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, for example, 'The dog barks.'

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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, for example, 'The dogs bark.'

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What is the 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. For example, 'The team wins' (singular) vs. 'The team are arguing' (plural).

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How does the presence of phrases like 'as well as' affect subject-verb agreement?

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Phrases like 'as well as' do not change the number of the subject. For example, 'The teacher, as well as the students, is excited.'

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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. 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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How does the word 'none' affect verb agreement?

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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).

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What is the rule for indefinite pronouns?

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Indefinite pronouns like 'everyone', 'someone', and 'anybody' are singular and take singular verbs. For example, 'Everyone is here.'

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What is the exception for the word 'data'?

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The word 'data' can be treated as singular or plural. In scientific contexts, it is often treated as plural, e.g., 'The data are conclusive.'