Subject-Verb Agreement

     
 

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

 
     
  Subject-Verb Agreement is when the subjects and verbs must agree with one another in number (singular or plural). Thus, if a subject is singular, its verb must also be singular and if a subject is plural, its verb must also be plural.  
     
     
     
 
1.1    SINGULAR VERB + SINGULAR SUBJECT
 
     
  We must use a singular verb for a singular subject.  
     
 

He, she and it:

i. are singular subjects.

ii. They are followed by singular verbs.

For example:

- He is a man.

- She is a mother.

- It is a pen.

- He has a computer.

 
     
 

REMEMBER THIS!

- The subject is a person or thing that does the action.

- The verb is the action word.

 
     
     
     
 
1.2    PLURAL VERB + PLURAL SUBJECT
 
     
  We must use a plural verb for a plural subject.  
     
 

They and we:

i. They and we are followed by a plural verb.

For example:

- They are his students.

- We are boys.

 
     
     
     
 
1.3    SPECIAL CASE 
 
     
  We must always use plural verb for the subject 'I' and 'you'.  
     
 

Am:

i. is only used with I.

ii. I is followed by a plural verb.

For example:

- I am Shameema.

- I have a book.

 
     
 

You

i. 'You' is use to speak to one or many people.

For example:

- You have five dresses.

- You (many people) are girls.