Quick Check 6.1: 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 with its verb. This means that singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs.

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When do you use a plural verb?

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A plural verb is used when the subject is plural. For example, 'The dogs bark.' Here, 'dogs' is plural, so 'bark' is the correct plural verb.

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When do you use a singular verb?

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A singular verb is used when the subject is singular. For example, 'The cat sleeps.' Here, 'cat' is singular, so 'sleeps' is the correct singular verb.

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What is the rule for subjects joined by 'and'?

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When two subjects are joined by 'and', they typically take a plural verb. For example, '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 agrees with the subject closest to it. For example, 'Neither the teacher nor the students are ready.'

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What is a collective noun?

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A collective noun refers to a group of individuals or things considered as a single unit. Examples include 'team', 'flock', and 'family'. Collective nouns can take either singular or plural verbs depending on context.

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How does the presence of phrases affect subject-verb agreement?

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Phrases that come between the subject and verb do not affect the agreement. For example, 'The group of students is studying.' Here, 'group' is the subject, and it is singular.

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What is an example of a subject that is always plural?

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Examples of subjects that are always plural include 'scissors', 'pants', and 'glasses'. These subjects always take a plural verb.

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What is the rule for indefinite pronouns?

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Indefinite pronouns such as 'everyone', 'each', and 'someone' are considered singular and take singular verbs. For example, 'Everyone is invited to the party.'

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

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The word 'none' can be singular or plural depending on the context. For example, 'None of the cake is left.' (singular) vs. 'None of the cookies are left.' (plural).