Subject-Verb Agreement Basics for Newcomer English Learners

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25 Questions

Which of the following sentences demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement for a singular subject?

It goes to school.

What is the correct verb form to use with the plural subject 'dogs'?

Dogs bark loudly.

Which of the following is an example of an irregular verb?

Went

In the sentence 'She ___ her breakfast every morning,' which verb correctly fills in the blank?

Eats

What is the correct verb form to complete the sentence 'The children ___ in the playground'?

Play

Which of the following sentences has correct subject-verb agreement?

The cats walk on the roof.

Which verb form correctly agrees with the subject 'I'?

Go

What is the correct past tense form of the verb 'drink'?

drank

Which of the following is an example of a singular subject and plural verb agreement?

The dogs runs in the park.

What is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb 'eat'?

eats

Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement with a plural subject?

She goes to the library.

What should be used to complete this sentence accurately: 'She _________ her homework every day.'?

does

Which verb form is used correctly with a singular subject?

It was raining yesterday.

What type of verb should be used with a plural subject in English?

Plural verb

Which of the following sentences demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement for a singular subject?

She is singing a song.

What distinguishes irregular verbs from regular verbs in English?

They have unpredictable conjugations.

Which of the following examples illustrates a collective noun?

The team is practicing.

What verb form is used correctly with a plural subject?

They walk in the park.

When should irregular verbs be memorized?

Regardless of subject-verb agreement rules

Which sentence shows correct subject-verb agreement for a singular subject?

The bird sings in the morning.

What verb form is used correctly with a singular subject?

He plays basketball.

'The class ___ learning new concepts.' - Which verb correctly fills in the blank?

'is'

'The children ___ playing in the park.' - What verb should fill in the blank?

'are'

Which of the following explains a key concept regarding subject-verb agreement in English?

Verbs must match subjects in number

What does 'The army marches as one unit' exemplify?

Plural verb with collective noun

Study Notes

Subject Verb Agreement for Newcomer English Learners

Mastering subject-verb agreement (SVA) is essential for newcomer English learners to communicate fluently and accurately in their writing and speaking. In this article, we'll explore the basics of SVA with a focus on singular subjects and singular verbs, plural subjects and plural verbs, and irregular verbs.

Singular Subjects and Singular Verbs

To form a correct sentence, the subject (e.g., "she," "I," "it") must agree in number with the verb (e.g., "walks," "goes," "eats"). For example, "She goes to school" is correct, while "She go to school" is incorrect. The verb "goes" is conjugated in the third-person singular form to agree with the singular subject "she."

Plural Subjects and Plural Verbs

When a sentence has a plural subject (e.g., "cats," "people," "shoes"), the verb must also be in its plural form (e.g., "walk," "eat," "wear") to match the subject in number. For instance, "The cats play outside" is correct, while "The cats play outside and the dog howls" is also correct, but "The cats walk" is incorrect because "walk" is singular, and the subject is plural.

Irregular Verbs

Unlike regular verbs (e.g., "eat," "drink"), irregular verbs do not follow a consistent pattern in the formation of their past tense and third-person singular present tense forms. Some examples of irregular verbs include "eat," "drink," "go," and "see."

To conjugate irregular verbs, learners must memorize their specific forms. For example, the verb "eat" becomes "ate" in the past tense and "eats" in the third-person singular present tense; however, "drink" becomes "drank" in the past tense and "drinks" in the third-person singular present tense.

Newcomer English learners should practice forming sentences using singular and plural subjects, and the appropriate verb forms, to ensure accurate and effective communication. As with any new skill, consistent practice and exposure to a variety of sentence types and verb forms will help learners to improve their subject-verb agreement skills.

Remember, SVA is one of the building blocks of English grammar, and by mastering it, learners will be able to construct coherent and grammatically correct sentences. Keep practicing, and you'll be on your way to becoming a confident English speaker and writer!

Learn the fundamentals of subject-verb agreement (SVA) in English grammar tailored for newcomer learners. Explore singular subjects and verbs, plural subjects and verbs, as well as irregular verbs to enhance your communication skills. Practice forming correct sentences to improve your SVA accuracy and fluency.

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