What Are the Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement?
I would like to say that headline writers for newspapers must condense the main idea of a
news story into short clauses. These headlines often include only a
subject, a verb, and an object or phrase:“Senators Oppose Tax Bill.” The
headline writer must make sure that the subject of the headline and its
verb agree in number. So, it is very important for the students to study
the rules of Subject-Verb Agreement. In the following file, you will find 20 rules
provided with examples for Subject-Verb Agreement.
What are the rules of subject verb agreement?
from
Mr. El-Sayed Ramadan
You can also check Agreement - Worksheet + Answers from the following link : Agreement - Worksheet + Answers
You can download from the following link: Subject-Verb Agreement
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Subject-Verb Agreement Quiz
1/20
Half of the money (is / are) going to be used to buy new equipment.
is
2/20
Social studies (is / are) my favorite subject.
is
3/20
Everyone in the crowd (was / were) enjoying the fireworks.
was
4/20
My cat (prefer / prefers) to sleep on the sofa.
prefers
5/20
The police (is / are) looking for the suspect.
are
6/20
The products you requested (is / are) no more available.
are
7/20
The advice you gave me (was / were) very helpful.
was
8/20
There (is / are) some cookies left in the box.
are
9/20
(Is / Are) there any juice left in the fridge?
Is
10/20
The news (has / have) spread by word of mouth.
has
11/20
The one hundred dollars I had in my credit (was / were) not enough for
my purchase.
was
12/20
How (do / does) this machine work?
does
13/20
Only two waitresses (is / are) serving the customers right now.
are
14/20
(Has / Have) I answered your question?
Have
15/20
My friends and I (am / are) planning to meet on Friday.
are
16/20
The work (has / have) to be finished on time.
has
17/20
(Do / Does) all of this homework have to be finished today?
Does
18/20
Skydiving and bungee jumping (attract / attracts) a lot of adventurers.
attract
19/20
Most of the students (is / are) dropping the course.
are
20/20
The United Arab Emirates (offer / offers) business people many
profitable opportunities.
offers
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FAQs
1. What is subject-verb agreement?
Subject-verb agreement is a grammatical rule that states that the subject of a sentence must agree with the verb in terms of number. In other words, a singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a plural verb.
2. Why is subject-verb agreement important in writing?
Subject-verb agreement is essential in writing because it ensures clarity and grammatical correctness. Proper agreement between subjects and verbs helps readers understand the intended meaning of the sentence without confusion.
3. How can I identify subject-verb agreement errors?
To identify subject-verb agreement errors, pay attention to the number of the subject (singular or plural) and check if the verb matches it accordingly. Look for inconsistencies between the subject and the verb in terms of singular and plural forms.
4. What are some common examples of subject-verb agreement mistakes?
Common mistakes include using a singular verb with a plural subject or vice versa. For instance, "The dog plays in the park." (incorrect, as "dog" is singular) should be "The dog plays in the park." (correct).
5. Do compound subjects follow the same agreement rules?
Yes, compound subjects follow the same agreement rules. When two or more subjects are connected by "and," they form a plural subject, requiring a plural verb. For example, "Apples and oranges are fruits." (correct).
6. How does the verb change when the subject is singular or plural?
When the subject is singular, the verb usually ends with "s" or "es," as in "He plays the guitar." When the subject is plural, the verb does not end with "s," as in "They play the guitar."
7. What about collective nouns? Do they use singular or plural verbs?
Collective nouns can take either singular or plural verbs, depending on whether the emphasis is on the group as a whole or the individual members. For example, "The team is practicing." (singular) and "The team are arguing." (plural).
8. Are there exceptions to subject-verb agreement rules?
Yes, there are some exceptions, such as certain indefinite pronouns like "everyone," "nobody," and "somebody." They are singular and require singular verbs, even though they refer to multiple people or things.
9. Can distance between subject and verb cause agreement errors?
Yes, sometimes, a long or complex sentence can cause agreement errors if the subject and verb are far apart. Make sure to locate the subject and verb correctly, especially in sentences with intervening phrases or clauses.
10. How can I practice subject-verb agreement to improve my writing?
Practice subject-verb agreement by writing sentences with various subjects and verbs. Proofread your work to identify any agreement errors, and revise as needed. Online grammar quizzes and exercises can also be helpful for practice.