Questions and Answers
Which option correctly identifies the subject-verb agreement in the sentence: 'Neither the teacher nor the students ____ present'?
Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement with a compound subject?
In the sentence 'Everyone in the group ____ excited about the trip', which verb form should be used?
What is the correct verb form for the sentence: 'The team ____ winning the championship this year'?
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In the sentence 'The bouquet of flowers ____ beautiful', what verb should replace the blank?
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Choose the sentence that has the correct subject-verb agreement relating to indefinite pronouns.
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Select the sentence in which the subject-verb agreement is incorrectly applied.
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Which sentence correctly illustrates the subject-verb agreement with a title?
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Study Notes
Subject-Verb Agreement
Definition
- Subject-verb agreement involves ensuring that the subject of a sentence matches the verb in number (singular or plural).
General Rules
-
Singular Subjects: Use a singular verb.
- Example: The cat runs fast.
-
Plural Subjects: Use a plural verb.
- Example: The cats run fast.
Types of Subjects
-
Compound Subjects: When two subjects are joined by "and," use a plural verb.
- Example: The cat and the dog are friends.
-
Singular Subjects with "or" or "nor": When subjects are joined by "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the nearest subject.
- Example: Neither the teacher nor the students were present.
Indefinite Pronouns
- Some indefinite pronouns are always singular (e.g., everyone, someone).
- Example: Everyone is invited.
- Some are always plural (e.g., few, many).
- Example: Many were chosen.
- Some can be singular or plural depending on context (e.g., all, some).
- Example: Some of the cake is gone. / Some of the cookies are gone.
Collective Nouns
- Collective nouns can be singular or plural depending on whether the group acts as a single unit or individual members.
- Example (singular): The team wins the game.
- Example (plural): The team are arguing among themselves.
Exceptions and Special Cases
- Titles of books, movies, or groups are treated as singular.
- Example: "The Beatles is my favorite band."
- Phrases that precede the subject do not affect the verb agreement.
- Example: A bouquet of flowers was on the table.
Tips for Ensuring Agreement
- Identify the subject first.
- Look for intervening phrases that do not affect number.
- Take note of compound subjects and their conjunctions.
- Consider context for indefinite pronouns and collective nouns.
Subject-Verb Agreement
- Subject-verb agreement is the grammatical rule that dictates the matching of the subject and verb in number (singular or plural).
General Rules
- Singular subjects require singular verbs. For example, "The cat runs fast."
- Plural subjects require plural verbs. For example, "The cats run fast."
Types of Subjects
- Compound subjects joined by "and" take a plural verb, such as "The cat and the dog are friends."
- When subjects are joined by "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the nearest subject, as in "Neither the teacher nor the students were present."
Indefinite Pronouns
- Some indefinite pronouns are always singular, like "everyone" or "someone," illustrated by "Everyone is invited."
- Indefinite pronouns such as "few" or "many" are always plural, e.g., "Many were chosen."
- Certain indefinite pronouns can be either singular or plural based on context, like "all" or "some," shown in "Some of the cake is gone." versus "Some of the cookies are gone."
Collective Nouns
- Collective nouns may function as singular or plural depending on whether the group acts as a single entity or as individuals.
- For instance, "The team wins the game" (singular) versus "The team are arguing among themselves" (plural).
Exceptions and Special Cases
- Titles of books, movies, or groups are treated as singular, for example, "The Beatles is my favorite band."
- Phrases that come before the subject do not affect the number of the verb, as in "A bouquet of flowers was on the table."
Tips for Ensuring Agreement
- Begin by identifying the subject clearly.
- Be aware of any intervening phrases that don’t change the subject’s number.
- Pay attention to conjunctions in compound subjects.
- Evaluate the context for indefinite pronouns and collective nouns to determine proper usage.
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Description
Test your knowledge on subject-verb agreement rules, including handling singular and plural subjects. This quiz covers examples, rules for compound subjects, and the use of indefinite pronouns. Get ready to enhance your grammatical skills!
