## Introduction

Subject-verb agreement is an important part of grammar that many people overlook, but it is essential for clear and effective communication. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of subject-verb agreement, common errors to avoid, and provide a comprehensive guide to mastering this fundamental concept.

## Understanding Subjects and Verbs

### Definition and Role of Subjects

Subjects are the main focus of a sentence, usually a noun or pronoun that performs the action or is described in the sentence.

### Definition and Role of Verbs

On the other hand, verbs are the action words in a sentence, indicating what the subject is doing or the state of being.

### Relationship Between Subjects and Verbs

Subject-verb agreement is the rule that the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number. When you’re talking about one thing, use a singular verb. And when you’re talking about multiple things, use a plural verb. It’s all about matching the verb to the subject, whether it’s one or many. This simple rule helps us communicate clearly and accurately!

## Rules for Subject-Verb Agreement

### Singular Subjects and Singular Verbs

When the subject is singular, the verb must also be singular. For example, “She runs every morning.”

###

Conversely, when the subject is plural, the verb must be plural as well. For instance, “They eat dinner together every night.”

### Irregular Agreement Cases

There are some irregular cases where the subject and verb do not follow the standard rules, such as “The news is,” where “news” is technically singular.

## Exceptions and Special Cases

### Compound Subjects

When two subjects are joined by “and,” they usually take a plural verb. For example,

The sun and the moon rise in the sky

### Collective Nouns

Collective nouns represent a group, but depending on the context, they can take singular or plural verbs. For instance, “The team is playing well” or “The team are discussing their strategy.”

### Indefinite Pronouns

When it comes to indefinite pronouns like “everyone” or “each,” they prefer to go solo and require a singular verb.. For example, “Everybody is here.”

## Practical Tips for Improving Subject-Verb Agreement

### Proofreading Strategies

Proofreading your writing for subject-verb agreement errors can help you catch mistakes and improve your overall clarity.

### Practice Exercises

Engaging in practice exercises can help reinforce your understanding of subject-verb agreement and improve your skills over time.

### Resources for Further Learning

There are numerous online resources and grammar guides available to help you delve deeper into subject-verb agreement and continue enhancing your knowledge.

More 30 crucial rules of subject verb

agreement. 

Here are 30 rules about subject-verb agreement:

Rule 1: Singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs.**

   – Example: The dog barks. (singular subject)

   – Example: The dogs bark. (plural subject)

Rule 2: Subjects joined by “and” usually take a plural verb.**

   – Example: John and Mary are coming.

Rule 3: Singular subjects joined by “or” or “nor” take a singular verb.**

   – Example: Neither the cat nor the dog is hungry.

Rule 4: When the subject and predicate are separated by a phrase or clause, the verb agrees with the subject.**

   – Example: The group of students is studying.

Rule 5: Indefinite pronouns like “everyone,” “someone,” and “anyone” are singular and take singular verbs.**

   – Example: Everyone is invited.

Rule 6: Some indefinite pronouns, like “both,” “few,” and “many,” are plural and take plural verbs.**

   – Example: Few are aware of the consequences.

Rule 7: Collective nouns can take singular or plural verbs depending on the context.**

   – Example: The team is ready. (singular)

   – Example: The team are arguing among themselves. (plural)

Rule 8: Subjects beginning with “there” are not the true subject; the verb agrees with the true subject that follows.**

   – Example: There is a book on the table.

Rule 9: When “either/or” or “neither/nor” is used, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it.**

   – Example: Neither the teacher nor the students are happy.

Rule 10: “One of” and “each of” take singular verbs, followed by plural nouns.**

    – Example: Each of the books is interesting.

Rule 11: The verb “to be” is always used as a singular verb.**

    – Example: My favorite color is blue.

Rule 12: Quantifiers such as “a lot,” “plenty,” and “some” are singular and take singular verbs.**

    – Example: A lot of time has passed.

Rule 13: Titles of books, movies, and other works are treated as singular subjects.**

    – Example: “To Kill a Mockingbird” is a classic.

Rule 14: Words like “news,” “mathematics,” and “physics” are singular and take singular verbs.**

    – Example: Mathematics is my favorite subject.

Rule 15: Certain phrases such as “along with,” “as well as,” and “together with” do not change the number of the subject.**

    – Example: The teacher, along with her students, is attending the conference.

Rule 16: Expressions of time, distance, and money are singular and take singular verbs.**

    – Example: Ten dollars is a lot of money.

Rule 17: Subjects that refer to a single unit take singular verbs.**

    – Example: The class starts at 9 AM.

Rule 18: Subjects that refer to a quantity take plural verbs.**

    – Example: Five students are absent today.

Rule 19: Phrases such as “the number of” and “a majority of” are followed by a singular verb.**

    – Example: The number of participants is increasing.

Rule 20: Subjects containing “one,” “everyone,” or “no one” take singular verbs.**

    – Example: No one is to blame for the accident.

Rule 21: Subjects containing fractions or percentages take singular verbs.**

    – Example: Half of the cake is missing.

Rule 22: Subjects followed by “who,” “which,” or “that” take singular or plural verbs based on the number of the subject.**

    – Example: The car that needs repairs is mine.

Rule 23: The relative pronouns “who,” “whom,” and “whose” agree with their antecedents in number and person.**

    – Example: The people who are waiting can come in.

Rule 24: When a plural subject follows “each” or “every,” the verb is singular.**

    – Example: Every student is required to attend.

Rule 25: Words like “politics,” “economics,” and “statistics” are singular and take singular verbs.**

    – Example: Politics is a divisive topic.

Rule 26: When the subject consists of two nouns joined by “and,” the verb is plural.**

    – Example: Bread and butter are essential.

Rule 27: When subjects of different numbers are connected by “or,” the verb agrees with the nearer subject.**

    – Example: Either the cat or the dogs are in the garden.

