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, such as 'He runs' or 'The cat sleeps.'

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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, such as 'They run' or 'The cats sleep.'

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What is the rule for collective nouns?

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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 does the presence of words like 'everyone' or 'anyone' affect verb choice?

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Words like 'everyone' or 'anyone' are considered singular, so they require a singular verb, e.g., 'Everyone knows.'

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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 require a plural verb, e.g., 'Tom and Jerry are friends.'

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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, e.g., 'Neither the teacher nor the students are ready.'

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What is the effect of indefinite pronouns on verb agreement?

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Indefinite pronouns like 'somebody', 'anybody', and 'nobody' are usually treated as singular, requiring a singular verb, e.g., 'Somebody needs help.'

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What is the rule for titles of books, movies, or organizations?

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Titles of books, movies, or organizations are treated as singular, e.g., 'The Hunger Games is a popular series.'

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How do fractions and percentages affect verb agreement?

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Fractions and percentages are treated as singular or plural based on the noun they refer to, e.g., 'Fifty percent of the cake is gone.' vs 'Fifty percent of the students are present.'