subject-verb agreement?

Answer 1

Subject-verb agreement is a grammatical rule that states the subject of a sentence must agree with its verb in both number and person. Here are the basic principles:

1. Singular subjects take singular verbs:

   • Example: The cat runs fast. (singular subject "cat" with singular verb "runs")

2. Plural subjects take plural verbs:

   • Example: The cats run fast. (plural subject "cats" with plural verb "run")

3. Compound subjects:

   • When two subjects are joined by "and," they typically take a plural verb:
     • Example: The dog and cat play together.
   • When joined by "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the subject closest to it:
     • Example: Either the teacher or the students are going.
     • Example: Neither the students nor the teacher is available.

4. Indefinite pronouns:

   • Some indefinite pronouns are always singular (e.g., anyone, everyone, someone):
     • Example: Everyone loves a good story.
   • Some are always plural (e.g., few, many, several):
     • Example: Many are called, but few are chosen.
   • Others can be singular or plural depending on context (e.g., all, some):
     • Example: All of the cake is gone. (singular)
     • Example: All of the cookies are gone. (plural)

5. Collective nouns:

   • Collective nouns (e.g., team, group, family) can take either a singular or plural verb based on whether the group is acting as a single unit or as individuals:
     • Example: The team wins the championship. (acting as one)
     • Example: The team are arguing among themselves. (acting as individuals)

6. Titles, names, and amounts:

   • Titles of books, names of organizations, and amounts are typically treated as singular:
     • Example: The team is winning.
     • Example: Five dollars is a fair price.

Understanding and applying these rules helps ensure clarity and correctness in writing. If you have specific sentences in mind that you would like to check for subject-verb agreement, feel free to share!