Inflectional Endings with Verbs: Subject-Verb Agreement

Inflectional Endings with Verbs: Subject-Verb Agreement

Inflectional endings are the additions to words that change the number, tense, or meaning of a word. In English, verbs, nouns, and pronouns can have inflectional endings. One key aspect of using inflectional endings correctly is subject-verb agreement. This article will explore the inflectional endings used with verbs, focusing on subject-verb agreement.

Inflectional Endings: Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement refers to the correspondence between the subject and the verb in a sentence. The subject must agree with the verb in number and tense. For example, "The cats walk" is correct because the subject "cats" is plural, and the verb "walk" is also plural. Similarly, "The cat walks" is correct because the subject "cat" is singular, and the verb "walks" is also singular.

Singular Verbs

Singular verbs are used when the subject is singular. The inflectional ending "-s" is added to the base verb to indicate the third-person singular subject. For example, "The cat runs" (subject is singular, verb is "runs" with the added "-s" inflectional ending).

Plural Verbs

Plural verbs are used when the subject is plural. The inflectional ending "-es" is added to the base verb to indicate the third-person plural subject. For example, "The cats run" (subject is plural, verb is "runs" with the added "-es" inflectional ending).

Verb Tenses

Inflectional endings are also used to indicate tense, including past, present, and future tenses. For example, the inflectional ending "-ed" is added to the base verb to indicate the past tense, as in "The cat walked." The inflectional ending "-ing" is added to the base verb to indicate the present continuous or present participle tense, as in "The cat is running" or "The cat has run."

Practice with Inflectional Endings

To practice inflectional endings and subject-verb agreement, you can use various resources. Websites like Teachers Pay Teachers offer worksheets and activities specifically designed to help students practice reading and using verbs with inflectional endings such as "-ing," "-ed," and "-s". These resources can be helpful in understanding the rules and patterns of inflectional endings in English.

Key Takeaways

Inflectional endings are a crucial aspect of English grammar, and subject-verb agreement plays a significant role in ensuring that sentences are correctly structured. By understanding the inflectional endings used with verbs and practicing their usage, students can improve their grammar skills and communicate effectively.