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, 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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Example of subject-verb agreement with a singular subject.

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The cat (is) sleeping.

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Example of subject-verb agreement with a plural subject.

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The cats (are) sleeping.

Front

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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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 must still agree with the main subject.

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What is an example of a collective noun?

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A collective noun refers to a group as a single entity, such as 'team' or 'flock'. It can take either a singular or plural verb depending on context.

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How does the word 'none' affect verb agreement?

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The word 'none' can be singular or plural depending on the noun it refers to; thus, the verb must agree accordingly.