What Is the General Rule in Subject Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of grammar that you need to master to write effectively. It is nothing more than ensuring that the verb agrees with its subject in a sentence. When you write a sentence, your subject should make sense with the verb that follows it. If the subject is singular, the verb should also be singular, and if the subject is plural, the verb should be plural.

To avoid grammatical errors, you should pay attention to the following general rules in subject-verb agreement:

1. Singular subjects require singular verbs.

When writing a sentence with a singular subject, make sure that you use a singular verb to match it. For example, “The boy runs to school.” Here, the subject “boy” is singular, and the verb “runs” is also singular.

2. Plural subjects require plural verbs.

When writing a sentence with a plural subject, use a plural verb to match it. For example, “The boys run to school.” Here, the subject “boys” is plural, and the verb “run” is also plural.

3. Compound subjects joined by “and” require plural verbs.

When you join two subjects with “and,” use a plural verb. For example, “Mary and John are attending the party.” Here, the compound subject “Mary and John” is plural, so it requires a plural verb “are.”

4. Compound subjects joined by “or” or “nor” require a verb that agrees with the closest noun.

When you join two subjects with “or” or “nor,” use a verb that agrees with the closest subject. For example, “Neither the cat nor the dog is hungry.” Here, the closest noun is “dog,” which is singular, so we use the singular verb “is.”

5. Indefinite pronouns may require singular or plural verbs depending on the context.

When using indefinite pronouns such as “everyone,” “someone,” or “anyone,” the verb you use depends on the context. For example, “Everyone has their own opinion.” Here, we use the plural verb “have” because we are talking about multiple opinions, even though the pronoun “everyone” is singular.

6. Collective nouns may require singular or plural verbs depending on the context.

When using collective nouns such as “team” or “family,” the verb you use depends on the context. For example, “The team is playing well.” Here, we use the singular verb “is” because we are talking about the team as a unit.

In conclusion, subject-verb agreement is a crucial aspect of writing that you need to master to communicate your message effectively. By paying attention to the general rules outlined above, you can avoid grammatical errors and write sentences that are clear and concise.