Present Tense Verbs in English

12 Questions

Which subject pronoun is the only first person subject?

When changing the subject from 'I' to 'he,' what should be added to each verb in the present tense?

's'

What error is signaled when a sentence reads 'I walks'?

Subject-Verb Agreement Error

Which of the following statements is true about subject-verb agreement in English?

Subject-Verb Agreement Errors can signal lack of language mastery.

In the sentence 'The cat eats,' what does the word 'eats' signify?

Third person singular present tense verb

Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?

'He studies every day.'

Which type of subjects, when joined by 'and', require a verb form without an 's'?

Plural subjects

If a subject is modified by 'each' or 'every', what kind of verb form does it require?

A verb form with an 's'

Which type of words are usually singular and take a verb form that ends in 's'?

Indefinite pronouns

When plural subjects are joined by 'or,' 'nor,' or 'but,' the verb must agree with which subject?

The subject closest to the verb

Which type of nouns, despite ending in 's', are considered singular for subject-verb agreement purposes?

Nouns indicating diseases

When a collective noun is the subject, what type of verb form does it take?

A verb form with an 's'

Study Notes

Subject-Verb Agreement Rules

To ensure subject-verb agreement, there are 13 rules to follow.

Rule 1: Plural Subjects Joined by "and"

Two or more subjects joined by "and" are considered plural and require a verb form without an "s."

Rule 2: Singular Subjects Modified by "each" or "every"

If a subject is modified by the words "each" or "every", it is singular and will take a verb form that ends in "s."

Rule 3: Plural Subjects Joined by "or", "nor", or "but"

If plural subjects are joined by "or", "nor", or "but", the verb must agree with the subject closest to it.

Rule 4: Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns are usually singular and take a verb form that ends in "s."
A list of indefinite pronouns can be found at the end of the handout.

Rule 5: Subjects in Prepositional or Verbal Phrases

The subject of a verb is never in a prepositional or verbal phrase.
To find the proper subject, isolate the phrase.

Rule 6: Indefinite Pronouns and Nouns Depending on the Object of the Prepositional Phrase

Some indefinite pronouns and nouns can be singular or plural depending on the object of the prepositional phrase.
These words are often about number or amount, such as "all", "half", "some", "none", "most", "part", etc.

Rule 7: Collective Nouns

When a collective noun, such as "family", "group", "committee", or "class", is the subject, the verb will end in "s."

Rule 8: Singular Nouns Ending in "s"

Some nouns, such as "economics", "mumps", "measles", or "news", end in "s" but are considered singular.

Third Person Singular Verbs

In the third person singular, an "s" is added to the verb form.
This rule applies to every singular third person verb in the English language.