Rule 28: When collective nouns are used to indicate individual members, they take plural verbs.**

    – Example: The jury are debating the verdict.

Rule 29: Phrases like “more than one” take singular verbs.**

    – Example: More than one candidate has applied for the job.

30. **Rule 30: Subjects with the same singular form but different meanings take singular or plural verbs based on the intended meaning.**

    – Example: The news is good. (singular)

    – Example: The news are spreading fast. (plural)

## Conclusion

In conclusion, mastering subject-verb agreement is essential for clear and effective communication. By following the rules, exceptions, and tips provided in this guide, you can enhance the quality of your writing and ensure that your message is conveyed accurately.

## FAQs

* Certainly! Here are answers to your frequently asked questions about subject-verb agreement:

1. What are the most common errors in subject-verb agreement?

   – One of the most common errors in subject-verb agreement is when the verb does not agree in number with the subject. This often occurs when the subject and verb are separated by phrases or clauses, leading to confusion about the correct form of the verb. Additionally, errors can occur with indefinite pronouns (e.g., “everyone,” “some,” “each”), collective nouns, compound subjects, and inverted word order in questions and clauses.

2. How can I improve my subject-verb agreement skills?

   – Improving your subject-verb agreement skills requires practice and familiarity with the rules of grammar. Here are some tips to help you improve:

      – Review the basic rules of subject-verb agreement, paying attention to singular and plural subjects, collective nouns, and indefinite pronouns.

      – Practice identifying subjects and verbs in sentences, and determine whether they agree in number.

      – Pay attention to common errors in subject-verb agreement, such as errors with collective nouns, compound subjects, and phrases that intervene between the subject and verb.

      – Read widely and analyze sentences in context to observe how subject-verb agreement is applied in various writing styles and genres.

      – Use grammar resources, textbooks, and online tutorials to reinforce your understanding of subject-verb agreement rules.

      – Practice with exercises and quizzes designed to test your knowledge and application of subject-verb agreement principles.

3. Are there any online tools for checking subject-verb agreement in writing?

   – Yes, there are several online tools and grammar checkers that can help you identify subject-verb agreement errors in your writing. Some popular options include Grammarly, ProWritingAid, and Hemingway Editor. These tools analyze your writing for grammar, punctuation, and style issues, including subject-verb agreement errors, and provide suggestions for corrections. However, it’s important to use these tools as aids rather than relying solely on them, as they may not always catch every error or understand the context of your writing. It’s still essential to have a solid understanding of grammar rules and to review your writing carefully for accuracy and clarity.

Remember, practicing subject-verb agreement may seem daunting at first, but with dedication and persistence, you can significantly improve your communication skills. Happy writing!

Sure, here are 15 multiple-choice questions about subject-verb agreement:

1. Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?
2. a) The team are working on the project.
3. b) The team is working on the project.
4. c) The team were working on the project.
5. d) The team be working on the project.

2. Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement:
3. a) Neither John or Mary are attending the party.
4. b) Neither John or Mary is attending the party.
5. c) Neither John nor Mary are attending the party.
6. d) Neither John nor Mary is attending the party.

3. Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement:
4. a) Each of the students are ready for the exam.
5. b) Each of the students is ready for the exam.
6. c) Each of the student is ready for the exam.
7. d) Each of the student are ready for the exam.

4. Which sentence demonstrates proper subject-verb agreement?
5. a) The news are reporting the event.
6. b) The news are report the event.
7. c) The news is reporting the event.
8. d) The news is report the event.

5. Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement:
6. a) Ten dollars are a reasonable price.
7. b) Ten dollars is a reasonable price.
8. c) Ten dollar is a reasonable price.
9. d) Ten dollar are a reasonable price.

6. Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement:
7. a) The flock of geese is migrating south.
8. b) The flock of geese are migrating south.
9. c) The flock of geese were migrating south.
10. d) The flock of geese be migrating south.

7. Which sentence demonstrates proper subject-verb agreement?
8. a) My favorite color is blue.
9. b) My favorite color are blue.
10. c) My favorite color am blue.
11. d) My favorite color be blue.

8. Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement:
9. a) The number of participants are increasing.
10. b) The number of participants is increasing.
11. c) The numbers of participants is increasing.
12. d) The numbers of participants are increasing.

9. Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement:
10. a) One of the dogs are barking.
11. b) One of the dogs is barking.
12. c) One of the dog is barking.
13. d) One of the dog are barking.

10. Which sentence demonstrates proper subject-verb agreement?
11. a) Mathematics are my favorite subject.
12. b) Mathematics is my favorite subject.
13. c) Mathematic is my favorite subject.
14. d) Mathematic are my favorite subject.

11. Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement:
12. a) There is two cups of coffee on the table.
13. b) There are two cups of coffee on the table.
14. c) There is two cups of coffees on the table.
15. d) There are two cups of coffees on the table.

12. Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement:
13. a) The cat and the dog is playing in the yard.
14. b) The cat and the dog are playing in the yard.
15. c) The cat and the dog be playing in the yard.
16. d) The cat and the dog are plays in the yard.

13. Which sentence demonstrates proper subject-verb agreement?
14. a) The majority of the students are attending the event.
15. b) The majority of the students is attending the event.
16. c) The majorities of the students are attending the event.
17. d) The majority of the student are attending the event.

14. Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement:
15. a) Politics is an interesting topic.
16. b) Politics are an interesting topic.
17. c) Politics be an interesting topic.
18. d) Politics am an interesting topic.

15. Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement:
16. a) The book, along with its sequels, are bestsellers.
17. b) The book, along with its sequels, is bestsellers.
18. c) The book, along with its sequels, is a bestseller.
19. d) The book, along with its sequels, are a bestseller.