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.

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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 it.

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How does the presence of collective nouns affect verb agreement?

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

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What is an example of a collective noun?

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Examples of collective nouns include 'team', 'flock', 'family', and 'committee'.

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What is the rule for indefinite pronouns?

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Indefinite pronouns such as 'everyone', 'someone', and 'each' are considered singular and take singular verbs.

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What is the exception for the indefinite pronoun 'both'?

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The indefinite pronoun 'both' is plural and takes a plural verb.

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How does the phrase 'a number of' affect verb agreement?

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The phrase 'a number of' is followed by a plural verb.