Subject-Verb Agreement w/interrupters

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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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What are interrupters in a sentence?

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Interrupters are words or phrases that break the flow of a sentence but do not change the meaning. They can include phrases like 'however', 'for example', or 'of course'.

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How do interrupters affect subject-verb agreement?

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Interrupters do not affect subject-verb agreement; the verb must still agree with the subject, regardless of any interrupters.

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Example of subject-verb agreement with an interrupter: 'The dog, along with its puppies, ___________ in the yard.'

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The correct verb is 'plays' (The dog, along with its puppies, plays in the yard).

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

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When subjects are joined by 'and', they are considered plural, and a plural verb should be used.

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Example of a compound subject: 'The cat and the dog ___________ in the garden.'

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The correct verb is 'play' (The cat and the dog play in the garden).

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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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Example of 'or' affecting verb choice: 'Either the teacher or the students ___________ responsible for the project.'

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The correct verb is 'are' (Either the teacher or the students are responsible for the project).