Subject Verb Agreement Flashcard

Front

What is subject-verb agreement?

Back

Subject-verb agreement is the grammatical rule that the subject of a sentence must agree in number with its verb. Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs.

Front

When do we use 'was' instead of 'were'?

Back

We use 'was' for singular subjects (e.g., he, she, it, and singular nouns) and 'were' for plural subjects (e.g., they, we, and plural nouns).

Front

What is the correct verb form for collective nouns?

Back

Collective nouns can take either singular or plural verbs depending on whether the group is acting as a single unit (singular) or as individuals (plural). For example, 'The team wins' (singular) vs. 'The team are arguing' (plural).

Front

How do you determine the correct verb when using 'either/or' or 'neither/nor'?

Back

When using 'either/or' or 'neither/nor', the verb should agree with the noun closest to it. For example, 'Either the teacher or the students are going' (students is closest, so use 'are').

Front

Identify the correct sentence: 'Neither the flowers nor the trees ___ blooming.'

Back

The correct sentence is 'Neither the flowers nor the trees are blooming.' (Use 'are' because 'trees' is plural.)

Front

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

Back

When subjects are joined by 'and', they typically take a plural verb. For example, 'The cat and dog are playing.'

Front

What is the correct verb form for 'everybody'?

Back

The correct verb form for 'everybody' is singular, so we use 'was'. For example, 'Everybody was happy.'

Front

Which sentence is correct? 'The committee ___ making a decision.'

Back

The correct sentence is 'The committee is making a decision.' (Committee is a collective noun treated as singular.)

Front

What is the subject-verb agreement rule for 'none'?

Back

'None' can be singular or plural depending on the noun it refers to. For example, 'None of the cake was eaten' (singular) vs. 'None of the cookies were eaten' (plural).

Front

How do you handle compound subjects?

Back

For compound subjects connected by 'and', use a plural verb. For example, 'Tom and Jerry are friends.'