Subject-Verb Agreement
In English grammar, subject-verb agreement is a fundamental principle that ensures grammatical harmony within a sentence. It dictates that the verb must agree with its subject in terms of number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third).
Core Principle:
- A singular subject takes a singular verb.
- A plural subject takes a plural verb.
Key Rules and Examples:
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Basic Agreement:
- “The professor was traveling in Europe.” (Singular subject, singular verb)
- “The students were excited about the trip.” (Plural subject, plural verb)
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Subject with Accompaniment:
- Phrases like “as well as,” “in addition to,” “with,” “along with,” etc., do not affect the number of the subject. The verb agrees with the main subject.
- “Karim, along with his sons, was there.” (Singular subject ‘Karim’, singular verb ‘was’)
- “The book, along with the notes, was helpful.” (Singular subject ‘book’, singular verb ‘was’)
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Correlative Conjunctions:
- With correlative conjunctions like “either…or,” “neither…nor,” the verb agrees with the noun or pronoun closest to it.
- “Neither Rini nor Simi is qualified for the job.” (Singular noun ‘Simi’, singular verb ‘is’)
- “Either the teachers or the principal is responsible.” (Singular noun ‘principal’, singular verb ‘is’)
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Phrases and Clauses as Subjects:
- When a phrase or clause acts as the subject, the verb is singular.
- “To err is human.”
- “Buying clothes is often time-consuming.”
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Indefinite Pronouns:
- Most indefinite pronouns (e.g., everyone, anyone, someone, nobody) take singular verbs.
- “Everyone is welcome.”
- “Nobody likes being ignored.”
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Collective Nouns:
- Collective nouns (e.g., team, family, committee) can take singular or plural verbs depending on whether they are considered a single unit or a collection of individuals.
- “The committee is meeting today.” (Group as a unit, singular verb)
- “The committee are divided on the issue.” (Individuals within the group, plural verb)
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Nouns with the same Singular and Plural Forms:
- Some nouns have the same form in both singular and plural (e.g., deer, sheep, fish). The verb agrees with the intended meaning.
- “The deer is grazing in the field.” (One deer)
- “The deer are grazing in the field.” (Multiple deer)
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Expressions of Quantity:
- Expressions like “a number of,” “a lot of,” “plenty of” take plural verbs.
- “A number of students are absent today.”
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‘The number of’ vs. ‘A number of’
- ‘The number of’ takes a singular verb, while ‘a number of’ takes a plural verb
- “The number of applicants is increasing.”
- “A number of applicants are waiting outside.”
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‘Many a’ vs. ‘A many’
- ‘Many a’ takes a singular verb, while ‘a many’ takes a plural verb
- “Many a student has failed the exam.”
- “A many students have failed the exam.”
Remember:
- Subject-verb agreement is crucial for clear and grammatically correct sentences.
- Identify the true subject of the sentence, ignoring any intervening phrases or clauses.
- Be mindful of exceptions and special cases.
- Practice identifying subjects and matching them with the correct verb forms.
By mastering subject-verb agreement, you can ensure that your writing is precise and professional. If you have any further questions or would like more examples, feel free to ask!
