Subject - Verb Agreement

Subjects and verbs

Basic Rule

The basic rule states that a singular subject takes a singular verb while a plural subject takes a plural verb.
The trick is in knowing whether the subject is singular or plural. The next trick is recognizing a singular or plural verb.

Singular and Plural Nouns

Singular Subjects I She It Carolina Fernando The dog The park Plural Subjects The children You We They Cassie, Louis and Frank The dogs The parks

Verbs in singular

To make a verb singular, just add an s. Verbs ending in y preceded by a consonant form the singular with ies. Verbs go and do form their singular by adding es. The singular form for verb have is has.

Example:
1.

Carla loves puppies.

Carla is a singular subject; the verb loves is in singular form. Edwin is a singular subject; the verb eats is in singular form.

2.

Edwin eats 5 times in a day.

Verbs in plural

When verbs do not have an s, they are in their singular form. Example:
Carla and her sister love puppies.

1.

The subject in this sentence is plural (Carla and her sister); the verb love must be in plural form.
The subject in this sentence is plural (Sarah and Edwin); the verb eat must be in plural form.

2.

Sarah and Edwin eat together at Ponderosa every Friday.

Subjects and verbs

Examples:

talks, talk
She

talks a lot. (talks is singular) They talk a lot. (talk is plural)

works, work
He

works with Carol. (works is singular) They work together. (work is plural)

plays, play
Cary

plays volleyball. (plays is singular) Carlos and Jenny play soccer. (play is plural)

List of some Verbs

Singular Verbs Plural Verbs Likes----------------------------------- Like Speaks--------------------------------- Speak Dances--------------------------------- Dance Walks---------------------------------- Walk Makes---------------------------------- Make Sleeps---------------------------------- Sleep Runs------------------------------------ Run Drinks---------------------------------- Drink Shops----------------------------------- Shop Cooks-----------------------------------Cook Barks----------------------------------- Bark Thinks---------------------------------- Think Belongs-------------------------------- Belong Decides-------------------------------- Decide Sings----------------------------------- Sing

Tricky Subjects
Subjects using Each are always singular: Example: Each of my friends owns a new car. Indefinite pronouns: everyone, everything, everybody, no one, nobody, nothing, someone, somebody, something, anyone, anybody, and anything are always singular. Example: Someone has stolen my money.

Tricky Subjects
Subject complements using like, with, as well as, will not consider these complements. Example: The student, with his parents, is watching TV. Subjects with or, nor will use the last element. Example: Marie or her sisters are working. The students nor their teacher has left.

Practice:
Choose the correct answer by clicking the word.
1.

My mom _____ really good.

(cooks, cook)

2.

I hope you _____ your meal.

(enjoy, enjoys)

3.

Michael _____ to jump rope.

(like, likes)

4.

She _____ about you all the time.

(think, thinks)

5.

They _____ to Ponce every Sunday.

(drive, drives)

6.

Frank ______ pizza.

(eat, eats)