Subject – verb agreement

 Subject – verb agreement

Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental grammatical rule in English. It states that the verb in a sentence must agree in number with its subject. In other words, singular subjects require singular verbs, and plural subjects require plural verbs. This agreement helps ensure clarity and proper communication. Here are the basic rules for subject-verb agreement:

1. Singular Subjects and Singular Verbs:

• Example: The dog barks every morning.

2. Plural Subjects and Plural Verbs:

• Example: The dogs bark every morning.

3. Subjects Connected by "And":

• When two or more singular nouns are connected by "and," they form a plural subject, requiring a plural verb.
• Example: Sarah and Tom are good friends.

4. Subjects Connected by "Or" or "Nor":

• If the subjects connected by "or" or "nor" are singular and plural, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
• Example: Neither the cat nor the dogs are in the house.

5. Singular Indefinite Pronouns:

• Singular indefinite pronouns (such as everyone, nobody, anybody, someone) take singular verbs.
• Example: Everybody is invited to the party.

6. Plural Indefinite Pronouns:

• Plural indefinite pronouns (such as both, many, several) take plural verbs.
• Example: Many are called, but few are chosen.

7. Collective Nouns:

• Collective nouns (such as team, family, group) can take singular or plural verbs depending on the context. When the collective noun refers to the group as a single unit, a singular verb is used. When the emphasis is on the individuals within the group, a plural verb is used.
• Example: The team is playing well. (Singular: the team as a whole)
• Example: The team are arguing among themselves. (Plural: the team members individually)

8. Titles and Words Expressing Amounts:

• Titles and words expressing amounts (such as mathematics, news, dollars) take singular verbs.
• Example: Mathematics is my favorite subject.

Understanding subject-verb agreement is crucial for constructing grammatically correct sentences. Errors in subject-verb agreement can lead to confusion and affect the overall clarity of the message being conveyed.

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