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 take either singular or plural verbs depending on whether the group is acting as a single unit or as individuals.

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Example of a sentence with a collective noun using a singular verb.

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The team wins the championship.

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Example of a sentence with a collective noun using a plural verb.

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The team are arguing among themselves.

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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 run fast.'

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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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What is the rule for indefinite pronouns?

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Indefinite pronouns like 'everyone', 'someone', and 'nobody' take singular verbs, for example: 'Everyone knows the answer.'

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What is the exception for the indefinite pronoun 'both'?

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The indefinite pronoun 'both' is plural and takes a plural verb, for example: 'Both of the cars are new.'