14 Rules of Subject Verb Agreement with Examples: Essential Grammar Tips

Mastering Subject Verb Agreement: 10 Legal FAQs

Legal Question	Answer
1. What are the 14 rules of subject verb agreement?	Oh, my dear friend, subject-verb agreement is a marvel of language! The 14 rules govern the agreement between the subject and verb in a sentence. For example, “The dog barks” showcases the simple rule of singular subject (dog) matching with singular verb (barks).
2. Can you provide an example of subject-verb agreement with compound subjects?	Ah, the beauty of compound subjects! “John and Mary go to the park” demonstrates the plural subject (John and Mary) harmonizing with the plural verb (go).
3. How does subject-verb agreement work with collective nouns?	Collective nouns, such as “team” or “committee,” can be tricky! “The team is playing well” exemplifies the singular verb (is) in unison with the collective noun (team).
4. What about subject-verb agreement with indefinite pronouns?	Oh, the dance of indefinite pronouns! “Nobody is perfect” illustrates the singular verb (is) accompanying the indefinite pronoun (nobody), while “Many are called, but few are chosen” showcases the plural verb (are) meshing with the indefinite pronoun (many).
5. How do you handle subject-verb agreement with phrases and clauses?	Ah, the elegance of phrases and clauses! “The book that I want is on the shelf” demonstrates the singular verb (is) coordinated with the singular subject (book), while “The books that are on the shelf are expensive” showcases the plural verb (are) in harmony with the plural subject (books).
6. Can you explain subject-verb agreement in relation to intervening words?	Intervening words are like spices in a dish! “The box, along with the other packages, is waiting for you” ilustrates the singular verb (is) resonating with the singular subject (box), even with the intervening phrase (along with the other packages).
7. What`s the deal with subject-verb agreement in inverted sentences?	Inverted sentences are like a delightful puzzle! “Here comes the bus” showcases the singular verb (comes) in sync with the singular subject (bus), despite the inverted word order. “There go the children” demonstrates the plural verb (go) harmonizing with the plural subject (children) in an inverted structure.
8. How does subject-verb agreement apply to collective nouns with singular and plural meanings?	Oh, the nuance of collective nouns with dual personalities! “The staff is in a meeting” reveals the singular verb (is) embracing the collective noun (staff) in its singular sense, while “The staff are divided on the issue” showcases the plural verb (are) aligning with the collective noun in its plural interpretation.
9. Can you elaborate on subject-verb agreement in the presence of words like “each” and “every”?	Ah, the precision of “each” and “every”! “Each student has a textbook” illustrates the singular verb (has) accompanying the singular word (each), while “Every student knows the answer” showcases the singular verb (knows) in concordance with the singular word (every).
10. How should subject-verb agreement be handled with uncountable nouns?	Uncountable nouns are like a flowing river! “The water is cold” demonstrates the singular verb (is) matching the uncountable noun (water), while “The waters are dangerous” showcases the plural verb (are) in unison with the plural interpretation of the noun (waters).

14 Rules of Subject Verb Agreement with Examples

Subject-verb agreement is an essential aspect of English grammar that can often be confusing. Understanding and applying the rules of subject-verb agreement can significantly improve your writing and communication skills. In this blog post, we will explore 14 Rules of Subject Verb Agreement with Examples to help you grasp this important concept.

Rule 1: Singular subjects require singular verbs

Subject	Verb
The dog	barks
The cat	sleeps

It`s fascinating how a singular subject always takes a singular verb. This demonstrates the harmony and agreement between the subject and the verb in a sentence.

Rule 2: Plural subjects require plural verbs

Subject	Verb
The dogs	bark
The cats	sleep

When dealing with plural subjects, it is important to use plural verbs to maintain agreement and coherence in your writing.

Rule 3: Collective nouns can be singular or plural

Subject	Verb
The team	is
The team members	are

Collective nouns can be tricky to navigate, as they can be singular or plural depending on the context. It`s important to pay attention to this when using collective nouns in your writing.

