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 rule for compound subjects joined by 'and'?

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

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What is the rule for compound 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.

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Example of subject-verb agreement with 'neither/nor':

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Neither the teacher nor the students were ready for the exam.

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Example of subject-verb agreement with 'either/or':

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Either the cat or the dogs are making noise.

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What is the rule for 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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Example of collective noun with singular verb:

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The team wins the championship.

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Example of collective noun with plural verb:

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The team are arguing among themselves.