Subject-Verb Agreement Examples in Argumentative Writing

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🎯 Basic Rule: Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs.
• 🧑‍🏫 Compound Subjects: Subjects joined by 'and' usually take a plural verb (e.g., John and Mary are...).
• 🤔 Exceptions with 'and': If the parts of the subject form a single unit, use a singular verb (e.g., Mac and cheese is...).
• 🤝 Subjects joined by 'or'/'nor': The verb agrees with the subject closest to it (e.g., Neither the students nor the teacher is...).
• 📣 Collective Nouns: These can be singular or plural depending on whether they act as a single unit or individual members (e.g., The team is... vs. The team are...).
• ❓ Indefinite Pronouns: Some are always singular (e.g., everyone, someone, nobody), others are always plural (e.g., both, few, several), and some can be either (e.g., some, any, none, all).
• ✍️ Sentences starting with 'Here' or 'There': The subject follows the verb (e.g., There is a book... vs. There are books...).

Practice Quiz

1. Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?
   1. The effects of social media on teenagers is a topic of much debate.
   2. The effects of social media on teenagers are a topic of much debate.
   3. The effect of social media on teenagers are a topic of much debate.
   4. The effect of social media on teenagers is a topic of much debate.
2. Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.
   1. Neither the president nor his advisors agrees on the best course of action.
   2. Neither the president nor his advisors agree on the best course of action.
   3. Neither the president nor his advisor agree on the best course of action.
   4. Neither the president nor his advisor agrees on the best course of action.
3. Identify the sentence using proper subject-verb agreement with a collective noun.
   1. The committee have reached a consensus on the new policy.
   2. The committee has reached a consensus on the new policy.
   3. The committee are reaching a consensus on the new policy.
   4. The committee is reach a consensus on the new policy.
4. Which sentence correctly uses an indefinite pronoun with subject-verb agreement?
   1. Everyone are responsible for their own actions.
   2. Everyone is responsible for their own actions.
   3. Everyone am responsible for their own actions.
   4. Everyone be responsible for their own actions.
5. Select the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement in an inverted sentence.
   1. There is many reasons to support this argument.
   2. There are many reason to support this argument.
   3. There are many reasons to support this argument.
   4. There is many reason to supports this argument.
6. Which of the following sentences shows proper subject-verb agreement for a compound subject?
   1. Arguing and debating is essential skills for success.
   2. Arguing and debating are essential skill for success.
   3. Arguing and debating are essential skills for success.
   4. Arguing and debating is essential skill for success.
7. Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.
   1. The data clearly shows the need for further investigation.
   2. The data clearly show the need for further investigation.
   3. The data clearly is showing the need for further investigation.
   4. The data clearly are shows the need for further investigation.