π Understanding Subject-Verb Agreement
Subject-verb agreement simply means that the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number. If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. This can be tricky in English, especially for ESL learners, due to the complexities of the language.
π A Brief History
The rules of subject-verb agreement have evolved over centuries alongside the English language. Early English had more verb inflections, making agreement more explicit. Over time, many of these inflections were lost, increasing the importance of word order and careful verb selection to maintain clarity.
π Key Principles of Subject-Verb Agreement
- π€Singular Subjects: Use a singular verb form. For example, "He is," "She writes," "It runs."
- π₯ Plural Subjects: Use a plural verb form. For example, "They are," "We write," "The dogs run."
- 𧩠Compound Subjects: Subjects joined by "and" usually take a plural verb. Example: "John and Mary are going to the store."
- π
ββοΈ Exceptions with 'or'/'nor': When subjects are joined by "or" or "nor," the verb agrees with the subject closest to the verb. Example: "Neither the students nor the teacher was happy."
- π£οΈ Indefinite Pronouns: Some indefinite pronouns (e.g., everyone, someone, nobody) are singular, while others (e.g., several, both, few) are plural. Some (e.g., all, some, none) can be singular or plural depending on the context.
- π’ Collective Nouns: Collective nouns (e.g., team, family, committee) can be singular or plural depending on whether they are acting as a unit or as individual members.
- π Intervening Phrases: Phrases between the subject and verb don't affect agreement. Example: "The book, along with the CDs, is interesting."
π Real-World Examples and Corrections
Let's look at some common mistakes and how to correct them:
| Incorrect |
Correct |
Explanation |
| The students studies every night. |
The students study every night. |
"Students" is plural, so the verb should be "study." |
| He don't like pizza. |
He doesn't like pizza. |
"He" is singular, so the verb should be "doesn't." |
| My family live in New York. |
My family lives in New York. |
"Family" is acting as a unit, so the verb should be "lives." |
| Each of the girls have a doll. |
Each of the girls has a doll. |
"Each" is singular, so the verb should be "has." |
π Practice Quiz
Choose the correct verb form in each sentence:
- π§ͺ Each of the experiments (was/were) successful.
- 𧬠The effects of the medicine (is/are) significant.
- π’ Mathematics (is/are) an important subject.
- π The United States (is/are) a large country.
- π‘ My brother and I (is/are) going to the party.
Answers: 1. was, 2. are, 3. is, 4. is, 5. are
β
Conclusion
Mastering subject-verb agreement takes practice. By understanding the basic principles and paying close attention to the subject of each sentence, ESL writers can significantly improve the accuracy and clarity of their writing. Keep practicing, and you'll become more confident in your ability to write grammatically correct sentences!