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.

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.

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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 take 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 that is closest to the verb.

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How does the presence of phrases like 'as well as' affect subject-verb agreement?

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Phrases like 'as well as' do not change the number of the subject; the verb should agree with the main subject.

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What is an example of a collective noun?

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A collective noun refers to a group of individuals or things, such as 'team', 'flock', or 'family'. 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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How do indefinite pronouns affect subject-verb agreement?

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Indefinite pronouns like 'everyone', 'someone', and 'nobody' are considered singular and take singular verbs.

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What is the subject-verb agreement rule for titles of works?

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Titles of works, such as books or movies, are treated as singular and take a singular verb.

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What is the subject-verb agreement rule for amounts of money or time?

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Amounts of money or time are treated as singular and take a singular verb.