Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-Verb Agreement

When you arite a sentence you must make sure that the subject and the verb agre. If the subject is a singular noun, or the pronoun he, she or it, you need a singular verb.

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1

Use a plural verb if the subject is a plural noun, or the pronoun we, you or they.

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1

• The stars shine brightly on a clear night.
• Mom and Dad love us a lot.
• Do you all know the words?
• We have finished our game of tennis.
• They have both worked very hard.

Collective nouns may be used with either singular or plural verbs. If the group members are all acting together as one, use a singular verb. If the members of the group are acting as individuals, use a plural verb.

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1

* Some plural nouns, such as people, cattle,  police, don’t end with -s. Always use a plural  verb with these nouns. For example:

• People like to be praised. 
• The cattle are in the field. 
• The police have caught the thief

Exercise 1 
Fill in the blanks with verbs that match the  subjects. Use the correct form of the simple present tense of the verbs in parentheses.

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1

Exercise 2 
Fill in the blanks with verbs that match the subjects. Use the correct form of the simple present tense of the verbs in parentheses.

Retrieved from: Basic English Grammar - Book 1