SV Agreement

agreement

(noun) harmony or accordance in

opinion or feeling

fyi

AGREEMENT IN GRAMMAR

In

grammar,

an

agreement

is

a

correspondence of a verb with its subject
in person and number and a pronoun with
its antecedent in person, number, and
gender. Another term for grammatical
agreement is concord.

cont.

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Subject-verb agreement, also called “subject-verb concord,”
refers to matching the subject and verb of a sentence to a
number, person, and gender.

English

doesn’t

use

grammatical

gender

(except

for

pronouns), and only the verb can be changed based on
whether it’s first, second, or third person. That means most
English subject-verb agreement is about quantity: if the
subject is singular, the verb must be singular; if the subject is
plural, the verb must be plural.

Multiple Choice

What factors mostly influence verb changes in SV agreement in English?

• Gender

• Quantity

• Person Perspective

• Nuances

• Mood

the agreements

basic agreements

present tense SV

agreement

verb "be"
agreement

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT IN PRESENT TENSE

Most subjects (except third-person singular) use the standard verb form in the
present tense.

The dogs roll in the mud.
I need to catch my breath.
You look like a celebrity!

However, if the subject is third-person singular, you must use the singular form
of the verb when speaking in the present tense. Most of the time, this means
adding an -s to the end of the verb.

The dog rolls in the mud.
She needs to catch her breath.
He looks like a celebrity!

ADDING -S TO THIRD PERSON SINGULAR VERB

In the present tense, you need to add -s to most verbs if they are matched
with third-person singular subjects.
Arthur eats fried chicken.
Beth combs her puffy cat's fur.
The dog gets its food.

If the verb ends in -x, –ss, –sh, –ch, –tch, or –zz, add –es to the end to
match the third-person singular.
The snake hisses when it encounters its foe.
She only matches with creeps in online dating.

If the verb ends in a consonant + y, remove the y and add –ies to match the
third-person singular.
Atlas carries the world on his shoulders.
The new drone flies higher than the old one.

VERB "BE" AGREEMENT

In English, be is the only verb that changes based on the person. If you’re
using the verb be, alone, or as part of a continuous tense, the subject-
verb agreement rules require that you match both the number and the
person. Here is a quick review of the singular and plural forms of the verb
"to be":

Fill in the Blank

Change the verb into third-person singular form (simple present)

"TEACH"

Fill in the Blank

Change the verb into third-person singular form (simple present)

"Seize"

Fill in the Blank

Change the verb into third-person singular form (simple present)

"Horrify"

advanced agreement

rules

advanced rules #1

FORMING NEGATIVE AND QUESTION IN SIMPLE PRESENT

When expressing a negative form and question in the simple present tense, only
the verb "do" must match the subject.

Example:
She likes reading before bed.
She does not like reading before bed.
Does she like reading before bed?

They like cooking on holiday.
They do not like cooking on holiday?
Do they like cooking on holiday?

advanced rule #2

MULTIPLE SUBJECTS JOINED WITH "AND" + PLURAL VERB

If the subject consists of multiple nouns joined by the conjunction "and", treat the
subject as plural and use the plural form of the verb.

Example:
Lucas and Maxine are in love!
Both my dog and cat eat expensive treats.

Note:
However, some common phrases that form a single unit can act as singular.
This bed and breakfast is delightful!

advanced rule #3

MULTIPLE SUBJECTS JOINED WITH "OR"

If the subject consists of multiple singular nouns joined by or, treat the subject as
singular.

• Tomato or carrot works fine for the recipe.

If the subject consists of multiple plural nouns joined by or, treat the subject as plural.

• Tomatoes or carrots work fine for the recipe.

If there’s a combination of singular and plural nouns joined by or, the verb follows the
number of the final one listed.

• Tomatoes or carrot works fine for the recipe.
• Tomato or carrots work fine for the recipe.

Multiple Choice

The cat ___ the dog seem to enjoy playing together in the backyard.

• and

• or

Multiple Choice

Would you like tea ___ coffee with your breakfast?

• and

• or

Multiple Choice

You can have dessert now ___ later after dinner.

• and

• or

Multiple Choice

The team captain ___ the coach will be present at the awards ceremony tomorrow.

• and

• or

advanced rule #4

COMPOUND PREDICATES

If there is more than one active verb, as with compound predicates, all the
verbs must agree with the subject.

Example:
After work, I go shopping, pick up the kids, cook dinner, and then relax for
the night.
After work, She goes shopping, picks up the kids, cooks dinner, and then
relaxes for the night.

advanced rule #5

UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS + SINGULAR VERBS

Mass nouns, otherwise known as “uncountable nouns” or
“noncount nouns,” act as singular subjects.

Example:
Love makes the world go around.
Water heals your stomacache.

advanced rule #6

INDEFINITE PRONOUNS

Indefinite pronouns are used when you refer to a person or thing that doesn’t need to be
specifically identified. When indefinite pronouns function as subjects of a sentence or
clause, they usually take singular verbs. Some examples of indefinite pronouns are each,
every, anybody, anyone, everybody, everyone, neither, no one, nobody, somebody, and
someone.

Examples:

• Everybody was late to work because of the traffic jam.
• It matters more to some than others.
• Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen.

Multiple Choice

The committee ___ its decision on the matter next week.

• announce

• announces

• announcing

• announced

• announcement

Multiple Choice

Each of the flowers ___ beautiful in its own way.

• bloom

• blooms

• blooming

• bloomed

• bloomings

Multiple Choice

The group of dancers ___ rehearsing for the upcoming performance.

• is

• are

• were

• was

• have

advanced rule #7

THE PHRASE "ONE OF..."

Be particularly careful of subjects that use the phrase “one of . . . ” The word one is
singular, even when followed by plural nouns.

Example:
One of the world’s leading scientists still has trouble speaking in public.

advanced rule #8

NOUNS IN PLURAL FORM

Be careful of nouns that exist only in the plural form; they sometimes act as singular.
The news has been depressing lately.
Politics is getting too combative.

However, some of these nouns act as plural.
The scissors do not work.
The glasses are broken.

If the word "pair" precedes a plural noun, treat the subject as singular because pair is
singular.
The pair of scissors does not work.
The pair of glasses is broken.

Multiple Choice

Every cookie ___ delicious with its own unique flavor.

• taste

• tasting

• tasted

• tastings

• tastes

Multiple Choice

Choose the letter of the word or group of words that

best completes the sentence.

• A home is

• Homes are

• Homes

• A home

Multiple Choice

Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words that is not correct.

• A

• B

• C

• D

Multiple Choice

Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words that is not correct.

• A

• B

• C

• D

Multiple Choice

Choose the letter of the underlined word or group of words that is not correct.

• A

• B

• C

• D