English Grammar Questions Long
Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental aspect of English grammar that ensures that the subject and verb in a sentence are in agreement in terms of number and person. The basic rules for subject-verb agreement in English are as follows:
1. Singular subjects take singular verbs, while plural subjects take plural verbs. For example:
- The cat sleeps. (singular subject "cat" takes singular verb "sleeps")
- The cats sleep. (plural subject "cats" takes plural verb "sleep")
2. When the subject is a singular noun or pronoun, the verb must also be singular. For example:
- She sings beautifully. (singular subject "she" takes singular verb "sings")
- The book is interesting. (singular subject "book" takes singular verb "is")
3. When the subject is a plural noun or pronoun, the verb must also be plural. For example:
- They play football. (plural subject "they" takes plural verb "play")
- The dogs bark loudly. (plural subject "dogs" takes plural verb "bark")
4. Indefinite pronouns, such as "everyone," "someone," "nobody," and "each," are always singular and require singular verbs. For example:
- Everyone is invited to the party. (singular subject "everyone" takes singular verb "is invited")
- Somebody has left their bag here. (singular subject "somebody" takes singular verb "has left")
5. Collective nouns, which refer to a group of individuals as a single entity, can take either singular or plural verbs depending on the context. If the group is acting as a unit, a singular verb is used. If the individuals within the group are acting separately, a plural verb is used. For example:
- The team is practicing. (singular verb as the team is acting as a unit)
- The team are arguing among themselves. (plural verb as the individuals within the team are acting separately)
6. When the subject and verb are separated by words or phrases such as "along with," "as well as," "in addition to," or "together with," the verb agrees with the subject, not the words or phrases in between. For example:
- The teacher, along with her students, is going on a field trip. (singular verb "is" agrees with singular subject "teacher")
- The book, as well as the pen and notebook, is on the table. (singular verb "is" agrees with singular subject "book")
7. In sentences that begin with "there" or "here," the subject follows the verb. The verb must agree with the subject, not the word "there" or "here." For example:
- There are many books on the shelf. (plural verb "are" agrees with plural subject "books")
- Here comes the bus. (singular verb "comes" agrees with singular subject "bus")
It is important to note that subject-verb agreement may become more complex in certain cases, such as with compound subjects, indefinite pronouns, or when dealing with phrases that express quantity. However, understanding and applying these basic rules will provide a solid foundation for subject-verb agreement in English grammar.