How Many Rules of Subject Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement is an essential aspect of the English language. It ensures that sentences are grammatically correct and easy to understand. Proper subject-verb agreement means that the subject and verb in a sentence agree in number and tense. But just how many rules of subject-verb agreement are there? Let`s take a closer look.

1. Singular subject, singular verb: When the subject of a sentence is singular, the verb should also be singular. For example, “She sings beautifully.”

2. Plural subject, plural verb: When the subject of a sentence is plural, the verb should also be plural. For example, “They sing beautifully.”

3. Compound subject, plural verb: When there are two or more subjects in a sentence joined by “and,” the verb should be plural. For example, “Bob and Sue are going to the movies.”

4. Compound subject, singular verb: When there are two or more singular subjects in a sentence joined by “or,” “nor,” or “either…or,” the verb should be singular. For example, “Neither Bob nor Sue wants to go to the movies.”

5. Indefinite pronouns, singular verb: When the subject of a sentence is an indefinite pronoun (e.g., anyone, everyone, someone, no one), the verb should be singular. For example, “Everyone is going to the party.”

6. Collective nouns, singular or plural verb: Collective nouns (e.g., team, group, crowd) can take a singular or plural verb depending on whether the group is acting as one unit or as individuals. For example, “The team is ready to play” (acting as one unit) or “The team are arguing among themselves” (acting as individuals).

7. Inverted subject, singular or plural verb: When the subject of a sentence comes after the verb (inverted), the verb should agree with the actual subject (not the inverted subject). For example, “Under the couch is a toy” (singular subject) or “In the drawer are some socks” (plural subject).

In conclusion, there are seven rules of subject-verb agreement that every writer should know. By following these rules, you can create grammatically correct and easy-to-read sentences. Remember, the key to good writing is practice, so keep writing and applying these rules until they become second nature. Happy writing!