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Questions and Answers
What is the general rule for forming verb forms when the subject is a singular noun?
Which type of noun refers to more than one person, place, thing, or idea?
How do you form the plural form of a noun ending in a consonant + y?
What is the verb form required for a subject that is a collective noun?
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What type of pronoun usually takes a singular verb form?
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What happens when two nouns are connected by 'and'?
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Study Notes
Subject-Verb Agreement Rules
- A singular subject requires a singular verb form.
- A plural subject requires a plural verb form.
- When the subject is a singular noun, the verb form is usually the base form of the verb + -s or -es.
- When the subject is a plural noun, the verb form is usually the base form of the verb.
Singular and Plural Nouns
Singular Nouns
- A singular noun refers to one person, place, thing, or idea.
- Examples:
- Cat
- City
- Student
- Happiness
Plural Nouns
- A plural noun refers to more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
- Forming plural nouns:
- Most nouns: add -s to the singular form (e.g. cat -> cats)
- Nouns ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, or -z: add -es (e.g. bus -> buses)
- Nouns ending in a consonant + y: change the y to -ies (e.g. city -> cities)
- Irregular plurals: follow specific rules (e.g. person -> people, mouse -> mice)
Special Cases
- Collective nouns (e.g. team, family, herd): can be singular or plural, depending on the context.
- Compound subjects: use a plural verb form if the subjects are connected by "and."
- Indefinite pronouns (e.g. everyone, someone, nobody): usually take a singular verb form.
Subject-Verb Agreement Rules
- Singular subjects require singular verb forms, while plural subjects require plural verb forms.
- Singular noun subjects take the base form of the verb + -s or -es.
- Plural noun subjects take the base form of the verb.
Singular and Plural Nouns
Singular Nouns
- Refer to one person, place, thing, or idea.
- Examples: cat, city, student, happiness.
Plural Nouns
- Refer to more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
- Forming plural nouns:
- Most nouns: add -s to the singular form.
- Nouns ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, or -z: add -es.
- Nouns ending in a consonant + y: change the y to -ies.
- Irregular plurals: follow specific rules (e.g. person -> people, mouse -> mice).
Special Cases
- Collective nouns (e.g. team, family, herd) can be singular or plural, depending on the context.
- Compound subjects connected by "and" take a plural verb form.
- Indefinite pronouns (e.g. everyone, someone, nobody) usually take a singular verb form.
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Description
Learn the essential rules of subject-verb agreement and understand the difference between singular and plural nouns in English grammar.
