Subject-Verb Agreement

Front

What is subject-verb agreement?

Back

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

Front

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.

Front

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 subjects joined by 'and'?

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

Front

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 that is closest to it.

Front

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. If acting as a unit, use a singular verb; if acting as individuals, use a plural verb.

Front

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

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"The dog barks loudly." (singular subject with singular verb)

Front

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

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"The team are winning the game." (should be "The team is winning the game.")

Front

How do indefinite pronouns affect verb agreement?

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

Front

What is the rule for subjects that are separated from the verb by phrases or clauses?

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The verb should still agree with the main subject, not with a noun in the phrase or clause.