Agreement of Verb with Subject Rules with Examples
When it comes to writing, one of the fundamental aspects that writers need to pay attention to is the agreement of the verb with the subject. The essence of this connection is that the verb in a sentence should always agree with the subject in terms of grammatical number and person. In this article, we will discuss the rules of verb agreement with subjects, along with examples.
Rule 1: Singular Subjects Require Singular Verbs
A singular subject requires a singular verb. Consider the following examples:
– The girl walks to school every day.
– The sun shines brightly in summer.
In these examples, the subject (girl and sun) is singular, and the verbs (walks and shines) also correspondingly reflect the singular form.
Rule 2: Plural Subjects Require Plural Verbs
A plural subject requires a plural verb. Consider the following examples:
– The girls walk to school every day.
– The sun and the stars shine brightly in summer.
In these examples, the subjects (girls and sun and stars) are plural, and the verbs (walk and shine) are accordingly in a plural form.
Rule 3: Compound Subjects Require Plural Verbs
Compound subjects connected by “and” require plural verbs. Consider the following example:
– The girl and the boy play football in the park.
The subjects (girl and boy) are connected by “and,” making them a compound subject, requiring a plural verb (play).
Rule 4: Collective Nouns Require Singular Verbs
A collective noun refers to a group made up of individual units. Collective nouns require singular verbs. Consider the following examples:
– The team plays well together.
– The staff works hard every day.
In these examples, team and staff are both collective nouns, which take singular verbs (plays and works).
Rule 5: Indefinite Pronouns Require Singular or Plural Verbs
Indefinite pronouns refer to nonspecific things, places, or people. The verb used with indefinite pronouns depends on the actual noun the pronoun refers to. Consider the following examples:
– Anyone can attend the seminar. (Singular)
– Some of the members are sick. (Plural)
In the first sentence, “anyone” is the indefinite pronoun, although it refers to a single person; the verb used must be singular (“can attend”). In the second sentence, “some” is the indefinite pronoun, which refers to multiple members, requiring a plural verb (are sick).
Conclusion
The agreement of the verb with the subject is essential to produce clear and grammatically correct sentences. In summary, singular subjects require singular verbs, plural subjects require plural verbs, compound subjects require plural verbs, collective nouns require singular verbs, and indefinite pronouns require either singular or plural verbs, depending upon their actual noun reference. Remembering and using these rules will help you in crafting strong, effective, and error-free writing.