorrect; it should be 'The team is winning.'

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What is the rule for subjects joined by 'and'?

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When subjects are joined by 'and', they typically take a plural verb.

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What is the rule for subjects joined by 'or' or 'nor'?

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When subjects are joined by 'or' or 'nor', the verb should agree with the subject closest to the verb.