What Is Subject-Verb Agreement?

What Is The Subject-Verb Agreement?

Well, we all know that every English sentence has a subject and a verb. So what is subject-verb agreement? It is important to know that if the subject is singular, the verb should also be singular. Similarly, if the subject is plural, the verb should also be plural. 

What does it mean? Let’s see this example:

The boy eats blueberries.

The ‘boy’ is the subject.

‘Eats’ is the verb. 

Notice that the ‘boy’ is a singular noun as a subject, so the verb ‘eats’ is also singular. This is how the subject and verb must agree in number.

Let’s take another example:

Those boys eat blueberries.

Those ‘boys’ is the subject. 

‘Eat’ is the verb.

In this sentence the ‘boys’ is a plural noun as a subject, so the verb ‘eat’ is also plural. 

Interestingly, the nouns and the verbs behave differently. The verb ‘eats ‘has an s in the singular form with the singular subject ‘boy’ where the subject doesn’t have an s. Similarly, The verb ‘eat’ is singular – without an s with the plural verb

‘boys’.

boy eat+s

So, the boy eats blueberries. 

boy(s) +eat

So, the boys eat blueberries. 

Subject-Verb Agreement – Rules And Examples:

Here you can read some basic subject-verb agreement rules with examples.

– Basic Rule

The basic rule of the subject-verb agreement is to identify the subject (the noun that completes an action) and then identify the verb (the word that shows an action). The next step is to ensure that the subject and verb agree in number.

This girl likes to go to school.

These girls like to go to school.

This car is beautiful.

These cars are beautiful.

This book is mine.

These books are mine.

– Compound Subject

When the subject of your sentence has two or more nouns/pronouns joined together by and, use a plural verb. See the example below:

Jake and his friends play soccer every day.

Sam and Rocky speak Mandarin.

– Collective Nouns

When the subject of your sentence is a collective noun, use a singular verb. A collective noun is used to refer to a group, so it includes more than one entity in the group. For example, a bouquet of flowers contains many flowers. A pack of wolves refers to many wolves together. Similarly, a team has many team members in it.

This bouquet of white orchids is beautiful.

– Noncount Nouns

Sentences that have noncount nouns as subjects, always take a singular verb. A noncount noun is a noun that cannot be counted. For example, information, happiness, health, etc.

The furniture in this room is quite old.

– Sentences Beginning With There/ Here

In sentences beginning with here or there, identify the subject first and then use the verb accordingly. Read these examples:

Here are my car keys.

There they are!

Here are the five golden rules.

Here is a chart that may help you remember the subject-verb agreement rules.

Download this FREE WORKSHEET for extra practice.

If you have any questions or comments, do comment below.