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Questions and Answers
What is the general rule for forming verb forms when the subject is a singular noun?
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?
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?
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?
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?
What type of pronoun usually takes a singular verb form?
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What happens when two nouns are connected by 'and'?
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.
