Subject and Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement is a grammatical concept that states that the subject of a sentence must agree with the verb in number (singular or plural). In other words, singular subjects require singular verbs, and plural subjects require plural verbs. This agreement helps to ensure that sentences are clear and grammatically correct.

Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement

1. Singular subjects require singular verbs. For example: The dog barks loudly.
2. Plural subjects require plural verbs. For example: The dogs bark loudly.
3. When the subject and verb are separated by a phrase or clause, it's important to identify the subject and make sure that the verb agrees with it. For example: The book, as well as the pen, is on the table.
4. Some subjects, such as "every," "each," "either," "neither," and "everyone," are singular and require singular verbs. For example: Each of the students is responsible for completing the assignment.
5. Compound subjects joined by "and" usually take a plural verb. For example: Apples and oranges are fruits.
6. Collective nouns, like "team," "family," or "audience," can take either singular or plural verbs, depending on the context. For example: The team is performing well. The team are arguing among themselves.

Study Guide

To master subject-verb agreement, it's important to understand the rules and practice identifying the subject and verb in various sentences. Here are some study tips:

• Review the rules of subject-verb agreement.
• Practice identifying the subject and verb in sentences.
• Complete exercises or worksheets focusing on subject-verb agreement.
• Read passages and identify the subject-verb agreement in each sentence.
• Write your own sentences using singular and plural subjects with corresponding verbs.

By understanding and practicing subject-verb agreement, you can improve the clarity and correctness of your writing.