Subject Verb Agreement

Front

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 closest to the verb.

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How does the phrase 'as well as' affect subject-verb agreement?

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The phrase 'as well as' does 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.

Front

How do you determine the correct verb form with collective nouns?

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If the collective noun acts as a single unit, use a singular verb. If the individuals within the group act separately, use a plural verb.

Front

What is the subject-verb agreement rule for indefinite pronouns?

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Indefinite pronouns such as 'everyone', 'someone', and 'anybody' are considered singular and take singular verbs.

Front

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

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The word 'none' can be singular or plural depending on the context. If it refers to a singular noun, use a singular verb; if it refers to a plural noun, use a plural verb.