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SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
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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. |
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| 1.1 |
SINGULAR VERB + SINGULAR SUBJECT |
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We must use a singular verb for a singular subject. |
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1. 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.
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REMEMBER THIS!
- The subject is a person or thing that does the action.
- The verb is the action word.
- If the subject is one then add 's' to the verb.
- If the subject is many (plural) then do not add 's' to the verb.
For example:
a. A crab walks sideways. (Singular)
- A crab (subject)
- walks (verb)
b. Crabs walk sideways. (Plural)
- Crabs (subject)
- walk (verb)
Other examples:
a. A seahorse swims upright. (Singular)
- A seahorse (subject)
- swims (verb)
b. Seahorses swim upright. (Plural)
- Seahorses (subject)
- swim (verb)
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| Singular Subject |
Singular Verb |
| A turtle |
lives |
| A shark |
eats |
| An octopus |
has |
| A dolphin |
is |
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| Plural Subject |
Plural Verb |
| Turtles |
live |
| Sharks |
eat |
| Octopuses |
have |
| Dophins |
are |
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2. Indefinite Pronoun (singular subject) + singular verb:
i. The indefinite pronouns such as anyone, someone, everyone, no one, anybody, somebody, everybody, anything, something, everything, nothing and nobody are singular subjects. They take singular verbs.
For example:
- Someone is coming to give us a talk on nutrition.
- Everyone has their own ideas about the best way to bring up children.
- Something in the cupboard smells weird.
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3. Collective nouns take a singular verb.
For example:
- The committee consists of five members.
- My last class ends at four o'clock.
- The editorial board has an expert with a world-wide reputation in the person of Dr. Susan Darlington.
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| 1.2 |
PLURAL VERB + PLURAL SUBJECT |
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We must use a plural verb for a plural subject. |
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They and we:
i. They and we are followed by a plural verb.
For example:
- They are his students.
- We are boys.
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We must always use plural verb for the subject 'I' and 'you'. |
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Am:
i. is only used with I.
ii. I is followed by a plural verb.
For example:
- I am Shameema.
- I have a book.
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You
i. 'You' is use to speak to one or many people.
For example:
- You have five dresses.
- You (many people) are girls.
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