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Questions and Answers
What type of verb should be used with singular subjects?
Which sentence demonstrates the correct subject-verb agreement for a singular subject?
When should plural verbs be used?
Which of the following sentences demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement for plural subjects?
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What happens if a singular subject is paired with a plural verb?
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Why is it crucial for subjects and verbs to agree in number?
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Study Notes
Subject-verb agreement refers to the grammatical rule where a subject must agree in number (singular or plural) with its verb. This means that if the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular; if the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural. In English, most nouns have two forms: singular and plural, so it's quite straightforward to determine whether a subject is singular or plural.
Let's look at each of these cases more closely:
Singular Subjects with Singular Verbs
Singular subjects require singular verbs because they only represent one thing, person, or idea. For example, consider the following sentence:
The cat jumps over the fence.
In this sentence, "cat" is a singular subject, and the verb "jumps" agrees with it by being singular. It shows that there is just one action happening, which is appropriate given that we only have one subject performing the action.
Plural Subjects with Plural Verbs
On the other hand, plural subjects require plural verbs because they represent multiple things, people, or ideas. For instance, take a look at this sentence:
The cats jump over the fences.
Here, "cats" is a plural subject, and the verb "jump" has changed from singular ("jumps") to plural ("jump"). This change allows both the subject and the verb to match in number, indicating that multiple actions are occurring across all individual elements of the subject.
Remembering the rules of subject-verb agreement can help you ensure your sentences make sense grammatically, making your writing clearer and easier to understand for others.
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