Rule 4: Indefinite pronouns can be singular or plural

Subject	Verb
Someone	is
Many	are

Indefinite pronouns such as “someone” and “many” can be singular or plural, so it`s crucial to match them with the appropriate verbs in your writing.

Rule 5: Use a singular verb with each, either, neither, everyone, nobody, somebody, anybody

Subject	Verb
Everyone	is
Nobody	is

Words like “everyone” and “nobody” always take singular verbs, demonstrating the importance of matching the subject with the appropriate verb form.

Rule 6: Use a plural verb with the words who, which, and that when they refer to more than one

Subject	Verb
The students	are
The teachers	are

When “who,” “which,” or “that” refer to more than one entity, it is important to use plural verbs to maintain subject-verb agreement.

Rule 7: Use a singular verb with fractions and amounts of money

Subject	Verb
Two-thirds of the cake	was
Five dollars	was

When dealing with fractions and amounts of money, it`s important to use singular verbs to maintain proper subject-verb agreement.

Rule 8: Use a singular verb with titles, names, and words that represent one unit

Subject	Verb
The President	is
Mount Everest	is

Titles, names, and words that represent one unit always take singular verbs to ensure proper subject-verb agreement.

Rule 9: Use the appropriate verb form for words like each, every, somebody, anyone, and nobody

Subject	Verb
Each student	is
Somebody in the room	is

Words like “each” and “somebody” require singular verb forms to maintain proper subject-verb agreement in a sentence.

Rule 12: Use a singular verb when the subject follows the verb

Verb	Subject
Is	The book
Was	The movie

When the subject follows the verb, it`s important to use a singular verb for proper subject-verb agreement.

Rule 13: Use a singular verb when expressions like “one of,” “each of,” “either of,” or “neither of” are followed by a plural noun

Subject	Verb
One of the students	is
Neither of the options	is

When these specific expressions are followed by a plural noun, they take singular verbs for proper subject-verb agreement.

Rule 14: Use the appropriate verb form with subjects joined by “and”

Subject	Verb
John and Jane	are
The cat and the dog	are

When subjects are joined by “and,” it`s important to use plural verbs for proper subject-verb agreement, unless the subjects are considered as a single unit.

Wrapping Up

Understanding and applying the rules of subject-verb agreement is crucial for effective communication. By following 14 Rules of Subject Verb Agreement with Examples provided in this blog post, you can enhance clarity and coherence of your writing. Practice these rules, and you`ll be well on your way to mastering subject-verb agreement in English grammar.

Subject Verb Agreement Contract

This contract outlines the rules of subject-verb agreement along with examples to ensure clarity and accuracy in legal writing.

Rule	Example
The subject and verb must agree in number.	He writes Every day.
Singular subjects take singular verbs.	She plays The piano.
Plural subjects take plural verbs.	They work In the company.
Words like “each” and “every” are singular and require singular verbs.	Each of the students is Responsible for completing the assignment.
When the subject follows the verb, ignore words that come between them.	There are A few students in the room.
Compound subjects connected by “and” takes plural verb.	Tom and Jerry are Best friends.
When using “or” or “nor”, verb should agree with closer subject.	Neither the cat nor the dogs are Hungry.
Collective nouns are singular and take singular verbs.	The team is Playing in the finals.
Indefinite pronouns like “everyone” and “someone” are singular and require singular verbs.	Someone is Waiting for you outside.
When using “amount” or “number”, verb agrees with noun that follows.	The amount of cars is Increasing.
“Is” is used for singular subjects, and “are” for plural subjects.	The cat is Sleeping.
Titles of books, movies, and names of organizations take singular verbs.	The Avengers is A great movie.
Words like “news” and “mathematics” take singular verbs.	The news is Shocking.
Expressions of time, money, and distance take singular verbs.	Five miles is A long distance.