Hey there, word wizards and sentence superheroes! Have you ever read a sentence that just sounded… off? Like, "The dog chase the cat" or "My friends is coming over"? Your brain probably did a little hiccup because the subject and the verb weren't agreeing.
But don't worry! Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement is like learning a secret handshake for the English language. It’s the magic that makes your writing sound smooth, smart, and professional. And guess what? It’s not nearly as tricky as it seems.
By the end of this guide, you'll be a subject-verb agreement pro. Let’s dive in!
What in the World is Subject-Verb Agreement?
First, let's break down the fancy term.
- Subject: The who or what the sentence is about. (The person, place, or thing doing the action.)
- Verb: The action or state of being in the sentence.
- Agreement: This means the subject and verb must be best friends and match each other.
The Golden Rule:
- A singular subject needs a singular verb.
- A plural subject needs a plural verb.
Singular & Plural: A Quick Refresher
- Singular: Just one person, place, or thing. (e.g., cat, girl, box, he, she, it)
- Plural: More than one. (e.g., cats, girls, boxes, we, they)
The 5 Superhero Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement
Here are the most important rules you need to know, explained with easy examples.
Rule #1: The Basic Boss
This is the one you'll use the most. For most verbs, you just add an -s or -es to the verb when the subject is singular.
- Singular: The bird sings. (One bird sings.)
- Plural: The birds sing. (Many birds sing.)
- Singular: She watches TV. (One person watches.)
- Plural: They watch TV. (Many people watch.)
Tip: Think of the -s. A singular subject often teams up with a verb that has an -s!
Rule #2: The "Helping Verb" Hero
When you have a helping verb like is, am, are, was, or were, they must also agree with the subject.
- Singular: The cake is delicious. (One cake is)
- Plural: The cakes are delicious. (Many cakes are)
- Singular: He was at the park.
- Plural: They were at the park.
Rule #3: The "Teamwork" Trick
Sometimes, two subjects are joined by and. This usually makes a plural subject and needs a plural verb.
- The pencil and the eraser are on the desk.
- My mom and dad drive to work.
Exception Alert! If the two subjects joined by "and" are thought of as one single thing, they take a singular verb.
- Macaroni and cheese is my favorite meal. (This is one dish).
Rule #4: The "Or/Neither Nor" Detective
When subjects are joined by or, nor, either/or, or neither/nor, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. Be a detective and look at the last subject!
- Either the cookies or the cake is the culprit. (Cake is singular → verb is singular)
- Neither the teacher nor the students know the answer. (Students is plural → verb is plural)
Rule #5: The "Tricky Noun" Ninja
Some nouns look plural but are actually singular and need a singular verb!
- Mathmatics is my best subject.
- The news is on at 6 PM.
- Measles is a contagious disease.
Other nouns that end in -s but are singular: civics, mumps, news.
Let's Practice! Your Subject-Verb Agreement Quiz
Ready to test your skills? Choose the correct verb for each sentence. (Answers are at the bottom!)
1. The team of players ( is / are ) ready.
2. My brother and sister ( plays / play ) soccer.
3. Each of the students ( has / have ) a textbook.
4. Neither the cat nor the dogs ( was / were ) in the yard.
5. Your pair of shoes ( is / are ) by the door.
You Did It!
Congratulations! You've just unlocked one of the most powerful skills in the English language. Using correct subject-verb agreement will make your stories, book reports, and even your emails sound clear and confident.
Keep these superhero rules in mind, and soon, you’ll be spotting agreement errors everywhere (like a true grammar detective!).
Quiz Answers:
1. is (The word "team" is a collective noun acting as one unit.)
2. play (Two subjects joined by "and" are plural.)
3. has ("Each" is a singular subject.)
4. were (The verb agrees with the closest subject, "dogs," which is plural.)
5. is ("Pair" is the subject, and it is singular.)
