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 singular subject with singular verb.

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"The cat runs fast." (Here, 'cat' is singular, and 'runs' is the singular verb.)

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Example of plural subject with plural verb.

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"The dogs bark loudly." (Here, 'dogs' is plural, and 'bark' is the plural verb.)

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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. 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. Example: "Neither the teacher nor the students were ready."

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What is a collective noun?

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A collective noun refers to a group of individuals or things considered as a single unit. Example: 'team', 'flock', 'family'.

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How does a collective noun affect verb agreement?

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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. Example: "The team wins (singular)" vs. "The team are arguing (plural)."

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What is an example of a subject that requires a singular verb despite being plural in form?

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Example: "The news is on at six." (Here, 'news' is singular despite referring to multiple pieces of information.)