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Subject-Verb Agreement in English Grammar with Examples
Have you ever tried constructing a sentence that sounds right but is grammatically incorrect? In most situations, the problem could be subject-verb agreement. This is an important concept in the field of English grammar and it greatly helps to develop your writing, speaking, and examination skills.
If you are a school student, a competitive exam aspirant, or wish to develop your communication skills, then it will definitely be useful for you to know about the subject-verb agreement concept in English grammar.
This article will discuss the rules of subject-verb agreement along with examples, errors, and tips for remembering them.
What Is Subject-Verb Agreement?
Subject-Verb Agreement refers to the fact that the subject and the verb of a sentence should have the same number.
- A singular subject takes a singular verb.
- A plural subject takes a plural verb.
Examples
- The boy plays football every evening.
- Singular subject (boy) → Singular verb (plays)
- The students study in the library.
- Plural subject (students) → Plural verb (study)
- She writes a blog every week.
- Singular subject (She) → Singular verb (writes)
- They work on different projects.
- Plural subject (They) → Plural verb (work)
If the subject and verb agree, then your sentence is grammatically correct and clear to understand.
Why Is Subject-Verb Agreement Important?
The benefits of mastering the subject-verb agreement include the following:
- Accuracy in terms of grammar.
- Professional writing without any mistakes.
- Good marks in school and tests.
- Improving your confidence while using the English language.
- Enhancing your communication skills in academia and career.
That is why subject-verb agreement is an important topic in English grammar.
Essential Subject-Verb Agreement Rules with Examples
1. Singular Subject Takes a Singular Verb
Examples:
- The teacher explains the lesson.
- My brother likes cricket.
2. Plural Subject Takes a Plural Verb
Examples:
- The students study together.
- Dogs bark loudly.
3. Subjects Joined by “And” Usually Take a Plural Verb
Examples:
- Riya and Meera are friends.
- Tea and coffee are available.
4. Subjects Joined by “Or” or “Nor”
The verb agrees with the subject closest to it.
Examples:
- Either the teacher or the students are attending.
- Either the students or the teacher is attending.
5. Collective Nouns
A collective noun usually takes a singular verb when acting as one unit.
Examples:
- The team is winning.
- The committee has made a decision.
6. Indefinite Pronouns
Words like everyone, somebody, anyone, each, everyone take singular verbs.
Examples:
- Everyone is excited.
- Each student has completed the assignment.
7. Uncountable Nouns Take Singular Verbs
Examples:
- Information is useful.
- Water is essential for life.
8. There Is / There Are
The verb depends on the noun that follows.
Examples:
- There is a book on the table.
- There are many books on the shelf.
Common Subject-Verb Agreement Mistakes
Many learners make these mistakes:
❌ She go to school every day.
âś… She goes to school every day.
❌ The list of books are on the table.
âś… The list of books is on the table.
❌ Everybody have finished.
âś… Everybody has finished.
❌ Neither of the answers are correct.
âś… Neither of the answers is correct.
Paying attention to the actual subject—not the words around it—helps avoid these common grammar errors.
Subject-Verb Agreement Examples
Here are more examples for practice:
- The bird flies in the sky.
- The children play in the park.
- Every teacher has a lesson plan.
- My friends live in Mumbai.
- The weather is pleasant today.
- Mathematics is my favorite subject.
- Neither Rahul nor his friends are ready.
- Either my sister or my parents are coming.
- One of the players has been selected.
- The books on the shelf belong to me.
Practicing such sentences regularly improves grammar naturally.
Easy Tips to Remember Subject-Verb Agreement
- Determine the subject before selecting the verb.
- Do not consider any intervening phrase between the subject and the verb.
- Everyone, somebody, anybody, each, and everybody refer to singular subjects.
- Grammar exercises should be practiced on a daily basis.
- English literature should be read to learn sentence construction.
Practicing consistently is the best method to learn English grammar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is subject-verb agreement?
Subject-verb agreement can be defined as the grammatical rule whereby the subject should be in agreement with the verb in terms of number.
Why is subject-verb agreement important?
The significance of this topic lies in the ability to write correct grammatical sentences, competent writing skills and confidence in use of the English language.
What are the basic subject-verb agreement rules?
Some of the grammatical rules that apply in the case of subject-verb agreement are singular subjects having singular verbs, plural subjects having plural verbs and some special rules applied in the case of collective nouns, indefinite pronouns and compound subjects.
How can I improve subject-verb agreement?
Practice some grammatical exercises, English language reading, identification of subjects, and review of some grammatical rules.
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Subject-verb agreement in English grammar is just one aspect among many others that go into becoming an efficient speaker and writer of English language. At Ziyyara, we believe that grammar must be functional, fun, and easy to learn, rather than being based on strict rule-bound approaches.
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