SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT IN ENGLISH...so important...special thanks to www.really-learn-english.com

Subject-Verb Agreement

The subject-verb agreement rule means that when making a sentence, the?subject?and?verb?must "agree" or be the same.

Singular?subject =>?singular?verb

Plural?subject =>?plural?verb

A?singular noun?is a noun that refers to one person or thing (such as?kid,?chair,?bus, etc.).

A?singular verb?is a verb that describes the action or state of one person or thing (such as?is,?has,?talks, etc.).

A?plural noun?is a noun that refers to more than one person or thing. It usually ends with an S (such as?kids,?chairs,?buses, etc.).

A?plural verb?is a verb that describes the action or state of more than one person or thing. It usually doesn't end with an S (such as?are,?have,?talk, etc.).

Examples of singular subjects:

• the cat
• Bonnie
• a cookie
• he
• she
• it

Examples of singular verbs:

• drinks
• works
• tastes
• takes
• makes
• sounds

Examples of plural subjects:

• The cats
• Bonnie and Fred
• a few cookies
• they
• we

Examples of plural verbs:

• drink
• work
• taste
• take
• make

Subject-verb agreement – example sentences:

Correct:?James?is?a singer.

Correct:?They?are?fighting.

Correct:?Tom?likes?his car.

The subject =?The bird => singular (one bird)

The bird?is?on the tree.

The subject?= The list => singular (one list)

The list of students?is?very long.

Singular subject +?and?+ singular subject => plural verb

A girl and a boy?are?planting a tree.

Singular subject +?or?/?nor?+ singular subject => singular verb

Neither Alex nor Peter?is?blond.