Subject-verb agreement is crucial for grammatical accuracy in English. It requires verbs to match their subjects in number, with singular subjects taking singular verbs and plural subjects taking plural verbs. The text delves into the nuances of this rule, including exceptions, handling multiple subjects, phrases that intervene, indefinite pronouns, quantifiers, and collective nouns. It also highlights common errors to avoid and provides examples for clarity.
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Subject-verb agreement ensures that the verb in a sentence corresponds in number with its subject
Singular Pronouns "I" and "You"
The singular pronouns "I" and "you" are paired with singular verbs, even though they may appear to be plural
Auxiliary Verbs
With auxiliary verbs, "I" and "you" still require the singular form
When a sentence contains multiple subjects, the verb agreement depends on the conjunction used
Intervening phrases between the subject and verb do not affect the basic rule of agreement
Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns generally take singular verbs
Quantifiers
Quantifiers can affect verb agreement when used with countable or uncountable nouns
Collective Nouns
Collective nouns can take either singular or plural verbs depending on whether the group is acting as a single unit or as individual members
Errors in subject-verb agreement often arise when the verb does not match the subject in number
Plural Verb with Singular Subject
Using a plural verb with a singular subject is a common mistake in subject-verb agreement
Singular Verb with Plural Subject
Using a singular verb with a plural subject is another common mistake in subject-verb agreement
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A singular subject requires a ______ verb, while a plural subject needs a ______ verb.
singular
plural
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Subject-Verb Agreement Rule
Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs.
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Singular vs Plural Verbs Example
'The cat purrs' uses a singular verb; 'The cats purr' uses a plural verb.
