Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement in English Grammar

This video tutorial by Michael Chen covers the basics of subject-verb agreement, including tricky scenarios such as separated subjects and verbs, collective nouns, plural subjects joined by 'and', singular indefinite pronouns, context-dependent pronouns, and subjects that come after the verb. The video provides examples and tips to help identify and correct subject-verb agreement errors.

What is the basic rule of subject-verb agreement?

• Singular subjects take plural verbs.

• Plural subjects take singular verbs.

• There are no specific rules.

• Singular subjects take singular verbs.

In the phrase 'The room with the flowers', which word is the subject?

• with

• room

• flowers

• the

Can collective nouns sometimes take plural verbs?

• Only in informal English.

• No, they always take singular verbs.

• Only with the word 'group'.

• Yes, depending on context.

How does the presence of 'members' after a verb affect the verb's number?

• It has no effect.

• It remains singular.

• It can be either, depending on context.

• It becomes plural.

Which scenario might lead to a plural verb?

• Collective nouns in all contexts

• A singular subject after the verb

• Indefinite pronouns

• A plural subject joined by 'and'

Which pronouns always take singular verbs?

• Groups, teams, classes

• Anyone, everyone, something

• They, them, those

• Some, any, none

What is true about indefinite pronouns like 'everyone' and 'everything'?

• They only take singular verbs in formal contexts.

• They are considered plural in meaning but take singular verbs.

• They can take either singular or plural verbs.

• They take plural verbs.

What determines the verb number when using 'all, some, none'?

• Always plural

• Always singular

• The number of the noun following these pronouns

• The speaker's preference

How do 'either' and 'neither' generally affect verb number?

• They require singular verbs.

• They lead to plural verbs.

• They make verbs agree with the closest noun.

• They have no impact on verb number.

In sentences starting with 'there', how do you determine the verb's number?

• Always use 'are'

• Based on the first noun in the sentence

• Always use 'is'

• Based on the noun following 'there'