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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Example of singular subject with singular verb.

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The cat runs fast.

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Example of plural subject with plural verb.

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The cats run fast.

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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.

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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 closest to it.

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How does the presence of phrases like 'along with' or 'as well as' affect verb agreement?

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Phrases like 'along with' or 'as well as' 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 collective noun?

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A collective noun refers to a group of individuals or things, such as 'team' or 'flock'. Collective nouns can take either singular or plural verbs depending on context.

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How does the word 'each' affect verb agreement?

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When 'each' is used, it is considered singular, so it takes a singular verb.