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 do we 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 do we 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 compound subjects joined by 'and'?

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When two subjects are joined by 'and', they typically take a plural verb.

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What is the rule for compound subjects joined by 'or' or 'nor'?

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When two subjects are joined by 'or' or 'nor', the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.

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Example of a singular subject with a singular verb.

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The cat (is) sleeping.

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Example of a plural subject with a plural verb.

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The dogs (are) barking.

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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 acts as a single unit or as individuals.

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Example of a collective noun with a singular verb.

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The team (wins) the championship.

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Example of a collective noun with a plural verb.

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The team (are) arguing among themselves.