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?

Back

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?

Back

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 using 'neither/nor' with verbs?

Back

When using 'neither/nor', the verb should agree with the nearest subject.

Front

How does the presence of 'anybody' affect verb agreement?

Back

'Anybody' is considered a singular subject, so it takes a singular verb.

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 or as individuals.

Front

What verb form should be used with 'many'?

Back

The verb form should be plural when the subject is 'many', as it refers to more than one.

Front

What is the correct verb form for 'there is' and 'there are'?

Back

'There is' is used with singular nouns, while 'there are' is used with plural nouns.

Front

How do you determine the correct verb form with compound subjects?

Back

With compound subjects joined by 'and', use a plural verb; with 'or' or 'nor', use a verb that agrees with the nearest subject.

Front

What is the verb form for subjects that are separated by commas?

Back

When subjects are separated by commas, the verb should agree with the subject closest to the verb.