Subject Verb Arguments
Subject Verb Arguments Rules And Examples:
Writing well requires a good understanding of Subject-Verb Agreement. In fact, most grammatical mistakes stem from this very issue. Mastering Subject-Verb Agreement is essential to excel in answering questions, grammar, and writing skills. Here are the rules of Subject-Verb Agreement with Examples to follow to avoid making such mistakes:
Rule One: If the subject is singular, the standard form of a verb in the present tense is used except third-person singular.
*In the present tense, if the subject is third-person singular, one must use the verb by adding an "-s" to the end of the verb or, if the verb ends in -x, –ss, –sh, –ch, –tch, or –zz, you add "–es" to the end of the verb. If the verb ends in a consonant + y, remove the y and add –ies to match the third-person singular.
Example:
I drink a lot of water. (Subject First Person Singular)
You know the boy well. (Subject Second Person Singular)
She writes every day. (Subject Third Person Singular)
He boxes the gifts quickly. (Subject Third Person Singular, verb ends with "x")
She carries her own stuff. (Subject Third Person Singular, verb ends with "y")
** Likewise, in questions that involve the word "do", only "do" needs to match the subject.
Example:
Do you drink coffee?
Do I know you?
Does he know how to play football?
**When using the negative form in the present tense, only the verb "do" needs to match the subject.
Example:
She does not like reading before bed.
He does not sleep at all.
I do not like fish.
We do not agree with you.
IN SIMPLE WORDS,
SUBJECTS-I, YOU
VERBS- eat, see, sleep, read, write, jump, do, carry, cry etc
SUBJECTS- HE, SHE, IT, THE KID, THE BOY, THE MAN, RAM, SITA, RAHUL etc
Verbs- eats, sees, sleeps, reads, writes, jumps, does, carries, cries etc
**If the verb is "be", there are changes between "is" and "are" based on the subject in the Present Tense.
Example:
I am the person you want.
You are very honest.
She is a good girl.
He is the first boy.
Rohit is a wonderful batter.
They are teachers from our school.
Rule Two: If the subject is plural, the standard form of a verb in the present tense is used.
Example:
They write every day. (Third Person Plural)
We love Biriyani. (First Person Plural)
You go home by bus. (Second Person Plural)
** The simple past and simple future, verbs don’t change based on the number or person of the subject.
Example:
( simple future )
We will go to the market today.
She will go to the office.
They will visit the theatre.
( simple Past )
We grew up in India.
She grew these crops.
You forgot the script.
They forgot to bring the bottle.
**Exception is, the verb "be", which changes between "was" and "were" based on the subject in the past tense.
Example: I was young once. (Simple Past Tense First Person Singular Subject)
We were young once. (Simple Past Tense First Person Plural Subject)
You were perfect for this job. (Simple Past Tense Second Person Singular Subject)
They were playing football. (Past Continuous, Third Person Plural Subject)
She was playing Ludo. (Past Continuous, Third Person Singular Subject)
Was this your doing?
*The Present Perfect Tenses change their auxiliary verb depending on the number of the subject. Singular subjects use "has", and plural subjects use "have".
Example:
They have seen the movie.
She has not seen the movie yet.
Have I told you about the new book?
Has he understood the question?
*However, The Past Perfect Tenses do not change their auxiliary verb depending on the number of the subject.
Example:
I had finished my work.
They had not finished his work.
Had she not written the essay?
IN SIMPLE WORDS:
After, I, YOU, WE, THEY, we use "ARE", "WERE", "HAVE" and "HAD".
After Third person singular, i.e. HE, SHE, IT, RAM (any name), THE TREE (Any object), THE BABY (anyone by their identity), we use "IS", "HAS" and also, "HAD".
These are the basic rule of the Verbs.
And now there are a few more complicated cases. How to understand which subjects are considered as singular and which are the plurals. It's not hard to understand. It's within your grip!
Rule Three: When the subject of the sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by "and", use a plural verb.
Example:
The students and the teachers gather here.
The parents and the children stay in the room.
**However, some common phrases that form a single unit can act as singular.
Example:
This bed and breakfast is delightful! (Here, Bed and Breakfast means the arrangement of sleeping & eating aka the comfort, it's one thing not two individual subjects are meant)
Rule Four: When there is one subject and more than one verb, the verbs throughout the sentence must agree with the subject.
Example:
After work, I go shopping, pick up the kids, cook dinner, and then relax for the night.
Researchers use interviews as a tool to gather data and gain a deeper insight into participants' thoughts and experiences.
Rule Five: When a phrase comes between the subject and the verb, the verb still agrees with the subject, not the noun or pronoun in the phrase following the subject of the sentence. These sentences can be tricky, so be careful.
Example:
The student, as well as the committee members, is excited.
The politician, along with the newsmen, is expected shortly.
The student with all the master’s degrees is very motivated.
Strategies that the teacher uses to encourage classroom participation include using small groups and clarifying expectations.
The focus of the interviews was some skilled participants.
A group consisting of Professor Roy, the guide Mr Paul, and the professor’s nephew Raja departs for the volcano.
**Be particularly careful of subjects that use the phrase “one of . . . ” The word one is singular, even when followed by plural nouns.
Example:
One of the world’s well-known players still has trouble speaking in public.
Rule Six: In a subject, when two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by "or" or "nor", use a singular verb.
Example:
The Principal or the headmaster approves the proposal before proceeding.
Rule Seven: When a compound subject contains both a singular and a plural noun or pronoun joined by "or" or "nor," the verb should agree with the part of the subject that is closest to the verb. This is also called the rule of proximity.
Example:
The student or the committee members write every day.
The committee members or the student writes every day.
