Before we talk more about it, let's talk about Subject and Verb!
What is subject?
Subject is the person/people/things(s) that do the avtivity.
What is verb?
Verb is a word used to describe an action,state, or occurrence, and
forming the main part of the predicate of a sentence.
Kinds of VERB
- ACTION VERBS
-LINKING VERBS
-HELPING
VERBS
ACTION
VERBS
- Also known as MAIN VERBS
- Action verbs are words that express action
(give, eat, walk, etc)
- Action verbs can be either transitive(with
object)
LINKING VERBS
A linking verbs connects the subject of a
sentence to a noun or adjective that renames or describes the subject.
HELPING VERBS
Helping verbs are used before action or linking verbs
to convey additional information regarding aspects of possibility/time.
Well then, after we know what is subject, and
what is verb, now let's talk about the rule of Subject Verb Agreement.
Remember! The main rule of Subject Verb Agreement is:
Only the subject affect the verb!!
RULE
1
Subjects and verbs must agree in number. This is
the cornerstone rule that forms the background of the concept.
RULE
2
Don’t get confused by the words that come
between the subject and verb; they do not affect agreement.
RULE
3
Prepositional phrases between the subject and
verb usually do not affect agreement.
RULE
4
When sentences start with “there” or “here,” the
subject will always be placed after the verb, so care needs to be taken to
identify it correctly.
RULE
5
If two subjects are joined by and, they
typically require a plural verb form.
RULE
6
The verb is singular if the two subjects
separated by and refer to the same person or thing.
RULE
7
If one of the words each, every, or no comes
before the subject, the verb is singular.
RULE
8
If the subjects are both singular and are
connected by the words or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also
the verb is singular.
RULE
9
The only time when the object of the preposition
decides plural or singular verb forms is when noun and pronoun subjects like
some, half, none, more, all, etc. are followed by a prepositional phrase. In
these sentences, the object of the preposition determines the form of the verb.
RULE
10
The singular verb form is usually used for units
of measurement or time.
RULE
11
If the subjects are both plural and are
connected by the words or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not only/but also,
the verb is plural.
RULE
12
If one subject is singular and one plural and
the words are connected by the words or, nor, neither/nor, either/or, and not
only/but also, you use the verb form of the subject that is nearest the verb.
RULE
13
, everyone, someone, somebody, nothing, etc)
typically take singular verbs. Indefinite pronouns (everything, anything
RULE
14
Except for the pronouns (few, many, several,
both, all, some) that always take the plural form.
RULE
15
If two infinitives are separated by and they
take the plural form of the verb.
RULE
16
When gerunds are used as the subject of a
sentence, they take the singular verb form of the verb; but, when they are
linked by and, they take the plural form.
RULE
17
Collective nouns like family, committee, herd,
senate, class, crowd, etc. usually take a singular verb form.
RULE
18
Titles of books, movies, novels, etc. Are
treated as singular and take a singular verb.
Well that's it, and now, here is the exercise
and its answer that i mention above,
Exercise : Subject and Verb
Agreement Exercise.
Choose the correct form of the verb that agrees
with the subject.
1. Annie and her brothers (is, are) at school.
Answer: Annie and her brothers are at school
2. Either my mother or my father (is, are)
coming to the meeting.
Answer: Either my mother or my father is coming to the meeting
3. The dog or the cats (is, are) outside.
Answer: The dog or the cats are outside
4. Either my shoes or your coat (is, are) always
on the floor.
Answer: Either my shoes or your coat are always on the floor
5. George and Tamara (doesn’t, don’t) want to
see that movie.
Answer: George and Tamara don’t want to see that movie
6. Benito (doesn’t, don’t) know the answer.
Answer: Benito doesn’t know the answer
7. One of my sisters (is, are) going on a trip
to France.
Answer: One of my sisters is
going on a trip to france
8. The man with all the birds (live, lives) on
my street.
Answer: The man with all the birds lives on my street
9. The movie, including all the previews, (take,
takes) about two hours to watch.
Answer: The movie, including all the previews, takes about two
hours to watch
10. The players, as well as the captain, (want,
wants) to win.
Answer: The players, as well as the captain, wants to win
11. Either answer (is, are) acceptable.
Answer: Either answer is acceptable
12. Every one of those books (is, are) fiction.
Answer: Every one of those books is fiction
13. Nobody (know, knows) the trouble I’ve seen.
Answer: Nobody knows the trouble i’ve seen
14. (Is, Are) the news on at five or six?
Answer: Is the news on at five or six
15. Mathematics (is, are) John’s favorite
subject, while Civics (is, are) Andrea’s favorite subject.
Answer: Mathematics is john’s favorite subject, while Civics is
Andrea’s favorite subject.
16. Eight dollars (is, are) the price of a movie
these days.
Answer: Eight dollars is the price of a movie these days
17. (Is, Are) the tweezers in this drawer?
Answer: Are the tweezers in this drawer
18. Your pants (is, are) at the cleaner’s.
Answer: Your pants are at the cleaner’s
19. There (was, were) fifteen candies in that
bag. Now there (is, are) only one left!
There were fifteen candies in that bag, now there is only one
left!
20. The committee (debates, debate) these
questions carefully.
The committee debates these questions carefully
21. The committee (leads, lead) very different
lives in private.
The committee leads very different lives in private
22. The Prime Minister, together with his wife,
(greets, greet) the press cordially.
The prime minister, together with his wife, greet the press
cordially
23. All of the CDs, even the scratched one, (is,
are) in this case.
All of the CDs, even the scratched one, are in this case.
so the task today !! thank you.
