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 you use a singular verb?

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A singular verb is used when the subject is singular, meaning it refers to one person, place, thing, or idea.

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When should you use a plural verb?

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A plural verb is used when the subject is plural, meaning it refers to more than one person, place, thing, or idea.

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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.

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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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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; the verb should still agree with the main subject.

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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.

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What is an example of a singular subject with a singular verb?

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Example: 'The cat runs fast.' (Subject: cat, Verb: runs)

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What is an example of a plural subject with a plural verb?

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Example: 'The dogs bark loudly.' (Subject: dogs, Verb: bark)

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What is the rule for indefinite pronouns?

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Indefinite pronouns like 'everyone', 'someone', and 'anybody' are considered singular and take singular verbs.