Subject-Verb Agreement

Front

What is subject-verb agreement?

Back

Subject-verb agreement means that the subject and verb in a sentence must match in number. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular; if the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.

Front

When do we use 'play' instead of 'plays'?

Back

We use 'play' when the subject is plural (e.g., 'The boys play') or when the subject is singular but in the first person (e.g., 'I play').

Front

When do we use 'plays'?

Back

We use 'plays' when the subject is singular and in the third person (e.g., 'He plays', 'She plays').

Front

What is the correct verb for 'The nurses at the hospital _______ extremely caring'?

Back

The correct verb is 'are'. 'Nurses' is plural, so we use 'are'.

Front

What is the correct verb for 'One of the dancers on the stage ______ my cousin'?

Back

The correct verb is 'is'. 'One of the dancers' is a singular subject.

Front

What is the correct verb for 'The math teacher ____________ things really well'?

Back

The correct verb is 'explains'. 'Teacher' is singular, so we use 'explains'.

Front

What is the correct form of 'do not' for 'Eve ________ like to babysit her younger brothers'?

Back

The correct form is 'doesn't'. 'Eve' is singular, so we use 'doesn't'.

Front

What is a singular subject?

Back

A singular subject refers to one person, place, thing, or idea (e.g., 'The cat', 'The teacher').

Front

What is a plural subject?

Back

A plural subject refers to more than one person, place, thing, or idea (e.g., 'The cats', 'The teachers').

Front

What is the rule for using 'is' and 'are'?

Back

Use 'is' for singular subjects and 'are' for plural subjects.