The Fascinating World of Subject-Verb Agreement: 10 Rules to Master

Subject-verb agreement fundamental English grammar unnoticed, plays crucial role communication. Way subject verb correspond greatly impact clarity coherence sentence. As a language enthusiast, I find the intricacies of subject-verb agreement both captivating and essential to master. In this blog post, I will delve into 10 rules of subject-verb agreement and provide examples to help you grasp this fascinating aspect of grammar.

Rule 1: Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs

Subject	Verb
The cat	jumps
The cats	jump

Understanding the basic principle of matching singular subjects with singular verbs and plural subjects with plural verbs sets the foundation for mastering subject-verb agreement.

Rule 2: Collective nouns can be singular or plural

Subject	Verb
The team	is
The team members	are

Collective nouns, such as “team” or “committee,” can take a singular or plural verb depending on whether the emphasis is on the group as a whole or the individuals within the group.

Rule 3: Use of “each,” “every,” “either,” “neither,” and “one” takes a singular verb

Subject	Verb
Each student	is
Every car	has

When the subject is expressed as “each,” “every,” “either,” “neither,” or “one,” it always takes a singular verb.

Rule 4: Use of “who,” “which,” and “that” to introduce dependent clauses

When a dependent clause is introduced by “who,” “which,” or “that,” the verb agrees with the subject of the independent clause. For example, “The book that explains grammar rules is on the shelf.”

Rule 5: Indefinite pronouns take singular verbs

Subject	Verb
Everybody	loves
Someone	is

Indefinite pronouns, such as “everybody,” “someone,” and “anybody,” always take singular verbs.

Rule 6: Subjects connected by “and” take a plural verb

Subject	Verb
The dog the cat	are

When two or more subjects are connected by “and,” they take a plural verb.

Rule 7: When subject fraction amount money, verb agrees noun “of”

For example, “Two-thirds of the pie has been eaten” and “Ten dollars is the cost.”

Rule 8: Titles of books, movies, and other works take singular verbs

For example, “The Lord Rings classic.” The title work considered singular entity.

Rule 9: Subjects that are uncountable take singular verbs

Uncountable nouns, such as “water” or “information,” take singular verbs. Example, “The water cold.”

Rule 10: Subjects that are plural in form but singular in meaning take singular verbs

For example, “Physics is my favorite subject” and “Measles is a contagious disease.” Although “physics” and “measles” appear to be plural, they are treated as singular subjects.

Subject-verb agreement is crucial for clear and effective communication. Mastering these 10 rules will enhance your writing and speaking skills. I encourage you to explore further examples and practice applying these rules in your everyday communication.

 

Subject-Verb Agreement: A Comprehensive Contract

Before entering into this legally binding contract, it is important to understand the rules of subject-verb agreement in the English language. This contract outlines 10 rules for subject-verb agreement, along with examples for each rule, to ensure clarity and understanding for all parties involved.

Rule	Description	Example
1	A singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a plural verb.	The cat is Sleeping. (Singular) The cats are Sleeping. (Plural)
2	When a compound subject is connected by “and”, use a plural verb.	The dog and The cat are Playing.
3	When a compound subject is connected by “or” or “nor”, use a singular verb that agrees with the closer subject.	Either the lion the tigers is Roaring.
4	When using expressions of quantity (e.g. a lot, a majority, some), use a singular verb if the noun after “of” is singular, and a plural verb if the noun is plural.	A majority the students are Attending the event.
5	Collective nouns like team, committee, and class require a singular verb when the group is acting as a unit.	The team is Winning the game.
6	When the words “each” or “every” come before the subject, use a singular verb.	Each the students is Responsible for their own work.
7	Indefinite pronouns like anybody, everyone, and someone require a singular verb.	Everybody knows The answer.
8	When the subject is a fraction or an amount of money, use a singular verb.	Three-fourths the cake was Eaten.
9	When the subject is an uncountable noun, use a singular verb.	The water has Evaporated.
10	When the subject is a title, use a singular verb.	The Lion King is A popular movie.

This legally binding contract ensures that all parties involved understand and agree to abide by the 10 rules of subject-verb agreement outlined above. Any violation of these rules may result in legal consequences as per the laws and legal practices governing the English language.

 

10 Common Legal Questions About Subject-Verb Agreement

Question	Answer
1. What are the basics of subject-verb agreement?	Subject-verb agreement is a grammatical rule that states that the subject and the verb in a sentence must agree in number. For example, “The dog barks” shows agreement, while “The dogs bark” does not.
2. Can collective nouns be singular or plural?	Yes, collective nouns can be singular or plural, depending on the context. For instance, “The team is” shows singular agreement, while “The team are” shows plural agreement.
3. How do you handle indefinite pronouns?	Indefinite pronouns, such as “everyone” and “nobody,” are singular and require singular verbs. For example, “Everyone is” and “Nobody knows” demonstrate proper agreement.
4. What about compound subjects?	Compound subjects joined by “and” usually take a plural verb, while those joined by “or” or “nor” take a singular verb. For instance, “The cat and the dog play” and “The cat or the dog plays” illustrate this concept.
5. Can you use “there” as a subject?	No, “there” subject sentence affect subject-verb agreement. For example, “There are many books” and “There is a book” both follow proper agreement rules.
6. How do you handle phrases between the subject and verb?	Phrases between the subject and verb do not affect agreement. The subject and verb must still agree regardless of intervening phrases. For example, “The girl with the red hat sings” and “The girls with the red hats sing” both show proper agreement.
7. What if the subject comes after the verb?	When the subject comes after the verb, as in questions and inverted sentences, the same agreement rules still apply. For instance, “Is the cat playing?” and “Were the cats sleeping?” both demonstrate correct agreement.
8. Can you switch subjects in a sentence?	No, subjects and verbs must agree even when they are separated by other words. This means you cannot switch the subject and verb to avoid awkward sentences. For example, “The dog, as well as the cats, is playing” and “The cats, as well as the dog, are playing” both follow proper agreement.
9. What happens in sentences with “each” and “every”?	Sentences with “each” and “every” take singular verbs, as they refer to individual items within a larger group. For example, “Every student knows” and “Each book is” both show proper agreement.
10. How do you handle indefinite expressions?	Indefinite expressions, such as “more than one” and “a lot of,” take singular verbs and do not affect agreement. For instance, “More than one person is” and “A lot of food is” both follow proper agreement rules.