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 you use a singular verb?

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

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When should you use a plural verb?

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A plural verb is 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 using 'does' in a sentence?

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The auxiliary verb 'does' is used with singular subjects in the present tense, particularly with third-person singular subjects.

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What is the rule for using 'do' in a sentence?

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The auxiliary verb 'do' is used with plural subjects and with the pronouns 'I' and 'you' in the present tense.

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How do you determine the correct verb form when the subject is a collective noun?

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Collective nouns can be singular or plural depending on whether the group acts as a single unit (singular) or as individuals (plural).

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What is an example of a subject that requires a singular verb?

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An example of a subject that requires a singular verb is 'The cat runs fast.' Here, 'cat' is singular.

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What is an example of a subject that requires a plural verb?

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An example of a subject that requires a plural verb is 'The dogs bark loudly.' Here, 'dogs' is plural.

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What is the subject-verb agreement rule for compound subjects joined by 'and'?

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

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What is the subject-verb agreement rule for compound subjects joined by 'or' or 'nor'?

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When compound subjects are joined by 'or' or 'nor', the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.