English 7: Lesson 6 (Subject-Verb Agreement)

​English 7: Lesson 6

Subject-Verb A​greement

September 20, 2022 | Tuesday

What is a Subject-Verb Agreement?

Subject-verb agreement represents the heart of grammar. It is the most basic rule of sentence construction. Here, we will look at some of the basic rule of sentence construction. Here, we look at some of the basic rules that you have to remember.

Subject-Verb Agreement

A singular subject must take a singular verb. A plural verb must take a plural verb. In the present tense, nouns and verbs form plurals in opposite ways: nouns ADD an -s to the singular form; verbs REMOVE the s from the singular form.​

Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule #1:

Multiple Choice

Mom (cook, cooks) breakfast at 6 in the morning.

• cook

• cooks

Multiple Choice

James (brings, bring) lunch to school.

• bring

• brings

Multiple Choice

The children (play, plays) happily in the backyard.

• play

• plays

A phrase or clause that comes between the subject and the verb does not affect the number of the subject.

Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule #2:

Multiple Choice

Ryan, as well as his parents, (plan, plans) to open a restaurant.

• plan

• plans

Multiple Choice

The goal of the students (is, are) to collect funds for the victims of the typhoon.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

The ecosystem of savannahs (face, faces) many threats caused by human activity.

• face

• faces

When the subject of the sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by and, use a plural verb.

Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule #3:

Multiple Choice

My microphone and my camera (work, works) just fine.

• work

• works

Multiple Choice

Janet and John (has, have) a suggestion.

• has

• have

Multiple Choice

A car and a bike (is, are) my means of transportation.

• is

• are

If there are two singular subjects that are joined by nor or or, use a singular verb.

Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule #4:

Multiple Choice

Bread or rice (is, are) fine as long as it is filling.

• is

• are

Multiple Choice

My mom nor my dad (want, wants) to hold a birthday celebration.

• want

• wants

Multiple Choice

Belt or necklace (look, looks) great on this outfit.

• look

• l

If a singular subject and a plural subject are joined by either or or neither nor, the verb must agree with the subject closest to it.

Subject-Verb Agreement

Rule #5:

Multiple Choice

Neither the mother nor the children (know, knows) the way to the mall.

• know

• knows

Multiple Choice

Not only the principal but also the teachers (submit, submits) the files every weekend.

• submit

• submits

Multiple Choice

Either the cats or the dog (eat, eats) food in the morning.

• eat

• eats