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 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.

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

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

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What is the rule for subject-verb agreement with 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 'along with', 'as well as', or 'together with' affect subject-verb agreement?

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These phrases do not change the number of the subject; the verb should still agree with the main subject.

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What is an example of a singular subject with a singular verb?

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An example is: 'The cat runs fast.' Here, 'cat' is singular and 'runs' is the singular verb.

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What is an example of a plural subject with a plural verb?

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An example is: 'The dogs bark loudly.' Here, 'dogs' is plural and 'bark' is the plural verb.

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What is the subject-verb agreement rule for collective nouns?

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Collective nouns can be singular or plural depending on whether the group acts as a single unit or as individuals. Use a singular verb if the group acts as one, and a plural verb if individuals are acting separately.

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How does subject-verb agreement apply to indefinite pronouns?

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