The teacher or the students have to inform the principal.
The students or the teacher has to inform the principal.
**However, if the subject consists of multiple plural nouns joined by or, treat the subject as plural.
Example:
Cats or dogs make good friends.
Rule Eight: The words and phrases "each," "each one," "either," "neither," "everyone," "everybody," "anyone," "anybody," "nobody," "somebody," "someone," and "no one" are singular and require a singular verb.
Example:
Each of the participants was willing to be performed.
Neither alternative proposal was accepted.
Everybody who participates in the function, gets tiffin.
No one was available to meet with me at the preferred times.
Rule Nine: Noncount nouns or Uncountable nouns take a singular verb.
Example:
Education is the key to success.
Diabetes affects many people around the world.
The information was relevant to include in the study.
The research on the topic was limited.
Rule Ten: Some countable nouns, such as "earnings", "goods", "odds", "surroundings", "proceeds", "contents", and valuables only have a plural form and take a plural verb.
Example:
The earnings for this quarter exceed expectations.
The proceeds from the sale go to support the homeless population in the city.
Locally produced goods have the advantage of shorter supply chains.
Rule Eleven: In sentences beginning with "there is" or "there are," the verb agrees with what follows the verb. The same goes for sentences beginning with “here . . . ”
Example:
There is a book on the table.
There are five books on the shelf. (plural)
There is little administrative support.
There are many factors affecting teacher retention.
Rule Twelve: Collective nouns like "group," "team" "committee" "family", "class" take a singular verb
Example:
The group meets every day after the class.
The committee agrees on the quality of the product.
**Collective nouns can be either singular or plural, depending on whether they act together or separately.
Example:
[Together, singular] The team goes to practice at 4:00.
[Separately, plural] The team go to their own homes after practice.
Rule Thirteen: Verbs used in alternative forms, such as gerunds, infinitives, or participles, do not need to follow subject-verb agreement. However, the main verbs of the sentence still do.
Example:
The football coach makes running mandatory.
The footballs coaches make running mandatory.
(Running is same for both cases, where the first sentence has a singular subject so the verb is "makes", in the second sentence, subject is plural, the verb is "make".)
Rule Fourteen: In a sentence, you should not separate the subject from the verb with a comma, unless you're using a specific type of phrase that provides additional information about the subject.
Example:
The holiday is becoming a total disaster.
The holiday, which I was looking forward to, is becoming a total disaster.
The dog runs quickly. (No comma between "dog" and "runs")
The dog, a golden retriever, runs quickly. (Comma used to separate the appositive phrase "a golden retriever" from the rest of the sentence)
Rule Fifteen: In the active to passive voice changing, the verb in the passive voice still follows whatever word acts as the subject.
Example:
They pay the electric bill online. (Active Voice)
The electric bill is paid by them online. (Passive Voice)
Rule Sixteen: Words that indicate a portion, percentages, use the number of the noun they describe. This noun is typically the object of the phrase “of . . . ”
Example:
A large part (singular) of the cake (singular) is eaten.
Many parts (plural) of the car (singular) are replaceable.
Fifty percent (singular) of the students (plural) passed the exam.
All of the book is ruined!
All of the books are ruined!
Some of the film is funny.
Some of the films are funny.
Fifty percent of the house is made of wood.
Fifty percent of the houses are made of wood.
Rule Seventeen: When referring to distances, periods of time, or amounts of money—taken as a whole—use the singular form of the verb.
Example:
- Distances:
- Three miles is a long distance to run. (singular)
- Three miles are required to complete the race. (plural, emphasizing individual miles)
- Periods of time:
- Two years is a long time to wait. (singular)
- Two years are needed to complete the project. (plural, emphasizing individual years)
- Amounts of money:
- $100 is a lot to spend on a gift. (singular)
- $100 were collected in donations. (plural, emphasizing individual bills)
Rule Eighteen: The nouns that exist only in the plural form; they sometimes act as singular.
Example:
The news has been depressing lately.
Politics is getting too combative.
*However, sometimes these nouns act as plural too.
The news stories are varied.
The politics of different countries are fascinating.
**Plural form subjects with a plural meaning take a plural verb. e.g. scissors, trousers (They are consist of two parts)
Example:
The scissors do not work.
The Trousers are made of good fibre.
**If a plural noun is preceded by the word "pair", treat the subject as singular because pair is singular.
Example:
The pair of scissors does not work.
**When talking about an amount of money, it requires a singular verb, but when referring to the dollars themselves, a plural verb is required.
Example:
Five dollars is a lot of money.
Dollars are often used instead of Rubles in Russia.
Rule Nineteen: Titles of single entities (books, organizations, countries, etc.) are always singular.
Example:
The Three Musketeers is a French historical adventure novel.
Rule Twenty: With "the number of _______," use a singular verb.
Example:
The number of volunteers grows each year.
With "a number of _______," use a plural verb.
Example:
A number of people love kpop.
With "many a ________," use a singular verb.
Example:
Many a student finds joy in reading books during the summer holidays.
Rule Twenty-One: The word "were" replaces "was" in sentences that express a Wish or are Contrary to fact:
Example:
If Jhulan were here, you'd be sorry.
I wish it were Friday.
**The sentence demonstrates the subjunctive mood, which is used to express a "hypothetical", "wishful", "imaginary", or "factually contradictory thought". The subjunctive mood pairs singular subjects with what we usually think of as plural verbs.
She requested that he raise his hand.
The foreman demanded that the boy wear safety goggles.
By following these rules, you'll be well on your way to improving your writing skills and avoiding common grammatical errors.
For any question, query, confusion and mistake reach me out through mail or comment.
Read in Bengali : SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENTS in BENGALI
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