What are subject-verb agreement rules, and how do I avoid errors?

Question

One of the most common challenges students face is mastering subject-verb agreement. This involves ensuring that the subject of a sentence matches the verb in number (singular or plural). Students often struggle with identifying the subject and verb correctly, particularly in complex sentences where the subject may be separated from the verb by other words or clauses. There are various rules and exceptions to consider, such as when dealing with collective nouns, compound subjects, or tricky indefinite pronouns. Many students want to know how to apply these rules in different contexts, especially when the subject and verb are far apart or when the subject is an abstract noun or uncountable noun. Understanding these nuances and practicing regularly can significantly reduce errors in subject-verb agreement.

Answer 1

First of all, the subject of a sentence is the main, or primary, noun of the sentence.

What is a noun? It is a person, place, thing, idea, or animal.

Nouns are a part of speech, along with verbs, adjectives, pronouns, and others. (There are 8 parts of speech total. Some say 9.)

Nouns can be removed from a sentence and replaced with a pronoun. The subject pronouns are I, you (singular,) he, she, it, we, you (plural,) and they.

For example, instead of "Sarah," I would say "she." Instead of "David," I would say "he." Instead of "Europe," I would say..... any guesses?

"It."

Instead of "my desk," I would say "it." Instead of "the cat," I would say either "he," "she," or "it"

Instead of "the Americas" I would say ......

"They."

So, here are the pronouns in a chart with a few verbs that go with them. Notice where the verbs end in an "s."

I do We do

You (singular) do You (plural) do

He/She/It does They do

I am We are

You (singular) are You (plural) are

He/She/It is They are

I eat We eat

You (singular) eat You (plural) eat

He/She/It eats You (plural) eat

I run We run

You (singular) run You (plural) run

He/She/It runs They run

Which subject pronouns have verbs after them that end in "s"?

You got it, "he," "she," and "it". Whenever you have a verb that describes a subject that is a "he," "she," or "it," there is a letter "s" at the end.

What is a verb? It is a word that describes the action or state of the noun. To do, to eat, and to run are all actions. To be is a state.

So, the subject of a sentence, (which will be a noun or a pronoun,) needs to match the form of the verb (action or state) that describes it.

I am a teacher Ryan and I are teachers/ We are teachers

You are a student You and Ariana are students/ You are students

Sarah is a student / She is a student Ariana and Jose are students / They are students

David is a student / He is a student

The tree is green/ It is green

If a verb is a regular verb, (like to eat or to run,) all you have to do is add an "s" to the end when it describes a "he," "she," or "it." If the verb is irregular, (like to do or to be,) then you have to memorize how it to change it for each subject.

This is the basic explanation of verb and subject agreement. There are sentences that get a little more complicated than this, which I can expand on for you.

Answer 2

Subject-verb agreement means that the subject of a sentence and the verb must match in number: singular subjects need singular verbs, and plural subjects need plural verbs. Here are some basic rules to help you avoid errors:

1. Singular and Plural Subjects:
2. Singular subject + singular verb: "She runs every day."
3. Plural subject + plural verb: "They run every day."
4. Subjects Joined by "and": When two subjects are joined by "and," use a plural verb.
5. Example: "Tom and Mary are going to the park."
6. Subjects Joined by "or" or "nor": If the subjects are joined by "or" or "nor," the verb should agree with the subject closest to it.
7. Example 1: "Neither the teacher nor the students are ready."
8. Example 2: "Neither the students nor the teacher is ready."
9. Indefinite Pronouns: Some indefinite pronouns are always singular (e.g., "everyone," "someone," "each"), while others are plural (e.g., "few," "many").
10. Singular: "Everyone is invited to the party."
11. Plural: "Many are excited for the event."
12. Collective Nouns: Collective nouns (e.g., "team," "family," "group") can be singular or plural, depending on whether you're referring to the group as a whole or its individual members.
13. Singular (group as a whole): "The team is winning."
14. Plural (individual members): "The team are arguing among themselves."
15. Uncountable Nouns: Nouns that cannot be counted (e.g., "information," "advice") always take singular verbs.
16. Example: "The information is clear."
17. There is/There are: Use "is" with singular subjects and "are" with plural subjects.
18. Singular: "There is a book on the table."
19. Plural: "There are many books on the table."

By following these rules and practicing regularly, you can avoid common errors in subject-verb agreement and make your writing more accurate.

Book a lesson with me to clear out your concepts. I would love to help !