Topics
Agreement of Verb and subjects
Singular Subject with Singular Verb
Plural Subject with Plural Verb
Inverted Word Order
Indefinite Pronouns
Singular Subject with Plural Verb
Agreement of Verb and Subject
In English, it's important for the subject (the person or thing doing the action) and the verb (the action word) to match in number. This means that if the subject is singular (one), the verb should be singular too, and if the subject is plural (more than one), the verb should be plural.
Below are the details:
Singular Subject with Singular Verb
When the subject of a sentence is singular (one person or thing), the verb should also be singular. For example:
"The dog barks." Here, "dog" is singular, so the verb "barks" is also singular.
Examples :
The cat sleeps on the windowsill.
The teacher explains the lesson clearly.
The sun shines brightly today.
My friend writes in her journal every night.
The child plays with his toys in the yard.
The book lies on the table.
The bird sings beautifully in the morning.
The dog runs around the park happily.
The clock ticks steadily on the wall.
The chef prepares a delicious meal for the guests.
English Grammar : Agreement of Verb and subjects
Plural Subject with Plural Verb
When the subject is plural (more than one person or thing), the verb should be plural as well. For instance:
"The dogs bark." In this sentence, "dogs" is plural, so we use the plural verb "bark."
Examples :
The children play in the park every afternoon.
The teachers prepare lesson plans for the new semester.
The birds fly south for the winter.
The dogs chase each other around the yard.
The students write essays for their English class.
The flowers bloom brightly in the spring.
The cars drive along the busy highway.
The chefs cook meals for the restaurant guests.
The artists create beautiful paintings in their studio.
The athletes train hard for the upcoming competition.
Inverted Word Order
Sometimes, sentences are structured with the verb before the subject, especially in questions or for emphasis. Even with this reversed order, the verb and subject still need to agree. For example:
"Are the students learning?" Here, "students" (plural) matches with the plural verb "are," even though the order is inverted.
Examples :
Never have I seen such a beautiful sunset.
Rarely does she forget to call her parents.
Under the table were several lost items.
Here comes the bride!
In the garden were blooming roses.
Only after the meeting did he understand the project's scope.
On the hill stood an old, abandoned house.
Hardly had we finished when the storm began.
No sooner had she arrived than the party started.
In the distance was a faint sound of music.
Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns refer to non-specific people or things and can affect verb agreement. Some indefinite pronouns like "everybody," "someone," and "each" are considered singular and use singular verbs:
"Everybody is excited." "Everybody" is singular, so we use the singular verb "is."
Other indefinite pronouns like "many," "few," and "several" are plural and use plural verbs:
"Many are joining the event." "Many" is plural, so the verb "are" is also plural.
Examples :
Everyone enjoyed the movie last night.
Somebody left their umbrella in the hallway.
Nobody knows the answer to that question.
Anything is possible if you work hard enough.
Few people attended the early morning meeting.
Several students volunteered to help with the event.
Nothing can stop her from achieving her goals.
Each of the participants received a certificate.
Many of the guests were impressed by the decorations.
One should always be prepared for unexpected changes.
Singular Subject with Plural Verb
Generally, a singular subject should not take a plural verb. However, there are special cases where collective nouns (groups acting as a unit) may use a plural verb, especially in British English:
"The committee are meeting today." Although "committee" is singular, it refers to a group acting together, so a plural verb "are" is used in British English. In American English, it’s more common to use the singular verb: "The committee is meeting today."
Understanding these rules will help you create sentences that are clear and grammatically correct!
Examples :
The team are celebrating their victory.
The committee have reached their decision.
The staff are working on a new project.
The class are taking their final exams today.
The audience are clapping loudly.
The family are planning their summer vacation.
The company have updated their policies.
The group are discussing their ideas for the event.
The committee are meeting to finalize the details.
The squad are practicing for the upcoming match.
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