English Grammar: Subject-Verb Agreement Quiz

English Grammar: Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental aspect of English grammar that helps us link nouns and pronouns to their corresponding verbs in a coherent and logical manner. It ensures that the verb form correctly agrees with the subject in terms of person, number, and tense. Let's delve into this topic, exploring the basics and common scenarios where subject-verb agreement can be tricky.

Subjects and Verbs

A subject is a noun or pronoun that provides the focus of a sentence, while a verb describes an action or state of being. Subjects and verbs work together to convey information and create meaning.

Example: She loves pizza. In this sentence, "she" is the subject, and "loves" is the verb.

Person and Number

English grammar has three personal pronouns: first person (I, we), second person (you), and third person (he, she, it, they). Verbs must agree with their subject in terms of person and number.

Person:

• First person singular: I, we
• Second person singular: you
• Third person singular: he, she, it
• Third person plural: they

Number:

• Singular: one subject
• Plural: multiple subjects

Example: He is going out. (Third person singular) They are going out. (Third person plural)

Subject-Verb Agreement Rules

1. Subjects in their base form (not plural or possessive) agree with singular verbs. Example: The dog barks.

2. Subjects in their plural form agree with plural verbs. Example: The dogs bark.

3. Subjects in their third person singular form agree with third person singular verbs. Example: He likes apples.

4. Subjects in their third person plural form agree with third person plural verbs. Example: They love pizza.

5. Subjects in their second person singular form agree with second person singular verbs. Example: You like music.

6. Subjects in their first person and second person plural forms agree with third person plural verbs. Example: We love sushi, and you love sushi. Both subjects use third person plural verbs because they are in their plural forms.

Common Mistakes in Subject-Verb Agreement

1. Using a singular verb with a plural subject. Incorrect: The shoes is in the closet. Correct: The shoes are in the closet.

2. Using a plural verb with a singular subject. Incorrect: My teacher like pizza. Correct: My teacher likes pizza.

3. Using a third person singular verb with a third person plural subject in the base form. Incorrect: The computers is in the lab. Correct: The computers are in the lab.

4. Using a third person singular verb with a third person singular subject in its plural form. Incorrect: The mice run in the maze. Correct: The mice run in the maze.

Exception: Verbs with Irregular Plural Forms

Some verbs have irregular plural forms, and their third person singular form may not always match the third person plural form.

Example: I see, you see, he/she/it sees, we see, they see

• The third person singular form is "see," and the third person plural form is "see" as well.

Example: I go, you go, he/she/it goes, we go, they go

• The third person singular form is "go," and the third person plural form is "go."

Despite these exceptions, the general rule is that if the subject is singular, the verb should be in its singular form, and if the subject is plural, the verb should be in its plural form.