Agreement with the subject and verb

 

In English grammar, it is important to maintain agreement between the subject and the verb in a sentence. This is known as subject-verb agreement. The basic principle is that a singular subject should be paired with a singular verb, while a plural subject should be paired with a plural verb. Here are some examples to illustrate this:

Singular subject and singular verb agreement:

• The dog barks at the mailman.

• She sings beautifully.

• The car needs a wash.

Plural subject and plural verb agreement:

• The dogs bark loudly.

• They sing in the choir.

• The cars need new tires.

It is essential to pay attention to the number of the subject when determining the appropriate form of the verb. In certain cases, subject-verb agreement can be more complex, such as with indefinite pronouns, collective nouns, or inverted sentence.

Here are some guidelines to help ensure subject-verb agreement:

Singular subjects:

A singular subject usually takes a singular verb.

Example: 

• The cat sleeps on the mat.

Plural subjects:

A plural subject generally takes a plural verb.

Example: The cats sleep on the mat.

Indefinite pronouns:

Some indefinite pronouns, like "everyone," "each," "everybody," "nobody," and "someone," are singular and require a singular verb.

Example: 

• Everyone wants to go to the party.

Compound subjects:

When two or more singular subjects are joined by "and," the verb is usually plural.

Example: 

• John and Sarah are going to the movies.

Collective nouns:

Collective nouns, like "team," "group," or "family," can take either a singular or plural verb, depending on whether the emphasis is on the group acting as a unit or on the individual members.

Example 1: 

• The team is practising for the game. (singular verb)

Example 2: 

The team are arguing about their positions. (plural verb)

Subject-verb agreement with phrases and clauses:

Phrases and clauses that come between the subject and verb do not change the agreement.

Example: 

• The book, along with the pen and notebook, is on the table.

It's important to pay attention to subject-verb agreement to ensure that your sentences are grammatically correct and convey the intended meaning.

Here's a test on subject-verb agreement with answers:

Test:

1. The cat (is/are) playing in the garden.

2. My friends (was/were) excited about the party.

3. Each of the students (has/have) a textbook.

4. The book on the shelf (belongs/belong) to me.

5. The cars in the parking lot (needs/need) to be washed.

6. Neither of the options (is/are) suitable for me.

7. The team captain, along with the players, (leads/lead) the team to victory.

8. The dog, along with its puppies, (was/were) adopted by a loving family.

9. Fifty dollars (is/are) a lot of money.

10. The number of applicants (has/have) decreased this year.

Answers:

1. The cat is playing in the garden.

2. My friends were excited about the party.

3. Each of the students has a textbook.

4. The book on the shelf belongs to me.

5. The cars in the parking lot need to be washed.

6. Neither of the options is suitable for me.

7. The team captain, along with the players, leads the team to victory.

8. The dog, along with its puppies, was adopted by a loving family.

9. Fifty dollars is a lot of money.

10. The number of applicants has decreased this year.

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