Questions and Answers
Which of the following sentences is correct?
Collective nouns always take plural verbs.
False
Explain what type of verb should be used with a compound subject that is joined by 'and'.
A plural verb
Neither the teacher nor the students _____ (be) present.
Signup and view all the answers
Match the following subjects with their correct verb forms:
Signup and view all the answers
What is the correct form of the verb in the sentence: 'There _____ (be) many options available'?
Signup and view all the answers
Plural subjects take singular verbs.
Signup and view all the answers
Provide an example of a sentence using a collective noun with a singular verb.
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement
- The subject and verb must agree in number (singular or plural).
- Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs.
- Use the correct form of the verb based on the subject, regardless of other phrases or clauses.
Singular vs. Plural Subjects
- Singular Subjects: Require a singular verb (e.g., "The dog barks").
- Plural Subjects: Require a plural verb (e.g., "The dogs bark").
- Indefinite pronouns (e.g., anyone, everyone) usually take singular verbs.
- Some collective nouns (e.g., team, family) can take either singular or plural verbs depending on context.
Compound Subjects
- When subjects are joined by "and," they typically take a plural verb (e.g., "Tom and Jerry are friends").
- When subjects are joined by "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the nearest subject (e.g., "Either the cat or the dogs are outside").
- "Neither...nor" and "either...or" constructions also follow the same rule for nearest subject.
Inverted Sentences
- In sentences where the subject follows the verb (common in questions), the verb must still agree with the subject (e.g., "There are many options," not "There is many options").
- Use the correct form of the verb based on the subject’s number despite the inversion.
Common Errors
- Misplacing the subject can lead to errors (e.g., "The group of students are studying" should be "The group of students is studying").
- Confusing collective nouns; ensure the context dictates the verb form.
- Ignoring compound subjects' rules, especially with "or" or "nor."
- Overlooking indefinite pronouns; ensure they are treated as singular or plural correctly.
Rules of Subject-Verb Agreement
- Subjects and verbs must match in number; singular subjects use singular verbs and plural subjects use plural verbs.
- The form of the verb must correspond to the subject regardless of additional phrases or clauses present.
Singular vs. Plural Subjects
- Singular subjects require singular verbs (e.g., "The dog barks").
- Plural subjects require plural verbs (e.g., "The dogs bark").
- Indefinite pronouns (e.g., anyone, everyone, someone) typically take singular verbs.
- Collective nouns like "team" and "family" can use singular or plural verbs based on the context of the sentence.
Compound Subjects
- Subjects linked by "and" generally take a plural verb (e.g., "Tom and Jerry are friends").
- For subjects connected by "or" or "nor," the verb must agree with the closest subject (e.g., "Either the cat or the dogs are outside").
- Similar rules apply for "neither...nor" and "either...or" constructions regarding the nearest subject.
Inverted Sentences
- Inverted sentences, where the subject follows the verb (frequent in questions), still require the verb to agree with the subject (e.g., "There are many options," not "There is many options").
- Correct form of the verb is based on the subject’s number, despite inversion.
Common Errors
- Misplaced subjects lead to grammatical errors (e.g., "The group of students are studying" should be corrected to "The group of students is studying").
- Confusion around collective nouns necessitates careful context consideration to determine verb form.
- Ignoring rules for compound subjects, especially with "or" or "nor," can result in inaccuracies.
- Indefinite pronouns must be treated accurately as singular or plural to maintain subject-verb agreement.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge on the rules of subject-verb agreement. This quiz covers singular and plural subjects, compound subjects, and the impact of indefinite pronouns and collective nouns on verb forms. Ensure you understand how to make subjects and verbs agree correctly.
