Subject-Verb Agreement

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Subject-Verb Agreement is when the subjects and verbs must agree with one another in number (singular or plural). Thus, if a subject is singular, its verb must also be singular and if a subject is plural, its verb must also be plural.

1.1

SINGULAR VERB + SINGULAR SUBJECT

We must use a singular verb for a singular subject.

He, she and it:

i. are singular subjects.

ii. They are followed by singular verbs.

For example:

- He is a man.

- She is a mother.

- It is a pen.

- He has a computer.

REMEMBER THIS!

- The subject is a person or thing that does the action.

- The verb is the action word.

- If the subject is one then add 's' to the verb.

- If the subject is many (plural) then do not add 's' to the verb.

For example:

a. A crab walks sideways. (Singular)

- A crab (subject)

- walks (verb)

b. Crabs walk sideways. (Plural)

- Crabs (subject)

- walk (verb)

Other examples:

a. A seahorse swims upright. (Singular)

- A seahorse (subject)

- swims (verb)

b. Seahorses swim upright. (Plural)

- Seahorses (subject)

- swim (verb)

1.2

PLURAL VERB + PLURAL SUBJECT

We must use a plural verb for a plural subject.

They and we:

i. They and we are followed by a plural verb.

For example:

- They are his students.

- We are boys.

1.3

SPECIAL CASE

We must always use plural verb for the subject 'I' and 'you'.

Am:

i. is only used with I.

ii. I is followed by a plural verb.

For example:

- I am Shameema.

- I have a book.

You

i. 'You' is use to speak to one or many people.

For example:

- You have five dresses.

- You (many people) are girls.