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 a singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a 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, meaning it refers to one person, place, thing, or idea. For example, 'The cat runs fast.'

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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, meaning it refers to more than one person, place, thing, or idea. For example, 'The cats run fast.'

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

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Identify the correct verb: 'The flock of birds (was, were) flying south.'

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The correct verb is 'was' because 'flock' is a collective noun treated as singular.

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Identify the correct verb: 'The group of students (is, are) going on a field trip.'

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The correct verb is 'is' because 'group' is a collective noun treated as singular.

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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 were ready.'

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Identify the correct verb: 'Either the dog or the cats (is, are) outside.'

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The correct verb is 'are' because 'cats' is the closest subject and is plural.

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What is a compound subject?

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A compound subject consists of two or more subjects that share the same verb. For example, 'The dog and the cat play together.'